A deep run in the state tournament and a repeat championship in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament are among the attainable goals East Brunswick High School has its eye on this girls’ volleyball season.
The Bears return a good portion of last year’s team that finished 26-3, won the conference tournament and advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey, Group 4 tournament semifinals.
“We have a lot of returning players back on the team after only graduating three seniors from last year,” coach Christian Portera said. “Most of these girls have varsity experience in combination with several strong hitters.”
His squad is talented, but Portera sees other areas where East Brunswick must improve.
“We need to improve our decision-making,” Portera said. “While many of the girls on the team are good volleyball players, there are times where they need to understand all parts of the game and not just focus on what is happening on our side of the net. Many times, we make great plays in practice; however, there are many times where I stop and explain to them that there is a better choice in placing the ball.”
Some of those issues arose in East Brunswick’s season opener on Sept. 5. The Bears fell in a two-set loss to Princeton High School, which won by scores of 25-17, 25-23.
“Not our best showing,” Portera said. “You can tell some of the girls were nervous playing for the first time on the varsity court.”
Portera pointed out that opening-day jitters happen and that he is confident in his team going forward.
That confidence only grew stronger when the Bears rebounded with a 2-1 win (25-10, 17-25, 25-22) at home against John P. Stevens High School on Sept. 7.
Portera will lean on his seniors Jordyn Horowitz, Samantha Balsamo, Celina Zhou, Kayla Benesz and Emilie Chinchar this season.
The Bears were scheduled to host Perth Amboy High School on Sept. 12 and will travel to Old Bridge High School on Sept. 14 for a match at 5:15 p.m.
