This is the third time this season Wayne Valley has squared off against Fair Lawn only this time it was to see who plays in the State Finals. The Indians emerged victorious with a 17-25, 25-11, 25-20 win over Fair Lawn. 

Wayne Valley has been the host location for both state quarter and semi-finals. So the Indians already have home-court advantage. In the regular season, Wayne Valley has played Fair Lawn twice leaving the Indians with a 2-0 record against Fair Lawn. With their overall season record of 24-3. 

Both Wayne Valley and Fair Lawn were equally matched in the hustle and drive to win this match. During the team’s toughest moments, Senior outside hitter Emily Pogorelec and Senior middle blocker Jennifer Howarth were the ones to count on. Pogorelec had 9 kills, 1 block, 11 digs, and 2 aces for Wayne Valley as well as Howarth’s 5 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs, and 1 ace for the Indians. 

“During the first set, we were completely off with our mindsets. It was tight but we needed that to wake us up. When going into [the] second set my captain, Jen, expressed her feelings about winning and how much she wants to and it fired us all up to win this game”, says junior outside, Isabelle Borowinski about the game. Borowinski had 8 kills and 2 digs to add to Wayne Valley’s victory. 

This matchup really created tension between the two teams. It raises the bar in terms of the amazing people playing in this game. A game like this one toys the emotions of each player differently. Freshman Defensive Specialist, Reese Antonio explains, “Being a freshman on varsity, I haven’t experienced [a] real amount of pressure and stress there in a game where everything is on the line. I knew that this was going to be a great game against a good team so I was super excited for the energy and the volume of the crowd”. 

Wayne Valley Seniors Kendall Ferguson, Sofia Neary, and Alex Bailey stepped up on the court with Ferguson, a middle hitter having 2 kills, 2 digs and 1 assist, Neary, a right side hitter adding 2 kills, 3 blocks, and 8 digs, and Bailey, a defensive specialist adding 5 digs for the Indians. Junior libero, Nicole Antonio adds, “[Kendall] was on point today and was blocking really well which made my job easier. Her energy today was also very positive and encouraging which definitely helped us win the game”. Also, from Borowinski, “Alex Bailey is one of the biggest supporters. She supports us as our DS and with her cheering. She wanted it so bad it just made us all want it more.”

“I knew coming in that today’s game would be a tough one. Fairlawn is a good team with a great coach and I knew they would have a plan. In the first game their plan obviously worked but we made some adjustments after that and the team really pulled together. After the loss of the first game they played with great intensity and were able to turn things around. I’m very proud of all of them for showing great resilience and fight. At the same time they listened to what we had to say from the coaching side and executed very well” explains Coach Jason Carcich, Varsity coach of the Wayne Valley Girls Volleyball team after the game. 

Throughout the years, the Wayne Valley Girls Volleyball team has gained a reputation when competing in both state and county tournaments. During the entirely of the game, students and families cheering and chanting in the stands for the Indians to prevail victorious. 

Wayne Valley will play in the State Sectional Finals on Tuesday against Roxbury.