Following Saturday's 3-0 triumph over visiting Brookdale Community College, Roadrunner women's volleyball coach Rebecca Pierson let her team in on a little secret -- they had just clinched a share of the Garden State Athletic Conference championship!
"We thought we would just let them play the game and then hopefully tell them the good news later," said a smiling Pierson afterwards.
Indeed -- in just her fourth season at the helm, Pierson has guided her Roadrunners to the school's first-ever GSAC title. The Runners, who swept all three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-20, and 25-21, improved to 11-5 overall and 6-1 in the GSAC to share the crown with Raritan Valley CC. The victory was their eighth in a row.
With just one sophomore on the roster, Pierson's team began the season with a 1-4 record against tough regional competition. But then team members banded together to win 10 of their next 11 as well as a share of the GSAC title.
"These young ladies didn't know each other at all when the season started, but they really came together," said Pierson, whu guided the program to its first Region XIX playoff berth last season. "We are so proud of their achievements and the hard work they put in all season long to get whwre they are today."
There were plenty of heroes Saturday, starting with freshmen standouts Katie Burrichter (libero, Our Lady of Mercy) and Lauren Coffey (setter, Williamstown).
"We never played as teammates, but we had played against each other in high school and in traveling leagues," said Burrichter. "We got to know each other well pretty quickly -- turns out we had a great team!"
Ditto, said Coffey, who did not play her first game until several matches into the 2019 season.
"When I arrived, I knew a lot of the players, just not as teammates," she said. "This has been a great experience."
Also playing key roles were sophomore setter Taylor Caldas (Gloucester Catholic) , outside hitter Lina Russo (Cherry Hill), outside hitter Macenzie Long (Williamstown), middle hitter Syasia Bryant (Arts High Newark), and right hitter Samantha Kosche.
The Runners have two remaining regular season matches vs. Montgomery County College (PA) and Bucks County Community College (PA) on October 15 and 17 respectively.
They will then head into their second straight Region XIX Tournament, where they hope to continue their solid play in 2019.
Game Day Preview
The surging Roadrunner women's volleyball team looks to win their eighth match in a row and 10th in their last 11 when they host Brookdale Community College on Saturday in 12 noon match at the Roadrunners' Athletic Complex.
Coach Rebecca Pierson's team blanked Atlantic Cape 3-0 on Thursday might to improve their overall record to 10-5 and Region XIX mark to 9-2. They toppped Brookdale (7-5, 7-3) earlier this month by a 3-0 score.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
RCSJ-Gloucester vs. Brookdale Community College
Saturday, October 12, 2019
12:00 PM
Hosted by:
Roadrunner Athletics
Deptford, NJ
Coaches:
Rebecca Pierson, RCSJ Gloucester
Poline Mackiewicz, Brookdale CC
Records:
RCSJ Gloucester (10-5, 9-2)
Brookdale CC (7-5, 7-3)
