Girls volleyball: Bogota tops Delaware Valley in state final for second year in a row
FRANKLIN (Somerset) — The Bogota girls volleyball team is one of the true athletic high school dynasties in New Jersey. Delaware Valley found that out for the second straight season Sunday afternoon.
Bogota won its 10th NJSIAA Group 1 title since 2011 and fourth in the last five state tournaments, 25-14, 25-6, Sunday at Franklin Township High School. It was the second straight season the Bucs defeated Del Val in the state final.
Bogota finished 28-2, winning eight in a row following a 2-1 loss to Immaculate Heart in the Bergen County Tournament final. Skyland Conference Raritan Division champ Delaware Valley finished 17-10.
The Bucs trailed 13-12 in the first game before running off eight straight points to pull away. The second game was no contest, as a 5-4 Terrier lead was eclipsed by 20 straight Bogota points.
“I don’t think we played our best in the first set,” Bogota coach Brad DiRupo said. “The moment got to us a little bit, being in a state final, which I didn’t understand because we’ve been here [before]. But I thought in the second [set], we were ourselves. We played much better.”
Players of the match
Bucs senior outside hitter Ashanna Caviness recorded 14 kills, five digs and 12 service points, senior setter Mia Pimentel had 24 assists, and senior OH Angelina Buhler collected 10 kills.
“She [Caviness] is an all-state player,” DiRupo said. “We rely on her, and she came through today.”
Unsung heroes
► Bogota senior libero Gianna Estevez finished with 14 digs.
► Delaware Valley sophomore middle Heather Bivona tallied 11 digs, six kills and three blocks.
They said it
“It’s great to coach these kids, but they are also committed. People always gives me credit – I’ll take part credit, but it’s the kids and families. That’s what makes a program.” —DiRupo on the school’s sustained success
“They are a very strong team; they’re historically very strong. … Not just their one player [Caviness], who’s scoring everything, but their defense is very strong. They were picking up stuff that my offense has gotten away with all year.” —Delaware Valley coach Erin Fleming
“I’m incredibly proud of our girls for coming back two years in a row. We have had most of our success the past three years. I’ve been hearing about [Bogota] since I was in high school, and we’re going to keep coming back and hopefully see them again.” —Fleming
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ girls volleyball: Bogota tops Delaware Valley in state final again
