Summit was looking to sweep the Linden Tigers for the first time since 2011 but although the Hilltoppers came roaring back in the match in game 2, SHS failed to capitalize on the opportunity and fell to Linden by 23-25, 25-18, 16-25 scores.
Summit did not start game 1 in the most positive way. SHS gave up 2 aces quickly and it wasn't until a Gabby Mejia tip kill to bring Summit to within 4 at 7-3 that the Hilltoppers got any life in the game. A Rau Soares block and a Casey Nardino kill brought SHS to a 7-7 tie but a 4-0 run by the Tigers got Linden back in control at 11-7. The game's quality degenerated into a mere serving exercise with both teams missing multiple serves and unable to generate any momentum. Nardino got a kill with SHS down 17-18 to knot up the score and then hit an ace to put Summit in front for the first time all game. A ball handling error by Summit had the score tied up again and a hitting error by Summit with another right-side kill by Linden gave the visitors a 21-19 lead. Rau Soares then hit for a crucial kill to get Summit the ball back down by 1 and a Linden hitting error had Summit tied again at 21. With the game knotted at 22, Alana Gartenberg hit a kill that seemed to put the Hilltoppers in control at 23-22 but a key kill out of the middle by the Tigers tied the score again at 23. Unfortunately, the tough mistakes that have cost the Hilltoppers matches this year popped up again as Summit hit a crucial error and failed to capitalize on the last attack as the Tigers roared back to a 25-23 game 1 win.
In game 1, the difference was the service game of the Hilltoppers as Summit hit for 1 ace to 4 serving errors, serving at an 82% clip. Meanwhile, Linden served at 80% but hit for 4 aces. The difference in the ace total proved to be the a factor as was the kill numbers (5 - SHS, 8 - Linden)
Game 2 saw a very different Hilltopper squad. Nardino hit for 2 kills in a row to tie up the score at 3 and the Hilltoppers were off and running. Summit went on a 6-1 run fueled by 2 Nardino kills and a Gartenberg kill to push Summit to a 9-4 lead. Nardino hit for a couple of aces moments later and SHS had the Tigers on the ropes with a 12-7 lead. Summit did not let up despite a service error as Angela Scott got 2 consecutive kills to get Summit to a 17-11 lead. Nardino and Soares nailed another couple of kills and Sandra Bazalar hit for an ace that pretty much sealed the game as SHS ballooned to 21-13. Linden got as close as 15-21 but the Hilltoppers closed out game 2 after an amazing rally punctuated by a Jocelyn Mendez back row kill to finish the Tigers off 25-18.
Summit hit for 12 kills led by Nardino's 5 kills and the squad had only 2 errors for a season best .455 hitting efficiency. Summit nailed 6 aces but also had 7 service errors and served only at 72%, the only blemish in an otherwise great game. Summit scored 18 points and passed at a 1.81 rating with Scott leading the way with 9 reception attempts at a 2.22 pass rating.
Summit was flying high and ready to fight through game 3 but after passing at an incredible rate in game 2, Summit passed at a paltry 1.21 in the deciding game which cost them the match. Summit's offense still managed 6 kills and the team served at a 94% with 4 aces to keep the Hilltoppers in the match early but the passing was the difference as the team gave up 1/2 of Linden's aces in this set.
Summit trailed early 6-3 after the Tigers found their middle attack again but a kill by Soares got the team back within 2. Mejia served up an ace to pull Summit within 1 at 6-5. Nardino hit for 3 aces and and a Scott kill had the Hilltoppers up by 4 at 11-7 and the team and its fans could see the finish line. But Linden went on an 11-2 run to jump all over SHS 18-14 and never relinquish command of the game. That run saw Linden hit for 2 aces, 2 kills and SHS commit 3 errors. Scott tried to rally the Hilltoppers with a timely kill that had Summit within 4 at 14-18 but 3 more unforced errors, a Tiger kill and 2 aces had Linden in control at 24-14. Nardino got a kill to get Summit to within 8 at 16-24 but, appropriately enough, a blocking error ended the match.
Linden outscored Summit 16-10 thanks to 6 aces by the Tigers. The end of game 3 was stunning for the Hilltoppers as they got outscored 18-5 after leading 11-7 and seemingly in control. Summit gave up all 6 aces during that stretch which proved to be the deciding factor in the game.
Summit hit for 23 kills as did Linden. Summit was a better offense hitting at .203 while the Tigers were only .134. Summit served at an 82% and an ace % of 17%. Linden meanwhile served at 88% with an ace % of 19%. But the biggest variable was the passing, especially late in the 3rd game, which sealed the Hilltoppers' fate.
Casey Nardino was a single woman wrecking crew, scoring 16 points in the match with 9 kills and 7 aces. Gabby Mejia was the best server, hitting for the most service points, a perfect 100% and hitting for 1 ace. Grace Galuppo led the team with 11 assists. Ray Soares also had a phenomenal match with a 5 kill performance at a .333 hitting % to help balance the Hilltopper attack.
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