OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City High School volleyball team hasn’t given up a set through the first 12 games of the season. It wasn’t for the lack of trying by the Red Raiders’ opponents.
The OCHS girls beat Atlantic County Institute of Technology 2-0 Thursday, Oct.1. They fell behind early in the first set, but then overpowered Tech 25-12. The Red Raiders had to work much harder to fend off the visitors in the second set. Although Ocean City led late, Tech was able to tie at 24-24 before the Red Raiders closed it out 26-24.
“ACIT put up a very good fight today. They did the same thing when we went to them, same thing,” Ocean City head coach Jillian Garza said. “We expect that and we’re ready for it for sure. We have great matchups whenever we play them. They’re just a really good team.”
Garza wants the tough matchups because as the season gets to playoffs, she wants her players ready.
“Right now, the goal is to try and get my team to peak at the right time. And that’s what we’re trying to do. We have some hard matches coming up and we are looking forward to those,” she said.
That tougher competition includes upcoming games against Donovan Catholic, Eastern, Kingsway and a tri-match at Williamtown with Pinelands. “That’s going to be a great, great day,” Garza said.
The coach cited Brynn Williams on her play against ACIT.
“She had an amazing game today. She’s hitting so, so well outside. Her serves are on point. I think she just really had an awesome game,” Garza said.
She also cited her “sister duo,” senior Bradee Boyd and sophomore Rylee Boyd. “Rylee’s coming off of a pinky injury and it didn’t really slow her down at all. As a setter, it matters a lot.”
Rylee is the go-to setter on the team, leading with 176 assists. She also has 78 service points, just behind team-leader Williams with 80. Rylee is tied for second on aces (27) with Williams. Both are just behind Bradee, who had 28 aces in her 55 service points. Williams has 51 service points.
Bradee, an outside hitter, is rolling in the kill department with 151 through the 24 sets.
Senior Gabrielle Erace, the team’s libero, has 76 digs to lead the team; Williams is next with 61, Bradee has 51 and Rylee 44.
Junior Brooke Sutor is second in kills with 38 to go with her 51 service points and 21 aces.
Senior middle blocker Grace Preston has 11 blocks on the season, tops of her team. She also has 42 service points and 13 aces. Sophomore Lylla Smith has contributed 36 service points and 12 aces.
Garza said she changes up the team’s strategy regularly, “depending on what we think is going to be strongest against each particular team. I like to run a 6-2, where I have all my hitters ready to hit, but I can’t always do that. So it just depends on who we’re playing and I’m just shifting people around a lot until we find like our perfect rotations.”
The coach said her players have a great attitude and are focused. “They’re high, they’re hyped all the team.
“We have a lot of hard practices and they’re feeling very confident right now, as I’m sure you can imagine. I’m reminding them that we’ve got some hard games coming up and they’re going to be challenged here very soon,” she said, “but it’s not slowing them down. They’re very confident.”
The Red Raiders are atop the Power Points in South Jersey Group II, at 25.625. Rumson-Fair Haven (11-3) is second, Pinelands (9-7) third, Sterling (8-5) fourth and Oakcrest (8-5) fifth.
Catch the team at home against Eastern at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
