Bergen County Champs Back to Back

Photo Credits: Steve Hockstein for NJ Advanced Media

Trailing by six points with the third set nearing its end in the 2025 Bergen County Tournament championship, Old Tappan senior Julia Whaley told her teammates to give those next few possessions everything they have.

‘Have no regrets, make no mistakes.’

In a best-of-five match on Saturday, Nov. 1, it was a pivotal frame to win for either second-seeded Old Tappan or ninth-seeded Immaculate Heart. Whaley and her teammates, in a rocking Old Tappan gym, kept their poise and rattled off a 10-3 run to take the third frame.

Whaley pummeled five kills over that span. Eva Curko and Joley Giordano each had one, then Bianca Benasillo spiked the set-winner in a dramatic 26-24 frame win.

That momentum transitioned into the fourth and final frame for Old Tappan, ranked No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20.

Facing No. 10 Immaculate Heart for a third-straight season in the Bergen County Tournament finals, Old Tappan became back-to-back champions for the first time in the modern era in 25-17, 24-26, 26-24, 25-19 fashion for the program’s seventh overall Bergen crown.

“Never winning back-to-back in county’s had not occurred to me until this morning. It’s really amazing. These girls have so much drive,” Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck said.

Old Tappan had previously won consecutive tournament titles in 1966 and 1967, but those were not considered Bergen County Tournament championships.

Old Tappan Bergen County championships by season: 1994, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2024, 2025

Immaculate Heart (19-5) made their fourth-straight Bergen County final and entered Saturday with nine championships all-time.

“Both programs have tradition. Both programs have talent. You never know what’s going to happen in a tournament, but having those two things helps a lot,” Landeck said.

The Golden Knights’ 2025 season has not followed the same tracks as their route in 2024. Led by veteran seniors, Old Tappan went 25-0 in 2024.

This season, Landeck had to weather the storm as four starters each missed crucial time due to injury. This also comes during a season when parity in Bergen County has been at an all-time high. Seven different Bergen teams have been featured at least one time in the NJ.com Top 20 rankings this year. Landeck still found a way to get through the competition and stand atop a powerhouse county.

Six different players logged a kill for Old Tappan on Saturday, led by Julia Whaley’s 18, which is a career-high. She also produced a career-high 23 digs, marking her fifth double-double of the season.

Bianca Benasillo registered 14 kills, Nadine Whaley tallied eight, Curko added seven, Joley Giordano had four, and Gabriela Paltag mashed three.

Paltag’s best kill was saved for last. To close out a long rally, Curko dug out the hit from IHA. She angled the ball towards Giordano, who quick-set Paltag at the middle of the net.

Paltag’s untouched spike to the back line sealed the championship

“When we talk about this game several years down the line, we’re all going to remember that point from Gab. She’ll never forget that,” Whaley said.

Giordano, a junior, distributed 40 assists, marking a new career-high.

Old Tappan racked up 14 blocks: Nadine Whaley (4), Paltag (4), Curko (3), Giordano (2), Benasillo (1).

They also churned 10 points from behind the serving line. Julia Whaley’s three aces led the team. Two of them came within the first three points of the afternoon.

Adriana Bryan, Kate Finn, and Giordano each swatted two aces, and Curko had one.

Immaculate Heart was led by 15 kills from sophomore Adrielle Crump, who surpassed 450 career kills on Saturday. She also zipped four aces and had three blocks.

Sophia Mahon added eight kills and four blocks. The sophomore middle blocker tied the second set at 24 with a block, which gave IHA the ball back en route to a set win.

Old Tappan’s road to a 2025 Bergen County championship included tournament wins over 15-Glen Rock; 7-Pascack Valley; 6-Tenafly; and 9-Immaculate Heart.

Source Link: https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2025/11/old-tappan-goes-back-to-back-in-bergen-county-championship-for-teams-7th-title.html

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