Groton - After Fitch High School dropped the opening two games Saturday night, coach Steve Banks had a simple message for his Falcons.

"We worked really hard this season to give this away in our first (match)," Banks said.

Fitch got the message … loud an clear.

The eighth-ranked Falcons rallied for a 26-28, 25-27, 25-10, 25-15 and 15-8 victory over No. 9 E.O. Smith of Storrs in the second round of the CIAC Class L volleyball tournament.

"We couldn't hold our serve in those first two games and (E.O. Smith) was playing really good defense," said Banks, whose Falcons (16-5) visit top-ranked RHAM of Hebron on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals. "Once we started serving better we were able to attack more and we used that momentum to carry us through.

"We never really lost our composure and never gave up on each other. That's what it's all about for us … unity."

Ashley Adams had a big night for Fitch with 12 kills and four blocks whlie Haley Cooper had 11 kills, Jackie Lockett 23 service points and 40 assists, Kelsey Armstrong 22 kills and 15 digs, and Maura Brown 10 kills.

In other matches:

• No. 7 East Lyme began defense of its Class L title with a 25-10, 25-12, 25-18 win over No. 10 Kennedy of Waterbury.

"It was good to get going again after a long layoff," said East Lyme coach Jack Biggs, whose Vikings (18-4) will play host to No. 15 North Haven in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday at 7 p.m..

Raeann Nesta had 13 kills and three blocks, Maggie Swenson added 25 assists and five aces and Emily Ennis had seven kills for East Lyme.

• Lyman Memorial opened play in the Class S tournament, with a 3-0 win over Valley Regional in a second-round match. No. 5 Lyman won 25-16, 25-16, 25-13 and hosts No. 13 Northwest Catholic in a quarterfinal Monday at 7 p.m. Elizabeth Bernier had 22 assists, Emily Vigue had five aves, nine digs and six kills and Alyson Tacchi had seven digs, 12 kills and four blocks for Lyman (18-3).

• No. 19 Norwich Free Academy was eliminated by No. 3 Newtown 25-12, 25-21, 25-16 in the Class LL second round. Kaylyn Levine had 11 kills for the Wildcats, who finish 12-8, while Carli White added 12 digs and Melissa Godere had 17 assists. Newtown is 22-1.

• No. 13 Northwest Catholic of West Hartford ousted No. 4 Norwich Tech in the Class S second round, 3-1. Game scores were 25-22, 25-18, 23-25 and 25-19. Janiellee Alvarez led the Warriors with 13 kills and 26 digs, Bailey Spellman had 25 assists, Marissa Fournier six kills and five blocks, and Kayla Royce 12 digs.

Girls' soccer

• Fifth-ranked Lewis Mills scored a goal with just two minutes remaining in the second overtime period to eliminated No. 12 Stonington, 1-0, in the Class M second round. The Bears, who finish 13-6, were outshot 11-4, but goalie Gabi Hoops stopped eighth shots.

• St. Bernard's season came to an end with a 2-1 loss to No. 20 Coventry in a Class S second-round game. Alli Regan scored for the No. 4 Saints (12-6), who played without injured leading scorers Kayla Paris and Carley Phillips. Tara Kowalski made four saves for St. Bernard.

Field hockey

• No. 7 Stonington had several quality scoring chances in its Class S quarterfinal game against No. 2 Nonnewaug of Woodbury, but the Bears failed to capitalize, losing 2-0.

"We had 11 penalty corners and they have five," coach Jenna Tucchio said. "We had plenty of opportunities to score. We just couldn't execute the penalty corners. It's unfortunate."

Nonnewaug scored both of its goals off penalty corners. Kassi LoPresti scored with two minutes remaining in the first half and Michelle Cawley added the insurance goal late in the second half. Stonington goalie Julie Royer, a three-year starter, capped with her career with five saves as the Bears finish 12-6.