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Darien Blue Wave Volleyball Team Continues Winning Ways At Tournament

DARIEN, Conn. -- The Blue Wave volleyball team from Darien High School continued to show it is on the rise -- currently ranked No. 2 in Connecticut -- by winning the recent NY-CT Invitational Tournament. 

The Blue Wave volleyball team won the recent NY-CT Invitational Tournament.

The Blue Wave volleyball team won the recent NY-CT Invitational Tournament.

Photo Credit: courtesy of Heidi Naughton

Facing teams from across New York State and Connecticut, the Blue Wave dominated their pool play by not dropping a set as they marched into the Gold Round playoff bracket.

The Wave, behind the steadying play of captains Celia Martzolf, Claire Naughton, Keli Reyes and Isabelle Taylor, persevered through a long day of volleyball handing playoff defeats to Mahopac High School and Kings Park High School (No. 4 in New York State) before meeting host John Jay High School in the finals.

John Jay came out strong in the first set, erasing a Blue Wave lead to take the opening game. Darien rallied back and behind the steady kill efforts of junior Taylor took the second set.

The third and decisive set saw the Blue Wave go down early to a strong passing John Jay team. Reyes brought the Wave back within striking distance and then junior Anna Barsanti put on a serving display that won’t soon be forgotten. With her team down 15-10, Barsanti proceeded to reel off 13 winning serves to lead the Wave past a stunned John Jay team, who had no response for the powerful cannon of Barsanti’s serving arm.

Martzolf served to 24 and the Wave Defense forced a side-out for the title. Barsanti (43 service points – 16 aces), Naughton (38 points, 8 aces) and Reyes (30 points, 6 aces) led the Wave serving efforts on the day.

Taylor continued her killing ways with 53 kills and stellar all around play and Martzolf handed out 109 assists, 9 aces and 27 services points. Emily Milukas played well with 17 services points and a strong back row effort and sophomore Kitty Crosby and freshman Caroline Martzolf came up big for the Wave.

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