BY ROBERT AITKEN
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
SECAUCUS — First-year head coach Cory Roesing says her volleyball team plays better when they are loud and vocal.
Sophomore outside hitter Alex Ianuale made her voice heard with three aces and four kills Wednesday as the 12th-seeded Patriots defeated 21st-seeded Emerson, 25-7, 25-16, in the first round of the Group 1 tournament.
The sophomore laughed at the idea of being called the loudest player on the team.
“I’m yelling all the time,” Ianuale said as she chuckled. “I’m always loud.”
Ianuale served for the Patriots to begin the first set and lifted them to an early 11-0 advantage, including two aces in that run.
“I was just trying to do what my coaches wanted me to do,” Ianuale said. “They wanted me to try and serve away from the libero and that’s what I was aiming for.”
“This was the best hitting we have had all season,” said Roesing. “They came ready to play.”
Sophomore middle blocker Gabby Pimentel led the defense for Secaucus with five blocks. The Patriots were playing shorthanded with freshman middle blocker Savannah Kocerha not available to play.
The Patriots received a boost in the second set from freshman defensive specialist Natalie Kashian, who led them with five digs and four aces. Sophomore defensive specialist Jessie Gohde had a fantastic effort in the first set as she sprawled on to the floor, saving the ball and earning the point, giving Secaucus a 20-5 lead at the time.
The young Patriots had some difficulty finishing off the Cavaliers, leading, 23-12, in the second set. The Patriots did not panic, getting a break when an Emerson serve sailed out of bounds. The Patriots recovered a few points later to finish the match.
“We are always having a good time on the court and in practices,” said Ianuale. “We are trying to win for our seniors and do well by them.”
This was the first game for the Patriots since their loss to Hudson Catholic in the Hudson County tournament final Saturday. It was their second straight season finishing as the runner-up after six straight championship wins.
The focus has shifted to winning the Group 1 title, a feat the Patriots failed to accomplish a season ago. After winning the state title two years ago, the Patriots fell to Rutherford in the quarterfinals last year. Roesing was an assistant coach for that championship team and only senior libero Mariam Said remains from that season.
Secaucus will travel to Glen Rock to face the fifth-seeded Panthers on Friday in the second round. The two teams faced one another Oct. 19 in a game won by the Panthers by the slim margins of 26-24, 30-28.
“The first matchup taught us a lot of things,” Roesing said. “We’re going to be pumped and excited.”
Roesing also hopes that her Patriots will be loud that day.
