NEWINGTON - When Newington High School volleyball head coach Curt Burns was asked about his expectations for this season, he was cautious with his projections, but promised that his team would--at the very least--�"be in the mix”.

       Eight games into the season and Newington is not in the mix, but standing out. The team was undefeated before its April 21 home opener, and kept it going by edging Farmington 3-2. But it wasn’t easy.

       Deep into the first set of the match, the home section had turned the bleachers into war drums. Only minutes ago, the crowd was silent.

       Up by as many as five points at a time, Farmington’s middle line seemed impenetrable. Even the often-overpowering presence of Newington’s blockers, led by senior Nick Hinchcliffe, was fended off at times by Farmington’s resilient defense.

       Then, it began coming apart.

       It started with Hinchcliffe doing what he does best--a spike kill at the front of the net to pull Newington within 15-19. Tyler Callahan followed with an ace from the serving spot and Zack Harmon powered another spike in on the next volley to pull Newington within one point at 20-21.

       The tying point--an out of bounds ball by Farmington--was less dramatic, but just as effective. Newington was back in it. Then, they were above it, pulling ahead 23-21, but Farmington roared back.

       The sides battled it out to a 24-24 deadlock, before Newington’s Bret Sullivan pounded one over to put his team ahead again.

       But Farmington’s defense would not go quietly. After an extensive volley and two improbable blocks on Newington spiking attempts, they drew even. A Newington net violation and a Farmington spiking kill later, and the visitors had taken the first set.

       It wasn’t looking good in set two either, with Newington slipping to an early five-point deficit. They would take that one 25-22.

       Farmington won the third set 26-24, but Newington took two in a row for the 3-2 win.

       Newington took its first loss of the season, dropping last Thursday’s home matchup to Staples High School 0-3, before sweeping Enfield on Friday.