The Greater Middlesex Conference women’s volleyball tournament is much like the NBA in the mid-2010s, with Old Bridge and Monroe having a rivalry similar to that of Warriors-Cavaliers, being the matchup in the finals for the last three consecutive seasons.

Old Bridge, the No. 17 team in the NJ.com The Top 20 hosted the final of this trilogy, with history repeating itself as the top-seeded Knights (23-5, 13-1) defeated second-seeded Monroe (18-6, 12-3). series, in straight sets, winning their third consecutive county championship.

“We don’t feel like we’ve been at the top for that long,” Hopman said. “It’s exciting because we are a very young team and we overcame adversity today, missing our starting libero. I was really proud of them all.

The first set saw the match begin as advertised, with both teams trading the first 16 points evenly before Old Bridge opened a two-point lead to lead 10-8. Monroe continued to fight and a block from All-GMC senior Natalie Grant gave the Falcons a 12-11 lead.

It would be their only lead of the set, as Old Bridge immediately responded, regaining the score back and forth. An ace from sophomore Sara Jaworuk opened the first three-point lead of the match and led the Knights to win the first set 25-20.

“We were trying not to get in our heads too much,” Malinoski said. “We had to have a spirit of challenge and we were able to pick up what they were doing there and take the game into our hands.”

The second set saw Monroe record the first point, but Old Bridge immediately responded with a 5-0 run highlighted by several aces from Malinoski to establish an early lead. They had several unanswered points to win the championship, including a 6-0 run that allowed them to extend their lead to 14.

“We made seven service errors in the first set,” Hopman said. “We came out in the second set and were able to catch them early with our strong serve.”

Facing match point, head coach Victoria Stec’s Falcons showed they wouldn’t surrender, scoring four unanswered points before a game-winning spike from the All-GMC sophomore Ashley Markle sealed the match and the title with a 25-13 victory in the second set for Old. Bridge.

“I felt like we didn’t need to rely on one or two people,” Hopman said. “Everyone mobilized. The girls who didn’t have the best games all year played really well today.

Before the game, the All-Division and All-Conference teams were honored in a ceremony. Markle, sophomore Maya Lupinski, freshman Jannah Khalil, who did not play due to illness, and Malinoski made the All-Red team for the Knights, while Monroe saw Grant, senior Sarah Levy and junior Kristina Latosh selected to the team.

The All-GMC team was represented in this match by Markle, Malinowski, Khalil and Grant. Old Bridge is now 4-3 in the last seven matches between these teams, which includes two GMC wins and a loss in last year’s Central Jersey Group 4 title game.

“It’s a great rivalry,” Hopman said. “(Victoria Stec) always does a great job, she always has good teams. You can never underestimate Monroe, that’s for sure.

Hopman and the Knights will now prepare to make another run toward a Central Jersey Group 4 championship, while Stec and Monroe will play their first playoffs in South Jersey Group 4 after being grouped together.

“It feels really good to win again,” junior Weronika Malinoski said. “The support from our school, our team and our student section was incredible. It only goes up from here and it feels really good.

Dylan McCoy can be contacted at [email protected]

The NJ High School Sports newsletter now appears in mailboxes 5 days a week. Register now!

Follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)