PARK RIDGE - New Milford served up 12 aces in a 25-6, 25-17 straight set victory over Park Ridge Tuesday afternoon.
“We have played Park Ridge a lot over the past 5-10 years,” said New Milford coach Sheila Clancy. “They’re still in the same league with us, but that’s not to say that they have the same team. We lost some hitters and they’ve lost some hitters. It is almost always a head-to-head matchup every time we play them.”
The Knights stormed out to a 5-1 lead in the first set. Owls junior Brianna Moser halted the run with a block. An attack error and a block by Owls junior Lily Robinson closed the gap to 5-4, but Park Ridge made an attack error. Knights sophomore outside hitter Emma Jane Banu stepped to the service line and reeled off 7 service winners, including 4 aces to boost the Knights lead to 13-4.
Owls senior Hailey Brown smacked a kill to temporarily stem the tide but Knights junior setter Julia Friedberg earned 4 service winners, thanks in part to back-to-back kills by junior teammate Gabrielle Alty and New Milford led, 18-5.
After an exchange of side-outs, Knights junior middle Hannah Belthoff closed out the set with 6 straight service winners, including 3 aces.
“Our serving was better today than it has been in any other game so far this season,” said Clancy. “That’s what got our lead in the first game and that’s what brought us to the win in the second game.”
The Knights picked up where they left off in the second set, exploding out to an 11-1 lead on the back of junior middle Makayla Morgan’s 8 service winners.
“I just try to get into the zone and focus on getting it over the net,” she said.
“Makayla’s good at placing the ball,” said Clancy. “She sees the whole court and strategically serves in different places. She’s one of the smartest players on the team.”
Moser halted the Knights rally with a kill and Owls junior Serena Wagner stepped to the service line.
Wagner earned 5 service points to trim the lead to 11-7. A few points later Robinson’s serving drew the Owls within 2 points, 16-14.
“I think we got a little complacent,” said Clancy. “We were trying to still hit balls to the same places and Park Ridge had adjusted to where we were hitting and it wasn’t working for us anymore.”
The teams traded points back and forth for a while and Park Ridge got within a point, down 18-17.
A kill by Banu gave New Milford a side out, sending Morgan back to the service line, ahead 19-17.
Morgan started with an ace and followed with 5 more winners to close out the match.
New Milford improved to 5-2, while Park Ridge fell to 1-5.
“I think we’ve been pretty good,” said Morgan, who in addition to her serving prowess, scooped 4 digs and added a block. “We’re really a family - we really connect with each other. I love my underclassmen. There is no drama - we are all equal to each other. It doesn’t feel like anyone is younger. We all have our strong points and work together very well.”
Belthoff led all scorers with 5 kills. She also had 3 aces and 2 digs. Alty and Banu each had 4 kills. Alty also had 5 digs, while Banu contributed 9 digs and 5 service aces. Friedberg had 5 digs and dished 6 assists, while senior setter Sahasra Shyam passed for 9 assists and dug out 4 shots.
Brown and senior Lori Graham each had 3 kills for the Owls. Wagner and senior Alyssa Brown each scooped 8 digs. Senior Ella McDermott distributed 8 assists. Moser finished with 2 kills and 2 blocks.
“It feels great,” said Clancy. “I think that one of our strong points is that we communicate well. We get to the errant balls and still can set them up. We have 3 seniors and a few juniors and sophomores mixed in. I think the seniors have done a good job of making everyone feel as an equal part of the team and it doesn’t matter what grade you’re in. I’m happy with the seniors kind of leading them.”
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