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Tuesday night’s championship match had everything on the line for a pair of teams bulldozing through the competition like freight trains this season.
Top-seeded Old Tappan, champions of the Bergen County Tournament, hosted second-seeded Sparta, winners of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament, in one of the most talent-filled contests this season.
It’s rare for a pair of county champs to meet in the NJSIAA sectional tournament finals, but these teams have shown a tremendous level of resiliency in 2024.
Not only were these units vying for the N1G2 sectional crown, but to keep their respective winning streaks alive.
Going into Nov. 12, Old Tappan held the longest streak in New Jersey with 22 wins, opposing their zero losses.
The second-longest streak in the state belonged to, you guessed it, Sparta. The Spartans began the year with a 1-2 record, but came into Tuesday’s title bout with 19 consecutive wins.
The pressure was immense on both ends of the hardwood, but the coaching, the talent, and the grit displayed all season lived on in the championship.
For the first time since 2021 and the 10th time in program history, Old Tappan has won a state sectional. Addison Gioffre was the ultimate conductor, orchestrating 23 assists to find five different players for a kill in the 25-13, 25-19 tally.
“We served and passed so well today,” Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck said. “Whenever we have that going, everything else falls in nicely for us.”
The Golden Knights (23-0) jutted out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening set, then all of a sudden, had an 8-2 cushion behind kills from Samantha Kranzler, Eva Curko, and Julia Whaley.
Old Tappan never appeared to be out of system on Tuesday, mainly behind the juggernaut’s mental approach. When a team is still undefeated this late into a campaign, it can start to weigh heavily on a squad.
Rather than look at each match through a microscope and try to dissect every uncontrollable piece of a volleyball match, Landeck and Co. are able to contain the external pressure.
“The key to staying calm in an undefeated season is to not overthink what the other team is doing. We’re all about focusing on our side of the net and reminding ourselves that we are a good team and can win on our own,” Landeck said.
“Once we remember that, our girls can do amazing things.”
Old Tappan has lost one set all season long. They have rumbled through their schedule, donning the top seed in each of the Bergen County and N1G2 tournaments.
Though it‘s a milestone in itself to call yourselves champions of the BCT, Old Tappan’s hunger to win never dissolved.
“It‘s tough putting aside the record we have and winning the Bergen County Tournament. It‘s very easy to focus on that and think that no more hard work needs to be put in, but that’s not Old Tappan volleyball,” Kranzler said. “We have worked hard every day to continue winning and cherishing being on the court in these big games.”
Kranzler, a senior, nabbed six kills on Tuesday, including the match-winner.
The Golden Knights’ juniors also prevailed on Tuesday. Playing like a group of veterans, Eva Curko and Julia Whaley found their spots all night at the net, logging nine and eight kills, respectively.
Whaley secured the final two points of the opening set behind two spikes and Curko punched OT’s 21st and 22nd points of the same frame.
“This entire season been super fun. These seniors are role models to us, so to take the court with them and win means everything,” Whaley said.
Bianca Benasillo and Gabriela Paltag contributed one kill each and Jamie Kim rallied for eight digs and an ace. Desi Malafis ripped two digs, too.
Old Tappan‘s last sectional title came in 2021, which was the current senior class’ freshman campaign.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for Krazler, Gioffre, Kim, and Brenna Delaney, but these seniors are able to go out on top, just as they saw their role models do in 2021.
“This senior class is so special. We definitely left our mark, but we have two more games to continue this amazing run,” Kranzler said.
Old Tappan will face Lyndhurst - the N2G2 champions - in the Group 2 state semifinals on Thursday in Old Tappan.
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Source Link: https://highschoolsports.nj.com/game/965100
