Newark Claims 9th Straight Title in Thrilling 3-Set Clash

UPDATE: The Newark Norsemen have triumphed over the Serena Huskers in a nail-biting match for the 51st Little Ten Conference Tournament championship held on July 15, 2023, at Al Stegman Court in Serena. This victory marks Newark’s ninth consecutive title and their 28th overall in tournament history, solidifying their dominance with a final score of 23-25, 25-23, 25-16.

The match showcased a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with Newark, the top seed, initially faltering in the first set. Newark coach P.J. McKinney remarked, “We were tested tonight for sure, but these girls found a way to get it done.” The Norsemen, with a season record of 23-3, had only lost 10 sets all season, making this championship win particularly significant.

In the gripping first set, Newark surged ahead with a commanding lead of 13-6, propelled by a six-point service run from Ella Bromeland. However, the Huskers, seeded second with a record of 14-7-1, rallied back, thanks to Trinity Weber, who sparked a four-point run that narrowed the gap to 16-14. Ultimately, a decisive kill by Maddie Young clinched the first set for Serena.

Following the setback, Newark regrouped. Senior libero Morgen Hergenhahn emphasized the team’s resilience: “After losing the first set, we had to really step up energy-wise. I felt like we did that in the second set and carried that momentum into the third.”

The second set saw Serena momentarily leading 14-11 before Newark’s Rylie Carlson sparked a turnaround with a four-point run. The set concluded with Newark edging out Serena, thanks to a net violation by the Huskers followed by a kill from Taylor Jeffers.

As the teams entered the decisive third set, McKinney urged his players to capitalize on critical moments. Newark led 11-10 and then surged ahead, scoring nine of the next twelve points to secure their victory. The final moments included a powerful kill from Heather Buhle, a block by Zoey Carlson, and a match-winning ace from Bromeland.

Newark’s standout players included Buhle with 15 kills and 13 digs, Carlson with 11 kills and 15 digs, and Bromeland, who contributed 19 assists and four aces. On the opposing side, Anna Hjerpe led Serena with 11 kills and 14 digs, while Rebekah Shugrue recorded 21 assists and 14 digs.

Serena coach Jennifer Shugrue expressed pride in her team’s performance despite the loss, stating, “I’m not sure I could be prouder of my girls tonight; they played a great match.” Both teams will look to build on their performances, as Newark prepares to face Hinckley-Big Rock and Serena heads to Indian Creek this coming Thursday.

This victory not only adds to Newark’s impressive legacy but also highlights the fierce competitiveness of high school volleyball in the Little Ten Conference. Fans and players alike are eager to see how both teams will carry this momentum into their upcoming matches.