Greenwich and East Lyme Top Midseason CIAC Volleyball Forecasts
GametimeCT updated its championship picks for all four classes after a strong first half, shifting Class M and S projections to Sacred Heart Academy and Hale-Ray.
By Riya Zhao ·
Greenwich is the projected champion in Class LL, and East Lyme remains the top pick in Class L for the 2026 CIAC girls volleyball championships.
GametimeCT issued updated midseason predictions on November 8, adjusting its preseason picks after the first half of the regular season concluded.
The tournament finals are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20, at Bulkeley or Saturday, Nov. 21, at East Haven.
In Class LL, Greenwich enters the tournament undefeated. The team features first-team All-State players Kayah Armstrong and Heidi Zieme. Greenwich defeated Trumbull in both of the latter team's losses. Trumbull is now the projected runner-up, displacing Warde from that position. Maloney, Amity, and NFA are also listed as strong contenders in the division.
Bristol Central, a Class L runner-up last year, has moved up to Class LL. The team is led by junior Emalyn Kirk and senior Gillian Gray. GametimeCT identified New Canaan over Warde and Stamford over Cheshire as potential seeded upsets in this class.
In Class L, East Lyme retains the top spot. The Vikings return six seniors to their roster. East Lyme is projected to defeat Masuk in the final. Masuk, led by Mia Tyler, has emerged as a legitimate contender from the middle of the rankings. North Haven, Guilford, and Ledyard are also considered capable of deep tournament runs.
Class M saw a shift in the championship prediction. Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) is now the projected winner, replacing Barlow. SHA is led by JJ Kirck and Bella Spinato. Woodland, the NVL champion, is the projected runner-up. Woodland is led by Ayla DeCrescenzo. Granby Memorial and RHAM, led by Rian Calhoun, are also highlighted as teams to watch.
In Class S, Hale-Ray is the new projected champion, overtaking Coventry. Hale-Ray has not won a CIAC title since 1982. The team features Reagan Bean, Katy Hagerty, and Fenway Jankowski. Coventry remains the team to beat, having reached seven Class S finals since 2015. The Patriots are led by junior Hailey Mayo and seniors Teia Ransford and Tessa Young. Coventry has three losses this season, one of which came against Granby.
GametimeCT also noted specific upset potential across the classes. In Class LL, No. 25 New Canaan could beat No. 8 Warde. In Class L, No. 18 New Milford could defeat No. 15 Fitch. In Class M, No. 19 Wolcott could upset No. 14 Griswold. In Class S, No. 18 Lyman Memorial could beat No. 15 Montville, and No. 24 St. Paul could defeat No. 9 University.
The final four teams for Class LL are Greenwich, Amity, Maloney, and Trumbull. For Class L, the projected finalists are East Lyme, North Haven, Guilford, and Masuk. Class M final four picks are Woodland, Waterford, RHAM, and SHA. Class S final four picks are Coventry, Holy Cross, Hale-Ray, and East Granby.
