
RHAM’s Ally Hadley (18, right) tries to get the ball past Simsbury’s Madison Seymour (16, center) and Faye Kaplinski (25, left) in Wednesday night’s CCC Tournament semifinals in Simsbury. More game photos
SIMSBURY, Nov. 2, 2022 – This might be a tougher tournament that a CIAC state tournament. Perhaps.
Three teams ranked in the top 10 of the state high school coaches girls volleyball poll were playing in Wednesday’s semifinals of the Central Connecticut Conference tournament at Simsbury High – No. 3 RHAM, No. 5 Southington and No. 6 Simsbury.
It could have been four top 10 teams but No. 4 Conard was upset by Newington on Tuesday, 3-2 in the tournament quarterfinals.
“I feel like the CCC is a very good conference from top to bottom,” RHAM head coach Tim Guernsey said. “I feel if you have the ability to compete in our league, especially come tournament time, you will have a pretty good chance (in the state tournament) no matter what class you are in.”
The Raptors (20-2) outlasted a pesky Simsbury team, 3-0, to move into Friday’s CCC Tournament championship game against Southington, which eliminated Newington, 3-0, by scores of 25-12, 25-11, 25-16.
RHAM and Southington (18-2) will meet for the CCC Tournament title on Friday at 6 p.m. in Simsbury. RHAM is in the CCC Tournament final for the eighth time since 2012 and the first time since 2019. Southington is in the final for the first time since 2017 when they were swept by RHAM, 3-0.
After winning game one 25-13, the Raptors had to rally to win the final two games of the match.
Simsbury had two game points in the second game but couldn’t get that last point in a 26-24 decision. In game three, the Trojans had a six-point lead, 19-13 but the Raptors scored 11 of the game’s final 14 points to get a 24-22 victory.
“When you get to this point (of the season), you want to make sure your team is battle tested,” Guernsey said. “I am happy with the way the kids played.”
RHAM’s Neve Taylor played stellar defense with 33 digs with Leilani Fecho and Ally Hadley each getting 15 kills. Sarah West added six kills, too. Hadley had some key blocks to help the Raptors prevail.
Simsbury (19-3, 5-2 CCC West) came into the match on a roll, having won 15 of their last 16 matches. The Trojans bounced Glastonbury in a hard-fought quarterfinal victory on Tuesday night, 3-2, as Maddie Seymour had 13 kills and 19 digs. Faye Kaplinski had 12 kills.

RHAM’s Ally Hadley puts the ball past Simsbury’s Amanda Gallagher in Wednesday night’s CCC Tournament semifinal in Simsbury.
Simsbury won’t have to worry about seeing RHAM again. The Raptors, who won the CCC East title, are in the Class M tournament. Simsbury should be the No. 3 seed in the Class LL tournament where they could see Conard and Southington again. The Class LL tournament begins on Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Conard and Southington shared the CCC West title with record of 6-1.
RHAM’s last CCC Tournament title came in 2019 when the Raptors won their fourth straight championship. Southington is looking for their first tournament title since 2010.
2022 CCC Tournament
Saturday, Oct. 29
First round
RHAM 3, Farmington 0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-17)
Southington 3, Lewis Mills 0 (25-6, 25-10, 25-14)
Conard 3, Windsor 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-12)
Simsbury 3, Bristol Eastern 0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22)
Glastonbury 3, Berlin 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-15)
Newington 3, Tolland 0
Platt 3, New Britain 0
Bristol Central 3, Manchester 0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-17)
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Quarterfinals
RHAM 3, Bristol Central 0
Southington 3, Platt High 1 (20-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-17)
Newington 3, Conard 2
Simsbury 3, Glastonbury 2
Wednesday, Nov. 2
Semifinals at Simsbury
RHAM 3, Simsbury 0 (25-13, 26-24, 25-22)
Southington 3, Newington (25-12, 25-11, 25-16)
Friday, Nov. 4
Championship at Simsbury
RHAM vs. Southington, 6 p.m.
Recent CCC Tournament championship games
2021: Bristol Eastern 3, Simsbury 1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18)
2020: Cancelled, COVID-19 pandemic
2019: RHAM 3, Bristol Eastern 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-15)
2018: RHAM 3, Farmington 0 (29-27, 25-18, 25-23)
2017: RHAM 3, Southington 0 ( 25-8, 25-23, 25-10)
2016: RHAM 3, Farmington 0 (25-15, 25-23, 28-26)
2015: Platt High 3, RHAM 1 (25-21, 28-26, 20-25, 26-24)
2014: RHAM 3, Farmington 1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-17, 25-18)
2013: Bristol Eastern 3, Farmington 1 (25-19, 17-25, 25-15, 25-12)
2012: Bristol Eastern 3, RHAM 1
2011: Tournament cancelled, snow
2010: Southington 3, Glastonbury 0
2009: RHAM 3, Southington 1
2008: Southington 3, Farmington 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-16)
2007: Bristol Eastern 3, Southington 0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-13)
2006: Bristol Eastern def. Southington
2005: Maloney 3, Southington 1 (25-13, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21)
Began in 1997
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.


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