Sunday, November 20, 2011

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Nia Reed is back and she led IHA with 17 kills in a 25-23, 25-15 win over River Dell in the semifinals of the T of C on Saturday.

WAYNE – When Nia Reed went out with a wrist injury in the middle of the season, the question was how the Immaculate Heart Academy volleyball team would fare without the sophomore, who also happens to be the most dynamic offensive force in the state. The answer was, “Just fine, thank you!” as the Blue Eagles did not lose a match without Reed, including a run through the Bergen County Tournament along the way.

When Reed returned at the start of the state tournament, albeit with her surgically repaired left wrist in a soft cast, the question was just how much better could IHA get? That answer is subjective, but the Eagles certainly looked dominant in winning the Non-Public state sectional tournament and then again on Saturday when they survived a first game scare from Group 2 champion River Dell then rolled in Set 2 on the way to a 25-23, 25-15 win in the semifinals of the Tournament of Champions at William Paterson University.

“When Nia came back it wasn't like all of our other players just stood and watched, they have continued to play on the same high level they were on when she was out,” said IHA co-head coach Mike DeCastro. “She fit right back in and she played well today like our other players did against a very good team that was full of confidence.”

River Dell's confidence came not just because it was the Group 2 champion for the first time since 1998, but because it had played already on Saturday. The T of C play-in round, contested during the week in years past, was folded into semifinal Saturday this year and the Golden Hawks knocked off Group 1 champion Bogota before taking the court again in the nightcap.

Kate Brock, who will play at Stony Brook next season, had 6 kills for River Dell.

There were no more butterflies by the time River Dell got a shot at IHA and the Hawks played well in the opening set, even taking two late leads at 22-20 after Alicia Hines got a tip to fall and again at 23-22 after IHA was called for a net violation. Reed nearly put a dent in the floor with a kill that got IHA back even at 23 and then a controversial call changed the complexion of the match.

As soon as IHA's Corina Dypko put her serve in the air in a tie game, the whistle was blown by the down official. His call? An overlap, meaning that River Dell was judged to have gone into its rotation to soon and the penalty was the point that gave IHA a 24-23 lead. A quick set from Mandy Garbarino to Reed on set point led to the kill that gave IHA a 1-0 lead.

It would have been interesting to see how that opening game would have played out had the whistle not gotten in the way, and River Dell head coach Diane Furasawa was certainly curious.

“An overlapping call at 23-23? Come on,” said Furasawa. “That is a really controversial call. Was she really leaving early or did he [the official] think she was leaving early? It's like splitting a hair and that is a tough call to make at that point in the game.”

Granted that call was only one point, but it might have taken a little wind out of River Dell's sails. The Hawks hung in there early in Game 2, and were within 14-12, but a kill by Jessica Cervini from outside pushed the IHA lead to 15-12 and that put the ball in the hands of Michelle Cruz, who put the match away from behind the service line.

Michelle Cruz led the IHA defense with 10 digs and was also potent from behind the service line.

Cruz scored six straight points on her serve, including one ace. Reed had a power tip and a kill from the middle during the spurt and, on game point, she crushed one down the line to get IHA back into the T of C finale after a one year hiatus.

“It's a miracle that I am even playing so soon after my surgery and I am just happy to be back and happy that we got the win here today,” said Reed. “We have a great team with great girls so they made it easy for me to get back into it and now we have one more win to go.”

Reed finished with a match-high 17 kills and added 3 blocks for IHA, which improved to 31-1 on the season with its only loss coming to a team from out of state. Cruz paced the defense with 10 digs and scored 9 service points with 2 aces and Amanda Garbarino handed out 24 assists.

River Dell saw one of the best seasons in school history come to an end with a 24-4 record. Kate Brock and Mary Maccabee each had 6 kills to lead the Hawks, Emily Wilts had a team high 8 digs, libero Lindsay Clark had 7 and setter Kalette de Marrais finished with 13 assists.

Kalette de Marrais had 13 setters for River Dell, which finished the season with a 24-4 record.

“I think my team definitely got better as we played this season. We won a state title and you can't discount what we did to win a league title when you consider how good a team Mahwah was this year,” said Furasawa. “I am going to miss my seniors [Brock and Wilts]. They just brought so much to the program and to the floor for us this year. Even though we lost today it was to a very good team, and we had a lot to be be proud of this season.”

There is one match left in IHA's season and it will be against Northern Valley/Demarest, the Group 3 champion that knocked off Group 4 champ Livingston in two sets on Saturday. Not only will this year's T of C final, which will be played on Sunday at William Paterson, determine this year's champion, but it will also break a tie. Demarest has won three T of C titles (2002, 2003, 2006), IHA has won three (2007-09) and the winner will be the all-time leader in overall state championships.

“We've won three and they have won three and it is going to be an all Bergen County final,” said IHA co-head coach Maria Nolan. “The coaches have all been there but we are going with different players and I expect that it is going to be a good match.”

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