MIDLAND PARK — Even in a shortened season, Bogota was still able to find its playoff magic.
The Bucs finished with a 10-0 record by topping No. 1 seed Midland Park, 25-22, 25-20, in Tuesday‘s North 1, Group 1 girls volleyball final.
Bogota is the first Bergen County team to finish with a perfect record since NV/Old Tappan in 2015 (26-0).
The sectional championship is the Bucs’ 12th in a row, but they must wait until next season to try for another state group title.
“Even though this is not a state championship – for me, this is as important, if not more important, for this program,” Bogota coach Brad DiRupo said. “That’s how much it means for these kids.
The victory took on extra meaning for the Bucs since they were informed on the eve of their season opener that they’d have to go through a two-week COVID shutdown.
“They were devastated,” DiRupo said. “So, for me, as a coach, this has been the most difficult year. I know it’s been for everybody, I understand that. … Hopefully, they’ve learned that you have adversity in life, and you figure out how to deal with it.”
What it means
The longtime league rivals were placed in different divisions of the NJIC for the COVID-altered Season 3, so this was the first meeting of the season between the two.
Bogota went 6-0 to win Division 3, and Midland Park has Division 2 wrapped up entering Wednesday’s makeup match with Cresskill.
The Panthers (11-1) had last won a league title in 2009, the last year of the B-PSL. The NJIC was formed the following season, and they were Patriot Division runner-up to Bogota in nine of the next 10 seasons.
“At first, we were bummed that we didn’t have Bogota in our league,” Midland Park coach Nicole Marino said. “Hopefully, they’re back in our league next season, because we love the competition, and it holds us to a higher standard.”
Key sequence
Bogota held off late surges by the Panthers in both sets. The home team scored three in a row after the Bucs reached game point in the first, before Mia Pimentel set up Angelina Buhler for the winning kill.
The lead was 23-14 in the second set before Midland Park mounted a 6-0 surge, prompting a Bucs’ timeout. The Panthers were unable to return the ensuing volley, and Pimentel quick-set Ashanna Caviness – perhaps Bogota’s most effective strategy in the match – for the decisive spike.
By the numbers
► 26: Consecutive head-to-head wins by Bogota in the teams’ series.
► 10/23/08: Date of the Panthers’ last win in the rivalry. Their lone playoff win in 10 NJSIAA Group 1 meetings came in 2002.
► 11: The Bucs’ seed for the North 1, Group 1 tournament, which was based on power points of teams’ top five matches. Bogota had only played four matches by the qualifying cutoff and had to play every postseason match on the road.
► Bogota senior Kiara Polanco posted a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs, adding two aces. Caviness was second in kills with six.
► Fellow senior Amber Vazquez led all setters with 16 assists, teaming up with Pimentel to total 26.
► Jessie Balala (24 digs) and Chiara Brenna (12) keyed the Midland Park defense, while lefty Sarah VanderPyl served well (two aces) and combined with Grace Gallagher for six blocks.
They said it
“It’s the best way to end a season I could’ve asked for… we were undefeated, and we won, but it wasn’t an easy win. We had to work for it, so it really felt like we earned that.” — Vazquez
“I’m really glad that we played them and that we had this type of game. … We challenge each other, and it was a good game, so I’m glad we ended up with that,” — Polanco on facing Midland Park for the title
Greg Tartaglia is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app. Email: tartaglia@northjersey.com Twitter: @njtags13
