UPDATED: Belleville HS girls volleyball team enjoying solid season

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Belleville High School girls volleyball team is enjoying a solid season.

The Lady Buccaneers, under head coach John Spina, sported a 12-8 overall record through Monday, Oct. 17.

After starting the season missing a few players and dropping matches to Payne Tech and East Orange Campus, Belleville turned things around. The team defeated Science Park, West Caldwell Tech, Barringer, Irvington and Newark East Side during a five-match winning streak. Spina attributed the team’s winning streak to strong defense and serving.

The Belleville captains are Ashley Cely and Galadrielle Baldevarona.

“Right now, we seem to be clicking as we approach the second half of the season, which will also bring some tougher competition,” said Spina in an email to the Belleville Post.

“Seniors Alyssa Velez, Carmella Urbano and Ashley Cely have been our most consistent servers, helping us secure several of those victories. Our defense has been very strong thus far. Senior libero Ashley Cely has been a force all season long. The right side of the defense has been held down by senior defensive specialist Carmella Urbano. This season, we use two setters, and both have done a great job thus far. Karisssa Remata and Galadrielle Baldevarona have shared equal court time in the position.”

Spina said the opposite-side hitter position has also been a timeshare, between Yllana Laxamana and Nataly Laboy, with Karissa Remata also working in when she is not setting. The middle position has been an equal timeshare between Carina Sommer, Diane Estrada, Kayla Monticer and Kiyana Laxamana, Spina said.

“The strength of our team has come from the outside hitter position,” Spina said. “Sophomore Kaitlyn Coto and junior Christina Bajuz lead the team in kills so far this year. Both have demonstrated excellent power and skill at the position. I hope that they can continue to improve and grow as a team as the season progresses.”

Here is the Belleville roster with their positions, uniform numbers and grades:

Setters:

No. 17 Karissa Remata, senior.

No. 5 Galadrielle Baldevarona, junior.

Outside hitters:

No. 12 Christina Bajuz, junior.

No. 7 Kaitlyn Coto, sophomore.

Middle hitters:

No. 30 Carina Sommer, senior

No. 32 Kiyana Laxamana, senior.

No. 14 Diane Estrada, senior.

No. 23 Kayla Monticer, junior.