9th GRADERS PLAY EXPERIENCED SQUADS, HOLD THEIR OWN

The 9th Graders had a buzzsaw of a week against the Livingston Lancers and the Cranford Cougars, well established programs from the 9th grade up and the team held their own against these squads who have many players who have been playing together since middle school.

Hilltoppers dropped a 2-0 decision to the Lancers but surprised the more experienced squad in set 2 with a superb effort that led to a tight set solved in essentially overtime by a 29-27 score.  The squad came back against Cranford on Friday and dropped the first set but, as is this team´s M.O., they did not wilt and came back to take set 2 and force a deciding 3rd set against a much more experienced squad.  Although the Hilltoppers dropped the 3rd set, the team showed that it could compete against these more experienced squads and be highly competitive.

Next up for the Top, New Providence, a team that the Hilltoppers beat on the road.

Ninth graders have a 7W-3L record currently and are in a mini 2 game losing streak entering the match against the Pioneers.