OB girls volleyball advances to GMC semis
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
The Old Bridge High School girls volleyball team will meet J.P. Stevens this afternoon in the semifinals of the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament.

After receiving a first-round bye, the third-seeded Lady Knights defeated Mother Seton Regional High School, 2-0, in the quarterfinals on Monday. Old Bridge won its two matches by scores of 25-21 and 25-13. Michaela Ross, an outside hitter, had 10 kills on the day to up her team-leading tally to 122 kills; she also added five digs.

Jenn Harris came up with eight digs and had four aces to her credit. Ross, Figliolino and Harris serve as the Lady Knights' tricaptains.

The victory set up what will be the third meeting of the season between secondseeded Stevens and Old Bridge; the teams split the previous matches. The winner will meet either top-seeded East Brunswick or South Brunswick. Those two teams play in the other semi-final game this afternoon.

Coach Carol Silverberg's Lady Knights are 19-5 and they finished third in the GMC regular season standings. Late in the campaign, Silverberg revamped the Old Bridge lineup by promoting several players from the junior varsity. After successive losses to Stevens and South Brunswick, the team seems to be back on track.

"It took the girls a little while to adapt to the changes and get used to playing with each other, but the losses weren't necessarily a bad thing; they were more of a reality check," she said. "Beating Mother Seton was a good win for us. They're a much-improved team and they played us tough. Our girls had to work hard to beat them."

Old Bridge's trio of captains have been outstanding throughout the campaign. Ross' accuracy and aggressiveness is particularly valuable. In addition to her 122 kills, Ross has compiled 90 digs.

Figliolino, a three-year starter, had played middle hitter prior to this season, but Silverberg asked the senior to become the team's setter this fall. The results have been fabulous, as evidenced by her assist total.

Harris, the Lady Knights' middle hitter, is one of the team's most consistent players, Silverberg noted. The senior has accumulated 60 kills this season.

Other member of the Old Bridge lineup include outside hitter Erika Solorzano and middle Katie Mullen, both sophomores, along with two defenders, senior Allison Resnick and freshman Lauren Walsh. Solorzano, Mullen and Walsh were all promoted from the undefeated junior varsity contingent. Juniors Elaina Boncich and Janice Kim provide depth off the bench.

Silverberg said her team has its sights set on avenging its late-season defeat at the hands of Stevens and is also hoping to get a shot at East Brunswick again. The Bears upended Old Bridge twice this year.

"The girls are really focused on Stevens right now," Silverberg said. "They'd like another shot at East Brunswick, but we can't worry about that now. We have to take it one match at a time, and Stevens is a tough team, and they beat us the last time. Our girls wanted a rematch with them, too."