Posted: Sep 09, 2018
She may be the smallest player on the team, standing at only 4 feet, 10 inches, but sophomore libero Casey Alderete (Winslow Township) plays a mighty role in the success of the RCGC women's volleyball team.
Thanks to solid play by Alderete, along with key contributions from teammates Azyhianna Redd (middle blocker), Megan Shook (setter), Taylor Caldas (outside hitter) and Victoria Caldas (defensive specialist), the Roadrunners remained unbeaten with a 3-0 triumph over visiting Union County College on Saturday.
Coach Rebecca Pierson's Roadrunners swept all three sets by scores of 25-21, 25-16, and 25-18. As a result, her team now owns a sparkling 4-0 overall record as they head into a tough portion of their schedule in the coming week. The win total has already exceeded last season's total of three triumphs.
Alderete displayed an aggressive style of play, roaming the middle of the court effectively and helping the Runners rally from several deficits in set three to spark the win.
"We're just so much better than last year," said Alderete. "Our sophomores have a lot of experience, and even our new players came here here with a lot of experience. We're working well as a team -- we get that flow going, and once we do, we're tough to stop."
Coach Pierson had high hopes that her team could win each of their first four matches, although she knew it would not be easy since the team was missing starters Zuri Santiago and Elliana Barbuto.
"I had hopes of being 4-0, but this game (vs. Union) was iffy in my mind, especially since we were missing two starters," she commented. "We pulled it out and I thought we did very well."
In set three, the Runners fell behind by a 13-9 count, but remained calm in rallying to win the clinching match. Shook, a former Sterling High standout, set up key points and even notched a clutch point herself midway through when a ball bounced off her head past the outstretched arms of her opponents and on to the floor.
The Runners now face a major test when they travel to Ocean County College on Tuesday in a key Garden State Athletic Conference match. The match begins at 7 p.m.