From left, Glen Ridge captains Lila Seiden, Nina Tahiliani and Ava Tahiliani are providing leadership for the Ridgers this season.
GLEN RIDGE — In its fourth year in existence, the Glen Ridge High School girls volleyball team is enjoying a fine season thus far.
Under first-year head coach Hector Colon, the Ridgers had a 5-4 record through Sept. 28.
Colon said the main strengths of the team “are our ability to remain calm under pressure and our maturity level when it comes to processing the information in front of us. We have some stints when we lose momentum and/or give away more points via errors than we would like to give up, but we never believe that we are out, no matter what the scoreboard says.”
Colon highlighted several key players.
Junior outside hitter/middle blocker Lila Seiden is a versatile player who can be effective at two key positions, Colon said.
Freshman libero Navya Singhal “plays the game like she was produced and packaged to be a libero,” Colon said.
Senior setter Ava Tahiliani is effective in a 5/1 and 6/2 set, sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Amalia Moldovan is a very high volleyball IQ player, freshman OH Ettalyn Kim contributes and will prove to be an impact player for the program and senior right side spot Chloe Mikros has “owned” the right side spot since day one, despite not having had many opportunities in her first three years, noted Colon.
Though the team lost to Science Park earlier this season, the match proved to be a good measuring stick for the team, Colon said. “The first set, we didn’t play very well, but the team took it personally and we came out in set 2 and won it 25-7; showing what we are capable of when we are clicking.”
The loss to Livingston also proved beneficial. “The way we played in the first set against Livingston also showed us something, and again not the result we wanted, but we learned a bit about learning to play our game,” Colon said.
With continued hard work, the Ridgers want to make a good run in the county and state tournaments, as they continue to make a name for themselves.
“We want Glen Ridge to compete at as high a level as possible,” said Colon, who spent the last six years at the NJCAA and NCAA levels, as he continues to learn how the high school landscape is shaped. “I would love to see our student-athletes going on to success, on and off the court, beyond their high school graduation in whatever that means for them.”
Upcoming matches:
Oct. 1: Bloomfield, 4 p.m.
Oct. 5: at Caldwell, 5:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: at Science Park, 4 p.m.
Oct. 9: West Essex, with Nutley and Pequannock, 4 p.m.
Oct. 10: at Montclair Kimberley Academy, 4 p.m.
Oct. 12: Cedar Grove, 4 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Glen Ridge High School girls volleyball
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