After ending last season with a 2-0 (25-18, 25-9) early November loss to Verona in the NJSIAA Group 1 quarterfinals, the Secaucus girls volleyball team is ready to take that next step.
Secaucus (18-9), which won 10 of its last 12 matches to end its 2017 campaign, returns a solid core of starting upperclassmen with five seniors and three juniors.
Senior outside hitters Alex Ianuale, Payton Intindola (team leader in kills with 133), Alyssa Perez, defensive specialist Jessie Gohde, and middle blocker Gabby Pimentel (team leader in blocks with 85 and service aces with 83) bring solid experience and leadership to last season’s Hudson County Tournament runner-up.
Junior libero Natalie Kashian (dig leader with 221), specialist Mayelin Martinez (assist leader with 274) and middle blocker Savannah Kochera (second on team with 118 kills and 58 blocks) each gained another year of match experience and will provide the Patriots with much-needed depth to a squad that garnered a 10-3 home record against an 8-6 road ledger a year ago.
“With all starters returning as seniors and juniors with three or more years of varsity experience, we expect to be even more competitive this season. We are looking to win our league, return to the county championships, and have an even stronger run in the state tournament,” said Secaucus head coach Cory Roesing, who is in his third season at the helm. “We are looking to strengthen our mental game and if we can remain confident and positive, we have a chance to make any game competitive and have a solid season.”
Secaucus, which plays in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC) Liberty Division, will open its 2018 campaign with two straight road contests, starting with county foe and three-time defending Hudson County Tournament champion Hudson Catholic (a team that swept them last season in a two game series and has won an impressive 50 straight games against in-county competition) on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Dwight-Englewood follows on Friday, Sept. 7. Both matches are scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Patriots will then return home for three of its next four matches, beginning with back-to-back 4 p.m. contests with Wood-Ridge and Snyder (Sept. 10-11).
