Old Tappan Advances to Sectional Finals with Win Over Pascack Valley; Still Undefeated

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Entering Saturday’s North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 semifinal match of the NJSIAA Playoffs at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan, the top-seeded Golden Knights boasted as impressive a resume as any program in the Garden State. Ranked No. 4 in the NJ.com Top 20, Old Tappan rolled into the semifinals with an undefeated record and only one set loss in 2024. Opposing Old Tappan on Saturday was the one team to take a set from it this season in fourth-seeded Pascack Valley. It was a hard-fought, back and forth match between two of North Jersey‘s top teams, but Old Tappan (22-0) did just a bit more to prevail in straight sets by set scores of 25-21 and 26-24. Old Tappan’s victory sets it on a collision course with second-seeded, eight-ranked Sparta, who defeated sixth-seeded Demarest in straight sets to set up a sectional final clash in Old Tappan on Tuesday. As divisional rivals in the Big North conference National Division, Old Tappan and Pascack Valley had met twice during the regular season. Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck highlighted the stiff divisional competition her team battled en route to the playoffs and how the her players have elevated their game against that competition.

“We‘re familiar foes. Same conference, same league, and I think our division is arguably the toughest,” Landeck said of the division that produced three of the four N1G2 semifinal participants. “Both teams competed today and that‘s what you want at this level of the state tournament. This was our third meeting of the season so it’s a testament to our league.” Old Tappan‘s formula rung off 21 consecutive wins since opening night in September, and it was more of the same for win #22. Senior Addison Gioffre played her part as setter by racking up 28 assists on the day, and Old Tappan’s top hitters did the rest.

Senior Samantha Kranzler recorded a game-high 16 kills while juniors Eva Curko and Julia Whaley chipped in with seven and six kills respectively, and the trio combined for five blocks in dominant efforts at the net both offensively and defensively. Kranzler and Curko knew that if any team was going to push Old Tappan to its limit, it would be the only one that had won a set against it during the season, and both players highlighted the challenges the third match with Pascack Valley presented. “It’s always hard playing a team three times,” Kranzler said. “They’re the only team that had taken a set from us so we knew they were going to come in confident. For us, it was just about practicing hard yesterday, sticking to our game plan, and focusing on ourselves as a team and not worrying about anyone around us.” Curko added on to Kranzler’s comments by detailing how Old Tappan has managed the high-pressure situations it has faced throughout the season. The ever present “0″ in the loss column can weigh on players if it’s thought about too much, and Curko detailed the approach that has helped her and her teammates remain level-headed in the midst of an undefeated season thus far. “It’s about playing one game at a time and staying focused throughout the whole game,” Curko said. “Being confident in ourselves is part of our game plan and that’s how we play the whole time.”

With a team full of players brimming with confidence and the talent to back it up, Landeck had plenty to say about the top performers that have Old Tappan one win away from a sectional title. “They‘re a quality program, very well coached. It‘s always a tough game so we’ll be doing our homework on them to get ready to show up on Tuesday and compete,” Landeck said. “We respect every opponent and what’s going to be vital for that game is practicing and playing our hardest,” Curko added. “Both side of the net are going to be playing outstanding volleyball and we’ll have to focus on ourselves at the end of the day.”

Pascack Valley concludes its 2024 campaign with a 17-7 record, improving on the team’s 15-8 showing in 2023. For second year head coach Kaitlin Mac Iver, the 2024 campaign served as a strong step forward for her program. Both improving on the regular season record as well as qualifying for the sectional semifinals after falling in the quarterfinals last season, Mac Iver sees the 2024 group as one that did everything asked of it and played as well as she could have asked. “I came in last year and the kids have bought into the system, and I‘ve told them since day one that we’re all in it together,” Mac Iver said.

“Samantha was outstanding today. She took some big swings for us and was everything you want from a senior leader,” Landeck said of her team’s top hitter. “She saw the court well, she mixed her shot to keep the defense on their toes, and I can‘t say enough about her passing and defense. She really is the whole package. Eva took some big swings for us today as well, she‘s another tough one to defend. Addison always knows when to find the fight hands, she’s a very smart setter.” Smart setters putting big swingers in position for hits is the simple yet effective formula that‘s left Old Tappan’s record unblemished through 22 matches. The toughest test of the season still looms for the Golden Knights however.

Old Tappan and Sparta last squared off in the 2022 sectional semifinals, a straight set victory for Sparta en route to its Group 2 championship that season. Old Tappan will look to flip the script in the rematch, but it knows the challenge that lies ahead. “On the back of our shirts it says ‘I Am Because We Are’ and they‘ve really bought into the mentality of everyone making an impact. Whether it‘s on the court or off the court they came to work every single day since last year for me. They put in the work and they get along great with each other and I’m so grateful to never have any drama. They respect each other, they respect the game, they respect me, and they worked really really hard.” Although three Pascack Valley seniors will graduate, Mac Iver highlighted the dozen returning players that will remain and look to continue the program’s ascension when play begins in 2025.

Source Link: https://www.nj.com/highschoolsports/2024/11/girls-volleyball-no-4-old-tappan-edges-pascack-valley-to-secure-n1g2-final-berth.html

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Old Tappan’s Joley Giordano Named One of New Jersey’s Top Juniors

Oct 16, 2025

Old Tappan setter Joley Giordano was recognized among New Jersey’s top junior volleyball players for the 2025 season, earning second place in NJ Advance Media’s statewide poll. Giordano received 26.49% of the vote, finishing behind Demarest libero Kara Kim and ahead of Immaculate Heart’s Emma Fowler. The honor reflects her standout play as the core of Old Tappan’s offense and one of the most reliable all-around contributors in Bergen County. Across 32 sets, Giordano recorded 269 assists, 73 digs, 26 kills, and 18 aces, showcasing her versatility as both a playmaker and defender. She directed Old Tappan’s attack with poise, consistently creating scoring chances for her hitters while maintaining a strong presence in the back row. Her top performances came in key matchups against county rivals. She notched 38 assists and 10 digs against Glen Rock, 24 assists and 9 digs in a win over Demarest, and 5 aces versus Indian Hills. Giordano’s consistency, leadership, and impact on both ends of the court made her a clear choice among voters and solidified her standing as one of the state’s most complete juniors heading into the postseason.

Old Tappan Celebrated Senior Night with a Win

Oct 14, 2025

Old Tappan made Senior Night one to remember, rolling past Indian Hills 25-2, 25-8 to move to 11-3 on the season. The Golden Knights honored their four seniors with a complete team performance that showed depth, discipline, and energy from start to finish. Setter Joley Giordano led the attack with 14 assists, 2 kills, 2 digs, and 5 aces, running an efficient offense that kept Indian Hills off balance. Eva Curko was the top scorer with 9 kills and 2 aces, while Desi Malafis added 6 aces, 3 digs, and a kill. Julia Whaley and Nadine Whaley combined for 7 kills and 3 blocks at the net, setting the tone early with dominant front-row play. Adriana Bryan contributed strong defense and serve receive with 4 digs, 2 aces, and an assist. Gabriela Paltag chipped in 2 kills and a block, and Bianca Benasillo added 3 kills to round out a balanced front line. Maya Fernandez and Alexa Caunedo helped control the second set with key assists and energy off the bench, while Gloria Jung and Kate Finn each added an ace in limited action. Phoebe Malady and McKenna Perez provided steady defensive support throughout the match. Indian Hills (2-11) was led by Anna Baryla, Anna Tompetrini, and Mackenzie Cipriani, who each recorded 2 kills. Elizabeth Silletti paced the defense with 4 digs and 2 assists, while Gabby LiButti tallied 3 assists. Old Tappan’s 17 total aces and balanced execution defined the match, giving the seniors a perfect sendoff on their home court. The Golden Knights will look to carry that same momentum into the final stretch of the regular season.

Old Tappan advances with win over Glen Rock

Oct 12, 2025

OLD TAPPAN -- The Golden Knights shook off a sub-par first set to best Glen Rock, 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-14) in the Bergen County Women's Coaches Association Round of 16 volleyball tournament on Saturday.The Panthers faced the team that had won the county and state tournaments while going undefeated in 2024. But Glen Rock was great in the first set, matching the Golden Knights point for point.The score was tied on 10 occasions with neither team leading by more than 4 points at any time. Glen Rock took its first lead of the game, 9-8, with a 4-0 run to erase an 8-5 lead.Panthers senior outside hitter Teresa Sapienza began the comeback by smacking a kill to give the serve back to the Panthers and junior libero Erin Nerona followed with a service ace. When senior middle blocker Avery Schwartz followed with a successful block Glen Rock tied the score 8-all. An unsuccessful block by Old Tappan gave the Panthers their first lead of the match and when the Golden Knights made an attack error and Nerona tallied a second ace, Glen Rock had an 11-8 lead, which prompted Old Tappan to call a timeout.When play resumed another attack error by the Knights increased the Panthers lead but OT junior setter Joley Giordano halted the rally with a quick kill. The teams traded points with a kill by Schwartz, who led Glen Rock with 9 kills in the match, and a kill by Knights sophomore middle blocker Nadine Whaley, who finished with 6 kills and 3 blocks for Old Tappan.Golden Knights senior libero, Adriana Bryan, stepped to the service line and reeled off 6 straight service winners to give OT a 16-14 lead. During Bryan's run Whaley contributed 2 kills and a block, sophomore outside hitter Phoebe Malady belted a kill and senior opposite hitter Eva Curko scored with a blocked shot along the way. But Schwartz came through for the Panthers, ending the Knights run with a kill. From there the teams traded points, and the score was tied six times."They are a really good defensive team," Curko said of the Panthers. "They were diving after every ball and what we had to adjust to was looking for open spots on the court and going out of our comfort zone to find those spots.""Their libero, (Nerona,) picked up a lot," added Bryan. "Her defense on hard swings and tips - she was doing great things out there - and it was a credit to her. During timeouts we said, 'stay away from her.' Their defense did a great job."Glen Rock took a 23-22 lead but Knights junior outside hitter Bianca Benasillo struck a well-placed kill to earn a side-out and tie the game one last time. It was Bryan's turn to serve and she did not disappoint. Neither did Curko, who blasted a kill to give Old Tappan a set point and banged home another kill for the 25-23 win."I work a lot on my service," said Bryan. "I take a lot of pride in it. Last year it was mainly my job just getting back there and serving. I'm working on consecutively serving tough and in. Sometimes I throw an easy one in there to gain confidence.Today we were up by a lot so I really went for it.""No matter who it is [scoring]," said Curko, "those exciting kills and points really get the whole team excited. My motivation is to get the next point for my team and help the team move forward any way I can. Getting those high energy points is something that is very important to us and it helps us get our energy higher and more motivated."That motivation carried into the second set. Schwartz had just given Glen Rock a 5-3 lead when Knights senior outside hitter Julia Whaley scored 4 straight points to give Old Tappan the lead for good. First, she hammered a kill, then she tallied with a perfect placement, scored on a block and pounded the ball for a 7-5 lead. After the Panthers committed an attack error Julia Whaley walloped another winner to compel Glen Rock to call timeout.Later, Julia Whaley smacked a kill to put the Knights up 11-7 and then she stepped to the service line. Seven service winners later Old Tappan led, 18-7 and they coasted to the 25-13 win to go up 2-0 in the match."It's very nice for our setter Joley (Giordano) to have so many options," said Curko, who finished with 9 kills, 9 digs, 1 assist and a service ace. "Each and every hitter did a great job of mixing up their shots today and going out and swinging hard because we know we can put the ball away. We did a good job of getting that confidence. Having all our hitters available and having so many options to set is such a good thing for Joley to have. As a setter you're confident that no matter who you set it to they have the confidence in themselves to put the ball away.""Joley was connecting with them and we're starting to build more confidence," Old Tappan coach Melissa Landeck said. "We played pretty well today and we have even more in us. We've battled injuries. We're still not 100 percent but we're a lot closer than we've been in a long time. We haven't scratched the surface yet. We're still a work in progress to be the best we can possibly be in 2025. It takes time."Old Tappan grabbed a 4-3 lead early in the third set and never trailed again. Julia Whaley belted 7 of her game high 17 kills, including the match point, in that third set."Glen Rock is a good team," said Landeck. "There's a reason why their record is what it is. They're well-coached, they're aggressive offensively. I thought they served well and they executed in all facets of the game. We knew today was going to be a challenge so I'm just proud of the girls and the way they responded and took the initial threat and were able to punch back.""We've been making a lot of adjustments [on defense,]" said Bryan. "[Coach] Landeck has been switching it up for us. So we switched the libero jersey (from junior Desi Malafis to Bryan). We have a lot of confidence in each other so it wasn't a huge adjustment for us because we always connect with each other."Six different Old Tappan players contributed points in the match. Benasillo finished with 10 kills and a block, Bryan had 9 digs, Malafis added 7 digs and Giordano had 3 kills, 5 digs and distributed an impressive 38 assists."It's really nice," said Bryan. "As a defender knowing we have 5 or 6 people who can put the ball away and we have a very deep bench - I can trust any one of them to come in and do something with the ball to get a kill. Everybody is starting to play smart. I know they're not always going to hammer the ball. They all have nice court vision. It's a blessing to have all of that."Glen Rock did a great job on defense, as Nerona scooped 14 digs and distributed 2 assists. Junior defensive specialist Rachel Park had 10 digs and 3 assists. Senior setter Ella Torsiello dished 19 assists and scooped 5 digs. Sapienza and senior Yuka Bertram each had 4 kills and combined for 13 digs. Senior Audrey Kennedy had 5 kills, 1 block and 7 digs."I think this gave the whole team, including me, a lot of confidence," said Bryan. "Glen Rock was playing great. They have good hitters. Teams are going to come after us because we are trying to defend something. This game gave us a lot of confidence and we all had a lot of fun competing today.""This is our first county game," Curko said, "and it's normal to have a few first game jitters in our first set and we kind of showed that on our serve-receive, our defense and our hitting. I think we did a really good job of cleaning it up in the second and third sets. Our trust really improved and that comes down to every day in practice, having each other's backs in high pressure moments. I think that really paid off in this game."