In a see-saw battle between Top 20-ranked teams, the Roselle Catholic volleyball team edged Watchung Hills 26-24 in the decisive game of its 2-1 victory on Sept. 16 in The Lions’ Den.
Roselle Catholic, the defending Union County Tournament champion, entered the match ranked 19th in The Star-Ledger’s statewide poll. Watchung Hills was ranked 16th.
The Lions, the second-ranked parochial program in New Jersey, according to The Star-Ledger, play at seventh-ranked Livingston on Sept. 17.
After dropping the first game to Watchung Hills, 25-15, RC rebounded to win game two, 25-9.
Senior Calli Scheuermann registered 16 kills and 16 digs and senior Jessica Ciandella notched 25 assists and nine digs to help propel the undefeated Lions to their third win of the season.
Senior Ally Mroczek added 14 service points, including four aces and senior Keyarah Newton contributed 14 digs to the Lions’ attack.
After playing Livingston, RC concludes the week facing Union County competition for the first time with matches at home vs. Linden and at Elizabeth. The Lions will participate in the Bloomfield Tournament on Saturday.
In its season-opening triumph at Bloomfield High School on Sept. 9, Jessica Ciandella had 16 assists and 11 service point, including eight aces and two kills and Keyarah Newton added seven digs.
Thanks to 14 digs apiece from Calli Scheuermann and Sue Riley, RC knocked off Bergen County foe Fair Lawn in consecutive games, including a 29-27 decision in game two.
Ally Mroczek registered six service points, including two aces, five kills and five digs vs. Fair Lawn and Myia Williams and Amanda Johns, first-year varsity players, added three kills apiece in the Sept. 11 victory.
Ciandella, Scheuermann garner statewide recognition
Roselle Catholic High School seniors Jessica Ciandella and Calli Scheuermann were recognized by The Star-Ledger earlier this month as “Volleyball Players to Watch” in New Jersey.
Scheuermann and Ciandella have helped propel the Lions’ volleyball squad to a 5-0 start and a Star-Ledger Top 20 ranking. Roselle Catholic defeated Watchung Hills and Livingston this week, schools that were both ranked in The Ledger Top 20 when they faced the Lions.
Ciandella was The Star-Ledger’s 2012 Union County Volleyball Player of the Year and Scheuermann garnered All-County recognition from the newspaper. Both girls garnered selection onUnion County Conference’s All-Watchung Division team.
Roselle Catholic, the defending Union County Tournament champion, plays at Elizabeth on Sept. 19 and will participate in the Bloomfield Tournament on Sept. 21. Below are The Star-Ledger’s bios on Ciandella and Scheuermann: Jessica Ciandella, Roselle Catholic, SR. The returning Union County player of the year finished third in the state with 615 assists. She enters this season as one of the state’s top setters after leading Union County with 231 service points. Calli Scheuermann, Roselle Catholic, SR. Serving as the perfect complement to Ciandella is outside hitter Calli Scheuermann. The All-County selection finished high among a stacked Roselle Catholic roster in kills, digs and service points.