SOUTHBURY — The third time was the charm for the Pomperaug boys volleyball team against conference foe Joel Barlow.
A fourth offers the chance of a state championship.
Friday’s four-set victory over Rockville means that Pomperaug will play Joel Barlow once again, this time in the CIAC Class S semifinals.
The semifinal between the third-seeded Panthers and the second-seeded Falcons will be held at Brookfield High School at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.
Pomperaug played in front of its home crowd for the final time this season in the 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21) win over Rockville.
Senior Rylen Brennan and junior Jacob Passey combined for more than 30 of the team’s 36 kills in Friday’s quarterfinal match.
Head coach Tim Zaprzaika praised his two offensive leaders after the match and shared what he told his team in the final set to secure the win.
“I told the boys we needed to play like a family,” said Zaprzalka.
Leading 15-12 in the third set, the Panthers found themselves with moments of momentum and flashes of frustration. Despite Brennan’s back-to-back kills to extend the set, the Rams of Rockville forced a fourth.
Zaprzalka admits his team may not have been at 100 percent on Friday, “but we had to lean on our support for each other,” he said.
Tied at 19 in the following back-and-forth set – and with Rockville on a short run of their own – Brennan converted from the right side of the net, sparking a four-point run to go up 23-19.
Passey closed out the set and the match with a powerful strike from the left side, set up by teammates, junior libero Sawyer Rayno and junior setter Andrew Vongsouvanh.
Brennan, Passey, and Vongsouvanh were recently named to the All-SWC First Team, and Rayno earned recognition on the All-SWC Second Team.
Heading into Tuesday’s semifinal, a chance at a state championship awaits the winner. The victor between SMSA/Bulkeley and the top-seeded Woodstock Academy will be the potential opponent for a championship match at Newtown High School.
A varsity team has only existed at Pomperaug since 2021, with the Panthers claiming an SWC Conference championship in 2023 and now in 2026.
For Zaprzalka, a consistent and successful game plan of feeding the team’s dominant outside hitters will likely not change for the rematch of the five-set thriller held just over a week ago.
“If we can serve and pass well, everything else will fall into place,” he said.
Tuesday’s semifinal match will be held at Brookfield High School at 4 p.m.
By Evan Triantafilidis
The Southbury Record 