Region 19 Champions! Roadrunner Volleyball Coach Rebecca Pierson watched her team race out to a 13-0 start -- and then everything caved in during the final portion of the regular season when they lost 3 of 5 matches.
"It might have been a blessing," said Pierson, whose 16-3 Roadrunner face off at home Saturday vs. a tough opponent in Harrisburg Area Community College with the winner advancing to the NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. "The players learned they can't stop working hard. If you stop working hard in games and practices, you'll get beat. They've been able to turn it around and get back down to business."
The Runners have won their last two matches, a regular season win over County College of Morris and a decisive playoff triumph over Montgomery County (PA), giving the team high hopes heading into this championship match vs. HACC.
The Region playoff match starts at 1 pm, and if the Runners win, it will be the first time in school history the school qualifies for the National Tournament. The Runners enter with a 16-3 overall record and tje No. 2 seed, having disposed of No. 7 Montgomery County College in the opening round. The No. 3 seed Hawks enter the match with a 10-4 overall record, including a 4-match win streak. HACC blanked Middlesex in the opening round of the Region playoffs by a 3-0 score.
RCSJ has relied on a number of top-flight players, including veterans Katie Burrichter (libero), Summer Wroniuk (libero), Dominique Marcano (setter), and Devon Calhoun (outside hitter) among others.
Pierson has watched film of Harrisburg-Area CC, and has seen that her opponent mirrors her own team at literally every position. The Hawks' top players include outside hitter Kendall Wales, middle hitter Saralynn Patterson and setter Kyla Kolivoski.
"Harrisburg-Area appears to match up with our skill sets very well," said Coach Pierson. "They play consistently well and don't make a lot of mistakes. When they get behind, they just remain steady and have shown they can make a comeback. They are a very tough opponent for us."
Game will be live-streamed via the Region 19 Sports Network and http://RCRoadrunners.com.