Summit Varsity had high hopes for this week as it entered state cut-off week with a 6W-10L record, hoping to go on a run that would bring them to a 9W mark and a real shot to qualify for states. Despite a couple of 3 set thrillers, Summit could not come out on top in those matches as the team dropped a 2-1 decision to GL, a 2-0 decision to Linden in the first round of counties and a 2-1 decision to Roselle Park. The team re-gathered and despite missing 4 players due to illness, SHS rallied in the last match of the week and took a 2-1 victory from the Cranford Cougars on the road.
Meanwhile, JV dropped a 2-0 decision to Governor Livingston with a 9th grade only squad playing in set 2 after the regular lineup dropped set 1. In the first round of counties, SHS took care of Plainfield's JV 2-0 and then came back from behind, fighting off multiple match points, to rip the victory from Roselle Park by a 2-1 score. That victory set up the quarter-final round match versus Cranford, whom Summit had lost to in 3 at home in September. Despite taking set 1 30-28, the Hilltoppers dropped the next 2 sets 23-25 and 28-26 to bow out of the UCIAC Tourney.
Varsity took GL to the brink with a 23-25, 25-21, 18-25 loss on the road in the first matchup of the week. Captain Inggs and Macpherson had monster matches with 7 kills apiece, Inggs with a kill % of 50 to lead the team. SHS could not pressure the Crusaders from the serving line which became the story of set 3 and with only 4 aces in the match, 3 in set 2, the story of the match as well. The Hilltopper block was a major factor in the match and one of the reasons the team had a shot to win as the front line notched 8 blocks on defense. Summit also tallied 42 digs to keep many GL attacks off the scoreboard.
Coming off that disappointing but really positive outing versus the Crusaders, the team was looking to win the rubber match versus Linden in the first round of the UCT. Unfortunately, Summit could not find its groove and the Tigers came from behind in both sets to beat SHS 25-17, 27-25.
Basically, Summit could not find the floor with its attacks as no Hilltopper hitter notched better than 4 kills for the match. The hitting percentage told most of the story as SHS managed a meager 3.8% effectiveness. Summit was able to put pressure on Linden with their serving as the team tallied a 97.7% serve % and kept Linden very often out of system despite not being able to capitalize often enough. SHS scored another 5 blocks but the main issue was offense, especially in the back end of both sets as the Hilltoppers would come up empty again and again on attacks they needed to push the match to 3 sets.
SHS then traveled to Roselle Park to be part of their Dig Pink event and hoped to right the ship and give themselves a shot to end the week with a 2w-2l record. Although the team nailed a 25-19 set 1 win, the squad failed to close out RP in the second and lost 27-25 and fell apart late in set 3 to succumb 25-17. When a 3 set match fails to produce a hitter with at least 6 kills, it gives you all the info you need to figure out why a team is struggling to win. Summit attacked 85 balls but managed only 7 kills per set. The serving game could not get consistent production and barely reached 10% in ace production which then shifted the pressure back to the attack. The Hilltoppers dug up 36 balls but gave up 12 aces in an overall confusing day for the passing game.
Illnesses and other issues had the Varsity roster down to 8 on Thursday as the team looked to scrape a win versus the Cranford Cougars. The task was not a given since the team had not swept Cranford in about 7 years. Somehow, the team leaned on each other and came away with an impressive 25-19, 23-25, 25-20 victory. With barely any options on the bench, the front row hitters took ownership of this difficult situation and had 3 players hit for at least 6 kills, the main reason the Maroon and White took the 2-1 decision. The team was also lethal from the service line as 3 players had at least 4 aces to supplement the offensive barrage. Summit scored an average of 16.7 points per set and survived a late second set collapse to win all the key points in set 3 to take the game despite all the obstacles this squad faced that day and endured during the week.
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