Through determination, teamwork, and hard work all season the Girls Volleyball team continues to move through the NJSIAA Sectional Playoffs.
Recently the team defeated LEAP Academy in the first round of NJSIAA playoffs on Nov. 2.
State games require three-out-of-five sets to be won instead of two-out-of-three sets. The girls won the first three sets against LEAP Academy.
During the second set, senior Julia Hirsch got the achievement of 100 kills and junior Emilly Trincan followed by getting 100 kills during the third set. Their outstanding offensive performances played a major role in the team’s success, as both athletes consistently delivered powerful attacks and found ways to put points on the board.
“I’m super proud of them because Julia is a right side which is difficult,” head coach Amy Simpson said. “You’re not the one that gets set all the time, but Julia deserves it because [she] plays every position, not only right side. Emily has come a long way, she’s been on my team as JV for two years and now she’s on varsity. It’s so great to just see her blossom and get her really focused on killing the ball.”
Beyond the individual achievements, the victory was a true team effort. Strong communication, impressive defense, and the ability to work together under pressure helped the team secure its first-round win. Every player contributed to the energy and momentum on the court, demonstrating the importance of teamwork during such an important part of the season. Winning the first round of the NJSIAA tournament is a major accomplishment, and with confidence building and momentum on their side, the players are looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“We are gonna do amazing because we are gonna have a lot of confidence and a lot of effort,” Trincan said. “I feel like we’re gonna go really far in volleyball just have a lot of faith in our team.”
The second round was at home on Nov. 4 against Highland Park where they won the first three sets again. The girls put in so much effort once again to win. They then continued to persevere through their third round against South River on Nov. 6 with junior Riley Liskowacki breaking the school record for most digs in a season with 270 digs so far.
Their final round will be on Nov. 11th at home against Raritan at 6 p.m.
