Twenty-two years ago, Ed Bengermino convened a group of girls volleyball coaches from all over the state for Saturday breakfasts at Reilly's restaurant in Hamden. Bengermino had a vision: to also make the sport accessible on a competitive basis to males.

Today, the retired Fairfield coach's dream has become a reality. Four years after club play, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference sanctioned boys volleyball in 1991. The state followed suit a decade later.

While not yet completely on a par with other spring sports like baseball, lacrosse and track, there is no question boys volleyball has made a solid imprint and its popularity has surged.

Eleven of the FCIAC's 19 schools have teams. Staples, which has become the dominant program, had seven players try out for the team in 1987. This year that number swelled to 68.

"When Benge first got us together, I think it was a long shot it would become a varsity sport because we had to compete against all the other sports," Staples coach Bruce Betts said. "People had their doubts but were willing to take a chance. Now we get around 1,000 people at the FCIAC championship."

In assessing the current state of boys volleyball in the area, perhaps no two teams provide a better prism than Staples and Darien, which offer a study in contrasts. The Wreckers long ago passed through the growing pains that other teams are still experiencing, and have become Gulliver in a land of Lilliputians. They have won eight league titles - including the last five in a row - and six of the seven state championships that have been held.

Darien, which has the state's premier girls volleyball program, started a boys team three years ago and has made sudden progress. But for a variety of reasons, the future remains tenuous.

There is no doubt that Staples has established the template others attempt to replicate. Betts, who also coaches the Wreckers' girls team, was equal parts salesman and elementary school teacher in going out, finding players and then feeding them the basics.

"The quality of play when we first started was not very good," Betts said with a chuckle. "But there was some interest because we had a good girls team, and I was able to get kids who wanted to play. I was able to recruit kids because I taught physical education and volleyball classes."

In describing the composition of those early teams, Betts paints a picture of the volleyball version of "The Longest Year", minus the prison.

"We had soccer players, basketball players, football players and kids who basically didn't do anything and never played a sport at Staples and decided to try anything," Betts recalled. "It was a diverse bunch of guys. I played a basic 4-2 system because the kids didn't know what they were doing. We had a set offense and defense and got beat up."

As the Wreckers got better, so did the caliber of players he was able to attract.

"We started to really get quality athletes and they kept coming out from there," Betts said.

Because there is not yet a cohesive feeder program, most males are not exposed to the sport before they arrive at high school. Betts is no different from any other coach in that regard, but now that his team has become a state power, he has a selling point that has become self-perpetuating.

"I didn't know much about the team before I came here," said Peter Hlawitschka, a senior setter/outside hitter. "My dad played club volleyball in college. But at our school we have one of the most successful programs and a lot of kids want to be a part of it."

The Wreckers are 9-0 so far this season and a favorite to add to their string of postseason titles.

"Everyone always asks about our games and for the big games the crowds go nuts," Hlawitschka said. "Last year for the state finals we had a fan bus. In some towns it is definitely a lot slower."

One would think in a community where volleyball eclipses most other sports, Darien would have no trouble finding male players. The girls program has won 17 league and 13 state titles and is one of Connecticut's true scholastic sports dynasties.

But Darien is also home to a nationally ranked boys lacrosse power, and has a new rugby team to go along with other established spring sports.

So when Laurie LaRusso, the architect of the girls team's success, also took over as the boys coach, she knew it was not going to be a sure thing.

"We're kind of the odd man out," LaRusso said. "With everything that is going on it is tough to attract guys."

Ironically, LaRusso said her reputation could be a factor. Her girls teams have flourished in part because of the dedication of the players, who have come to accept three-hour practices and six-day work weeks.

"The fear-factor of me doesn't help," LaRusso said. "Some of the girls tell the guys horror stories."

One of those not scared off was Bryan Begley, a 6-foot-5 senior whose sister, Stephanie, was one of the Blue Wave's top players before graduating two years ago.

"My sister played so I sort of had a background," Begley said. "I was nervous going into the first day of practice."

The Blue Wave's workouts still exceed the three-hour mark, but the results have followed. After winning three matches that first season, they have tripled that total and are currently 9-1. The lone loss was to Staples.

"I'm very surprised for being just a third-year program," Begley said. "The first year disappointed us but we have worked really hard."

LaRusso admitted that, by necessity, her approach is different from what she does with the girls team.

"I hardly have any guys so it's hard to be hard on them," she said. "A guy will walk out of the gym and there goes your team."

Ally Taylor, a high school All-American and the Blue Wave's most valuable player last fall, occasionally practices with the boys team.

"Coach seems more relaxed with them," Taylor said. "Handling boys is something new and different for her. There isn't as much pressure. And things are going to get better."

LaRusso is not so sure. While her varsity team was also her junior varsity team three years ago, Darien still only has 15 players. Like Betts, she is playing the role of carnival barker. The question is whether there are enough prospective players to listen.

"I'm worried," LaRusso said. "I'm competing for the quality athlete with established programs. I think it's going to be hard. I have a good group of guys and this year is vital for them, but when the seniors leave what happens? We're not over the hump yet."

LaRusso will attempt to compensate by offering camps for younger players. That has worked in other towns, where there are now winter and summer leagues to give boys the chance to hone their skills in the offseason.

"I can now play at the beach and backyards and at the YMCA," Hlawitschka said. "My younger brother is in the seventh grade, he is starting to play and so are his friends. It is spreading like that."

For that reason, Betts is optimistic about the long-term future of the sport.

"I think there is a long way to go with this," he said. "I think we could get to the point where it is as big as it is in Massachusetts and New York. We're getting calls and colleges are interested in players. We're out there.

"I run into Benge once in a while and I remember saying to him, 'Did you ever think it would be this way?' I never thought it would be like this."