BLOOMFIELD, NJ – The Bloomfield High School girls’ varsity volleyball team has enjoyed a good start to the season.
The Bengals, under head coach Louis Stevens, are off to a 2-1 start with all three matches going three sets.
“We could easily be 3-0 or 0-3. The team has found a way to win tough matches but we have to get better in our serve-receive, which will help our offense get into a good flow,” Steven said.
The Bengals’ go-to hitter is Melissa Marte, said Stevens. Despite standing only 5-3, Marte “is one of the most dynamic players in the county,” lauded Stevens.
Marte set the season kills record last year with 270 kills, which decimated the previous record of 225 set in 2009 by Lisa Orlando.
Aicha Naouai and Sarah Edmond are also capable of taking over games if they can find their rhythm and allow the game to come to them, noted Stevens.
The team’s best blocker is Sarah Pierre, who set the season blocking record last year.
“The strength of our team is our versatility with many of the players able to play multiple positions,” Stevens said. “We have decent depth at each spot, but to maximize our potential, we have to rely a lot on our starters, especially early in the season.”
The Bengals’ goal is to go undefeated in division play; which they accomplished in 2015. BHS is in the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division.
“We had a 23-1 record in division from 2014-15,” Steven said. “Last year we moved up to the American (Division) and went 3-9 in division. Our goal is to win the division, which will be challenging with West Orange, who are very athletic and tall, and Montclair, who are also athletic.”
Stevens said the team’s other goal is make it to the semifinals of the Essex County Tournament. “I believe that this team is talented enough to win the County title, but will have to improve on its floor defense if that is to happen.”
BHS girls’ varsity volleyball roster
(Uniform #, Name, Grade, Position)
#1 Ciara Berutti, Soph, DS/L
#2 Megan Alicea, Sr, DS/L
#3 Melissa Marte, Sr, OH; Capt.
#4 Niav Berutti, Sr, S/DS
#6 Sarah Edmond, Jr, OH/Opp
#7 Adriana Ramirez, Jr, Opp/DS
#8 Sheyenne Williams, Soph, MB/Opp
#9 Rachelle Ramirez, Sr, OH/MB/Opp
#10 Aicha Naouai, Sr, OH/Opp
#12 Kourtni Carty, Sr, S; Capt.
#13 Sarah Pierre, Jr, MB/Opp
#14 Olivia Brzostek, Jr, S/Opp
#15 Kelsey Short, Sr, MB
Results
Loss, West Orange, 26-24, 21-25, 25-15 (A), Sept. 7
Won, West Essex, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13 (H), Sept. 12
Won, Montclair, 19-25, 27-25, 25-11 (H), Sept. 14
Upcoming matches
Sept. 16, at Livingston HS tournament, 9 a.m.
Sept. 18, Belleville (H), 4 p.m.
Sept. 20, Livingston H), 4 p.m
Sept. 22, Verona (A), 4 p.m.
Sept. 23, Bengal Invitational (H), 9 a.m.
Photos by Jerry Simon: BHS vs. Montclair, Sept. 14, at BHS
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