The JV Squad continued its late season run with dominant wins over the Kent Place Dragons and the Dayton Bulldogs to improve their record to 13W-6L. With 2 more wins possible in the season, the team is poised to tie the program record in wins (15) and have the best record ever by winning % with a possible 15W-6L season finish in the horizon.
The Hilltoppers took on the Dragons on Thursday won a 2-0 decision, 25-13, 26-24 and followed it up on Friday with a decisive 25-18, 25-10 decision over the Bulldogs on Friday to cap off Senior Day. Summit has been on a tear since the County Tournament loss to Rahway. The squad has gone 3W-0L against Roselle Catholic, Kent Place and Dayton during that stretch.
The team has gotten contributions from many of its more "veteran" players but the emergence of the 9th graders has been the great bonus of the 3 wins as many of these athletes have seen significant playing time in meaningful matches. Julianna Fiore and Lauren Trindell continue to be a factor out of the front row and Olivia Skrobola has continued to develop as a potential setter. Cheryl Liu, Clara Sarkissian and Tessa Pulgar continue to show flashes of what they might become in the future out of the backrow and Caitlin Thompson has demonstrated at times how her athletic ability can impact a play as she continues her defensive development. Eilis McFadden, Blakely McCann and Anna Makedonska have shown tremendous improvement over the season and have begun to contribute to the team in the limited opportunities they have been given to play.
Meanwhile, Madison Young has continued to lead the team from the service line and the front row with her offense as the team continues to rely on her steady performance to steady the team when it gets on roll of bad points. Taylor Thompson continues to be a factor for the Hilltoppers from a setting and serving perspective and teammate Lharyssa Viana has settled down the team's serve receive and defense with timely and accurate passes. Bella D'Ambrosi was one of the serving leaders and a mainstay out of the front row until the knee injury that has sidelined her for the rest of the season. The Elko sisters, Vanessa and Olivia have continued to show at times the power and aggressiveness that make them dominant at the JV level from the front row and the service area. Natalie Schluter continues to show why she is a vital piece to the defensive and serve receive areas of the team as well as being one of the most trustworthy servers the squad has to field. Teammate Camille Della Piazza has the trust of the coaching staff as well from the service line and has been relied on to set, defend and serve receive, a credit to her athleticism and development as a player. Katie Samay has been a force in the front row and a dangerous serving option all season but has been instrumental in the last 3 matches in getting the Hilltoppers on top. Against the Bulldogs, Katie blew open the game with a 10-0 run from the service line with 5 aces that put away Dayton early in set 2. Christina Gangi has developed from a player that barely made the team last year to a major offensive force this year, hopefully a glimpse of what she might become for the team in the future. Last, but not least, Alisha McDonnell has surprised everyone in becoming one of the steadiest and most effective setter and defensive player SHS fields and has shown tremendous potential as a volleyball player.
The team will look to break the best season record by winning the last 2 matches next week.
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