Win or go home. That has been the common concern flowing through everyone’s minds throughout the state tournament.
After a 2-0 loss to North Hunterdon in the semifinal round of the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 NJSIAA Tournament last season, the girls volleyball team were banking on redemption.
This time the Raiders refused to be sent home early, defeating the Chatham Cougars 2-0 Thursday, Nov. 2.
Scotch-Plains Fanwood was awarded the fifth seed in the bracket, while Chatham were given the eighth seed.
The game starts with back and forth points for each side. Senior middle Danielle Kramer leaps up for a critical block to help the team begin to pull away in the score. The Cougars show resilience, keeping it tight.
A rally led by middle hitter Brianna Alvarez, increases the lead and forces a timeout from the Cougars head coach.
Two powerful spikes from Kramer stack on more points for the Raiders. Sophomore D.J Ngumah gets subbed in and makes an impact right away. Ngumah and fellow sophomore Maddie Byrne get back to back kills, inching closer to winning the set.
Ngumah collects two more crucial kills, propelling the Raiders to take the first set by a score of 25-14.
“[After the first set], we needed to keep our energy up. We wanted to make sure that we didn’t play down and that we stay together as a team,” Ngumah told the Fanscotian.
Apart from the rise in the intensity, the second set starts much like the first. Back and forth points being awarded to both sides. The unstoppable trio of Kramer, Bryne, and Ngumah combine for kills, but they are matched by the Cougars.
Chatham steadily pulls away in the score, leading to a timeout called for the Raiders.
After regrouping, the Raiders come out looking like themselves again. They grinded out on offense and defense to come back from a four point deficit.
The relentless duo of Kramer and Ngumah continue to dominate, adding an additional kill to the stat sheet, and giving the team the lead.
“Both of my middles run the offense. D.J explodes out of the floor and she is a very aggressive player. I think continuing to hone that for her to make sure that the middle position runs smoothly is important. Danielle Kramer serves as a great mentor for her in the same position,” Head Coach Adrienne Stack said.
A missed serve on the match point ends the game and the Raiders remain unbeaten in the last six matches.
“We need to practice, practice, practice. We will need to work on the things I notice after analyzing the film, tighten the things that we are really gifted at—keeping them sharp, and never look past anybody,” Stack said
SPF will visit second seeded Millburn at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 7 in the sectional finals.
“We need to keep pushing through, keep high hopes for everything, and see [Millburn] as a goal we need to accomplish,” Ngumah said.
