Girls volleyball pulls off the unexpected in new division
(Photo courtesy of Zoe Offir) Senior Jess Coia spikes during a home game at West Essex.
November 5, 2019
After last year’s winning season, the West Essex Girls Volleyball team moved up a conference division for the 2019 season. They had all the odds against them facing some of the better teams in the state this year, but surprised everyone including themselves. They are now on the road for a county and conference championship. This year the team has been successful holding an 10-6 record, and are No. 2 at the moment in their conference standings.
Senior captains Alexa Liggeri, Dana Stelter, Jess Coia and Lauren Guerra and the rest of the upperclassmen have helped form this team into a winning squad. The players said their leadership has helped their team bond and that they have created lifelong friendships that have had an affect on the way they play.
“This particular team, the seniors are very close,” Coach William Humes said. “There’s a really good bond within the team.”
The players also said they’ve seen their relationships grow on and off the court. Alexa Liggeri and Dana Stelter said they think the team has become closer throughout the season.
“At first, we weren’t really as close of a team,” Liggeri said. “But as the season went on, we’ve all become much closer which improved how we play.”
Humes said he knows how hard the girls work during and out of the season, and that their dedication is one of the reasons they are so successful.
“The kids put a lot into it, they work hard,” he said. “They’re here in the summer a couple days a week and nights.”
“I do think we should be more recognized,” Stelter said. “Last year we won our conference and nobody really knew about that.”
