Wednesday, September 12, 2007

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Chanel Van Dyke tied for team high honors with 8 kills for Old Tappan, which opened its league schedule with a two-game win over Ramapo

OLD TAPPAN -- With a dominant front line, experienced players all over the court and a deep bench full of players that could start for many other teams across Bergen County, the Old Tappan girls volleyball team is good. That is no news flash, the Golden Knights are loaded every year, it is just a matter of how this year's version stacks up against the rest of the NBIL, without a doubt the toughest league from top to bottom in New Jersey where a league title is just about as hard to come by as a State or County championship.

Facing Ramapo on Tuesday in its official season opener, Old Tappan showed off its full compliment of offensive options and a defense that knocked just about everything back over the net, and that is assuming the ball got around the block in the first place. After dropping the first three points of the opening game, Old Tappan put it all together and needed just 43 minutes to post a 25-13, 25-14 win.

“In the beginning it was a little rocky because I think we were all a little nervous, we had the jitters, but once we got that out of the way it was kind of smooth sailing,” said Old Tappan senior Chanel Van Dyke. “Any win is a good win, but this one feels good because it was our first match that counted and it was a solid win. Any nervousness we might have had is now gone.”

Ramapo senior Maura Burke was tough at the net, leading the Green Raiders with 4 blocks.

The Golden Knights caught up to Ramapo at 4 in the opening game on a service winner by Jaclynn Geitz and forged two more ties at 5 and 6, but once OT got ahead at 7-6, it never trailed in either game the rest of the way. A kill and a block at the net by Kara Leary gave the Knights a comfortable cushion at 15-8, a boomer by senior middle hitter Kayla Anders, one of the hardest swingers in Bergen County, made it 19-11 and Van Dyke gave her team its first game point with a tip that hit the sideline.

Van Dyke then closed out the first game with a cross-court kill as Old Tappan ended Game 1 on a 7-2 run.

“They are very good. They have three girls that just put the ball down, they play great defense and they move so well. They are the real deal and this match is great experience for my kids,” said Dave Van Hook, who is in his first season as the Ramapo head coach and inherited a team that lost nine seniors and five starters to graduation. “We have to get our offense going and we need to have our serve-receive get to the net, get the ball and hit the ball, but that is not as easy as it sounds against a team that plays as well as Old Tappan.”

Ramapo (1-2) hung tough through the first half of Game 2 and when Lindsay Duff hit one off the block, the Green Raiders were within 9-7. A kill by sophomore Katie Blank pushed the OT lead to three points and handed the serve to senior Sarah Betancourt, who ripped off four straight points to put Old Tappan comfortably in front, 14-7.

Senior Kayla Anders, one of Bergen County's hardest hitters, had eight kills for Old Tappan.

“We have a lot of weapons and the best thing I can say about our hitters is that I am glad that I don’t have to play against them. That wouldn’t be fun,” said Betancourt, OT’s senior libero, who led the Knights with 6 digs. “It’s sad knowing that this is my last year, but I think it is motivation for me and for the rest of the seniors to go as far as we can and make this a special year. Today was a good start.”

Anders and Van Dyke paced Old Tappan with eight kills apiece and Michelle Picinic handed out 18 assists for the Knights, who obviously have the talent to make a run at league, county and state titles. One of the biggest obstacles they may face will be staying focused on a game-in, game-out basis and not worry too much about what the other top teams in North Jersey are doing.

“One game at a time and that is something we have been really trying to preach and to believe in this year,” said Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck. “There are so many good teams out there this year and there really isn’t an invitation out there written in stone that takes you to the championship games. You’ve got to win all of the games in between and the only way you can accomplish that is by focusing on your next opponent each and every day and not looking past anybody. You can afford to.”

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