By: Greg Tartaglia – Record Sports
PARK RIDGE – Of course, the girl called “Boo” was a central figure for the Park Ridge girls volleyball team on Halloween.
A countdown was on for Madison Kelly during the Owls’ 25-9, 27-25 win over Becton in Tuesday’s Group 1 state tournament first round. The senior entered the match within 10 of the 1,000-dig mark for her career, and fans held up poster-sized numbers after each spike she saved, reaching 994 before the match ended.
They also had “B-O-O” spelled out in Maroon letters – a nod to the moniker that Kelly acquired as a child who resembled the “Monsters, Inc.” character of the same name.
“When I was little, I had the bangs in my hair,” Kelly said.
The 5-foot libero has been putting up big numbers for the past four seasons as a back-row specialist. Her 230 digs and 41 service aces this fall have helped Park Ridge (16-8), the No. 15 seed, advance to Thursday’s Group 1 Round of 16, where it will face NJIC Patriot rival and defending state champ, No. 2 Bogota (22-2).
“Defense is a really big, important part of our team, because we play teams that have really strong hitters,” Kelly said, alluding to Bogota and Midland Park in their division. “We played Tenafly twice, too, and they’re a really strong team.”
Kelly, Katelyn Monaghan, Casey Urmanowicz and Grace Wagner are the senior starters for the Owls. In their first season sharing duties at setter, Monaghan and Urmanowicz have combined for 358 assists. Wagner served a season-high six aces against No. 18 Becton (14-9).
Up front, the Owls have a pair of strong, young hitters: junior outside Ashley Ziltz and sophomore middle Shannon Burns (team-leading 74 blocks).
The 5-foot-8 Ziltz has been neck-and-neck with Rutherford’s Jenna Rogers for the North Jersey lead in kills late in the season and has 301 entering the Thursday’s tall task.
“To upset a team like Bogota, every single person on our team has to be playing to their top ability,” Ziltz said. “We’re a really good team if everyone plays to their top notch.”
Park Ridge certainly seems to have few peers, personality-wise. Coach Tara Kane got into the Halloween spirit by coaching Tuesday’s game in costume – the science teacher dressed as a mad scientist, complete with lab coat and goggles.
“It just put us all in a good mood,” Ziltz said.
Kane noted how important the mental aspect of the game is for her squad, which was able to regroup after Becton’s second-set surge on Tuesday. The Owls ended on a 9-1 run after the Wildcats had reached game point.
Bogota, which swept Park Ridge in NJIC Patriot play, presents a daunting challenge. Possible outcomes notwithstanding, the Owl seniors are keeping a positive mindset.
“As long as we know we tried our hardest, and we all played to the best of our ability, we’ll be pretty happy with the season,” Kelly said.
