Randolph Varsity Girls Volleyball fell to Montville 2-0 in the team’s first home match on Thursday, Sept. 5. This brought the Rams’ start-of-season record to 1-1.
“We do our best to remain positive and support each other so the team is able to fight through the hard moments on the court,” junior co-captain Ashley Silvestri said following the match.
“One of this season’s strengths is the team chemistry of the returners,” Head Coach Sheri Data added. “They have supported each other throughout their tenure in the program.”
The first game of the match was challenging, with Randolph falling short, ending up with a 13-25 loss. Juniors Jazmine Holder, Regan Galloway and Kayla Nowlin stepped up on defense and had some necessary kills; however, Montville fought back and had exceptional blocking that put the Rams down.
Leading the team in assists was sophomore Klara Hindson with eight in this game, but sophomore Viki Katsanos was right behind her with six assists. Hindson and Katsanos both ended with three kills.
“The new additions to varsity are versatile and athletic and will make an immediate impact,” Data said. Since it’s still early in the season, Data noted that the team is focusing on the areas of play that need improvement and better communication between the players.
In the second game of the match, the players regrouped and started to gain confidence. They kept the score tight, but the Rams eventually ended the game with a 19-25 loss. During this game, Montville kept the Rams moving. Senior co-captain Caitlin Sciubba helped the team get into the grove with five digs this game, with Holder behind her with three.
The team scrambled with a fighting defense, constantly rotating players in and out. Senior co-captain Yolanda Sabillon had crucial saves, earning three digs in this game. Sophomore Josephine Schiedel gave another short-but-needed performance with two kills.
“After a loss, the team focuses on the areas we can work on to become better for the next match,” Silvestri said. “Volleyball is the ultimate team sport, so supporting each other and improving at it is important.”
The Rams face Mendham next, tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 4:00 p.m.
