North Jersey teams reach finals
The public sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls volleyball tournament took place Thursday and Friday. The Non-Public A/B tournaments no longer include North/South sections and will conclude with the state finals on Nov. 12.
Here are the North Jersey public schools headed to the finals in their respective sections.
North 1, Group 2: Demarest, River Dell
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday at No. 3 Demarest
WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 4 seed Hawks (17-4) pulled off the stunner of the tournament with Friday’s 25-22, 15-25, 25-21 semifinal win over Sparta (22-2). The Spartans began the season 18-0 and dealt Bergen County champ Immaculate Heart its only loss.
“We made mistakes, and we just kept plugging away,” River Dell coach Dianne Furusawa said. “We got some nice blocks on them, we picked up some nice digs, and it just came together.”
Senior Julia Ryan rang a spike off a block attempt for the winning point against Sparta, which defeated the Hawks in last year’s North 1, Group 2 final.
Demarest (20-4), meanwhile, had split a pair of three-set matches with Old Tappan that gave the rivals a share of the Big North-National title. But in the sectional semis, the Norsewomen prevailed, 25-21, 2521.
“We were confident and managed our emotions well,” coach Beth Powell said.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Demarest and River Dell squared off for the NJSIAA Group 2 championship in 2015 and 2017, with the Hawks winning both times. The Norsewomen prevailed in the 2018 state semifinals, but River Dell won the most recent playoff meeting in the 2021 sectional semis.
KEY PLAYERS: Hawks senior Erin McCabe played a crucial role against Sparta with 9 kills, 9 digs, 4 aces and 31⁄2 blocks. Powell noted that Marist commit Taylor Miller “had a banner day” with 20 kills at Old Tappan, including the 800th of her career.
North 1, Group 1: Bogota
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday at No. 3 Kinnelon
WHAT TO KNOW: The Bucs (18-6) lost to Glen Rock in three sets on Sept. 22 but turned the tables in Friday’s sectional final, 25-21, 25-20.
Though they began the season 6-4 and were 9-6 in mid-October – equaling their most losses in a season over the last 20 years – they now are a much different team.
“We had a couple kids that were disciplined, they couldn’t play for half the season,” Bogota coach Brad DiRupo said. “And we had some injuries, so we relied on a lot of sophomores and freshmen.
“We went through some growing pains… but that’s what makes this team special, because we reacted to the adversity, and it made us better.”
POSTSEASON HISTORY: The NJSIAA began awarding sectional titles for girls volleyball in 2010, and the Bucs have earned one every year since. Their streak of 12 in a row will be put to the test against the team they defeated in the 2019 Group 1 state final.
KEY PLAYERS: Sophomore OH Emma Fowler had most of her 12 kills against Glen Rock in the first set, burying shots off assists from senior Kaelee Zuniga, who had 26. Senior Lindsey Millis (12 kills, 8 digs) led Kinnelon (18-4) to a 25-17, 25-22 semifinal sweep of Park Ridge.
North 1, Group 3: Northern Highlands
WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m., home vs. No. 2 Morris Knolls
WHAT TO KNOW: Both title-match entrants survived three-set thrillers in the semis. The top-seeded Highlanders (20-7) outlasted Ramapo, 25-22, 24-26, 25-21, while Morris Knolls (19-7) held off Wayne Valley, 25-20, 14-25, 25-21.
Northern Highlands has won 4-of-5 following a loss to Old Tappan in the Bergen County semifinals – a stage of the tournament the program had not reached in 15 years.
“That was only our second time that we’ve made it to the semifinals since I’ve been coaching,” said coach Caryn Schanstine, now in her 21st season. “It was a big confidence-builder for our girls, to know that they can make a run if they keep working at it for the postseason.”
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Northern Highlands won the 2008 NJSIAA Group 3 championship and returned to the state final the following season. That was the last year before section titles were awarded, so the Allendale school is in search of its first official sectional trophy. The Highlanders fell to Tenafly in the Spring 2021 North 1, Group 3 final.
KEY PLAYERS: Senior OH Anna Bryan-Jones (138 kills, 34 aces) and sophomore setter Allie Reilly (526 assists, 33 aces) combined to serve 26 points and 8 aces against Ramapo. Morris Knolls has a balanced attack led by Abby Mackey (126 kills) and Olga Rostek (120).