Photo by Pauline Park
The women’s volleyball team continued their recent hot streak and made a very strong case for being the best team in the NJAC after defeating the eight-time defending NJAC Champion Stockton Ospreys in four sets (25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23).
Ramapo’s 12th-year head coach Robert Pichardo said that head-to-head matches with Stockton are matches that the Roadrunners always look forward to.
“We were excited about this match. We always prepare, whoever we are playing, doesn’t matter who they are, we are going to prepare with the same consistency and intensity, whether it’s Stockton or a weaker opponent,” said Pichardo.
This was the first time they have met since last season’s NJAC semifinals, where Stockton took home the match in five sets.
For the Roadrunners, outside hitter and the program’s all-time kills leader Larysa Iwaskiw wrecked havoc on the court with a season high 30 kills and 13 digs on defense.
Senior middle blocker Emily Guzman recorded nine kills, and senior outside hitter Rachel Selmore had a team high of 27 assists. She also attained 10 digs into her stat line.
Kristen Behrens, a second-year libero/defensive specialist was spectacular defensively on the night with 17 digs.
Lena Husslein, a third-year middle blocker made three blocks while rookie setter Kate Shirkey dished out 15 assists.
“It was really exciting. We all came out with so much fire,” said Iwaskiw. “They’re our number one rival, so it was a huge game. We all played our game and stayed focused, so it was a lot of fun to play.”
Selmore thinks that energy and teamwork have been the two keys to the Roadrunners’ success.
“A lot of us mesh so well together. We have each other’s backs on the court,” said Selmore. “We never are negative towards each other – we are always positive.”
Guzman believed that the Roadrunners needed to play as a team in order to secure the win against Stockton.
As far as the big victory goes, Iwaskiw knows that there’s a lot more work to be done.
“There’s still some great competition. We just have to keep grinding in practice, keep working hard in practice, and the results will pay off.”
The Roadrunners will play in two non-conference matches over the weekend against Brooklyn College and St. Joesph’s College-Long Island respectively on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
pmcguire@ramapo.edu
