Despite a well-fought battle, Boys Volleyball fell to St. Joseph’s 2-0 in the Group 2 state final on Wednesday, June 11.

 The loss came at the end of the best season ever for RHS Boys Volleyball, with this year’s team earning a superlative, 25-4 record. 

 “This group has had an incredible season, and while we have faced some adversity lately, that’s part of the journey,” Head Coach Erik Novack said prior to the tournament. “It is not about how you start or even how you stumble; it’s about how you respond.” 

A Look Back 

The boys began their season with a strong showing, winning 21 consecutive games against teams such as Morristown, Chatham and Sparta. 

The team then suffered setbacks, ending the winning streak with a loss against Hunterdon Central, followed by two more losses against Monroe and Jefferson. 

Despite prior success, the team’s hopes to win the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament were dashed with a 2-0 loss to Jefferson on May 14. 

The boys concluded their regular season against West Caldwell Tech with another loss, l2-0. 

“Although having a 21-4 record going into the state tournament was nice, any team can beat any team regardless of their seed,” junior Gabe Sherwood said. we’ve been on both sides of it, and it’s up to us not to take it for granted.” 

The team won its first-round game against Chatham 2-0 on May 29, securing a spot in the quarterfinal round. 

The boys continued their winning streak by defeating Teaneck 2-0 in the quarterfinal round and Bergenfield 2-0 in the semifinal round. 

In the Group 2 North Jersey state final, the team defeated Garfield at home on June 6 with a score of 2-1. 

“Being able to stay composed through tough situations helped keep us in the game,” junior Cole Cantada said. “This season has been extremely successful, and I am looking forward to what is yet to come. We came, we saw, we conquered.” 

With an impressive record, the team expects to have another strong season next year, despite losing senior co-captain Kevin Tinio to graduation.