In set 1, the teams traded points throughout the early to midpoint of the set but with the score 12-11 Summit, the Hilltoppers went on a 4-0 run that swung the momentum irreversibly Summit's way after a Margo Reigle kill.
Despite a few brief runs by Kent Place, the Hilltoppers held on to their 3-4 point cushion until late in the match when Kent Place went on a 5-1 run to tie the score at 23. A key service error by Kent Place and a Casey Nardino kill later, Summit had the 1st set win at 25-23.
Summit generated 5 kills (Kathleen Morano and Margo Reigle with 2 kills apiece) and served 20/24 serves to pace the serving offense. The team had 15 digs, led by Gabriela Mejia's 5 digs.
The 2nd set was more of the same as both teams were deadlocked at 6 early on in the set. Although the Dragons went on a brief 4-0 run, the Hilltoppers cut the lead down to 1 at 9-10 after 3 straight errors forced by Hilltopper pressure. Unfortunately Kent Place responded with 9-2 run that featured the defensive passing and hitting prowess of the Dragons.
Summit did not fold at 20-11 and ran off 3 straight points to pull to within 6 at 20-14 but a 5-1 closing run by the Dragons sealed the set for Kent Place. Summit hit for 4 kills (2 by Cassidy O'Malley) and again served fairly well -15/16 from the service line- but got no aces and managed only 6 digs. Summit's inability to put the ball away hurt their effort in this set. Kent Place out-killed the Hilltoppers 17-4 in the set.
The 3rd set took on a similar look yet again as both teams dueled to an 8-8 tie early on but 2 straight passing errors by the Hilltoppers opened a 2 point lead by the Dragons that seemed to be enough to put Kent Place at ease.
The Dragons held their 2 point advantage through the midpoint of the set at 13-11 when an ace by Casey Nardino and a couple of forced errors by KP had Summit up by 1 at 14-13. The teams traded points until the latter part of the set with neither side being able to gain control. After an ace by Emani Miles put Summit up by 1 at 19-18, the Hilltoppers looked like they were going to repeat the Union finish of the past match. Kent Place put a kill away from the right side to end the run and turn the game around.
Two aces and free ball error later, SHS had their backs against the wall at 19-22 when Coach Martins called a time out. The team responded and forced a hitting error out of the Dragons and got a crucial kill by Casey Nardino to get within 1 at 21-22. Summit had KP on the ropes as the team forced the Dragons to free ball the next play over but a key passing mistake at that junction gave the ball to the Dragons and the lead at 23-21.
Summit could not convert on their attack but KP did and followed it up with their 6th ace of the set to close out the set and match 25-22.
Summit's errors were the key to the set as the team managed only 4 kills to 4 errors on offense. SHS served well again (19/21 with 2 aces) but the errors occurred at the latter stages of the match which proved to be significant. The team dug up 11 balls led by Jocelyn Mendes' 4 digs and Julianne Smolyn finished the set with a perfect 9/9 in serve receptions (19/19 in the match). Summit was out-gunned 8-4 from the front row and 6-2 from the service line which turned out to be the key to the set.
The Hilltoppers gave up more aces in this set (6) than in the other 2 combined (3 in set 1, 2 in set 2).
The Hilltoppers will participate in the Morristown-Beard Tournament this upcoming Saturday and will resume the regular season on Monday, on the road, versus division and county rival Rahway.
JV WINS FIRST SET AND FALTERS DOWN THE STRETCH VS. DRAGONS
The JV Squad started off well versus KP as the team jumped out to a 14-6 lead they would never relinquish. Although the Dragons made a 5-0 run late to keep the score respectable at (24-19) a kill by Clara Mussalam closed the set out at 25-19. This late run though was a harbinger of things to come however.
KP came out on fire in set 2 and quickly established control of the set with their serving and offense. Summit couldn't break momentum and fell 25-9 to the Dragons.
Summit and Kent Place were locked in a battle in set 3 but a 5-0 run near the midpoint of the set gave the Dragons a quick 14-9 lead. Summit would fight back to get within 1 at 16-17 but a missed free attack opportunity at the net gave the Dragons the lead they needed to break the Hilltoppers' momentum. KP outscored Summit 7-0 down the stretch thanks in large part to 5 serving errors in the last 8 serving rotations by Summit. Summit bows out in 3 sets 25-19, 9-25, 17-25.
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