Newark Norsemen adjust, take down Seneca in straight sets

SENECA – The high school volleyball version of the phrase “adapt or die” would be a simpler yet just as vital: “adjust or lose.” That’s something the Newark Norsemen have done successfully for many years, especially the past three.

Two state championships and a fourth-place finish can attest to that.

On Saturday, faced with another similar situation against an outstanding program in Seneca, Newark did it again.

Senior all-state outside Madi Malone accounted for a match-best 17 kills – not all of them of her super-slam variety but also several softer hits, tips and dinks – and there was not much the home team could do about that. Her efforts, combined with Newark’s aggressive serving, led to a 25-12, 25-18 victory.

“Newark is an excellent team, two-time state champions, and would have had a great chance of winning it again this year … but I couldn’t have been more proud of the way this team played today. We played our hearts out and did everything we possibly could. Sometimes it’s just not enough.”

—  Seneca volleyball coach Noah Champene

A nine-point service run by Cassidy Adams made the first set one-sided, and a four-point string by Seneca’s Brooklyn Giertz helped build a 13-9 Irish lead. Seneca adjusted until a burst of seven straight points by Morgan Long returned momentum to the Norsemen.

“Seneca is a very good team, and I told the girls in the locker room that we needed to expect them to be solid defensively and, lo and behold, they came out like gangbusters defensively, digging balls – got a few blocks,” said Newark coach Tonya Grayson, her club now 12-2 this season.

“But Cassidy went on that service run to start us, and our aggressive serving prevented them from passing the ball in front of the 10-foot line, which is what we want. … In set two, there was a mental lull that becomes physical. We let them go on that run and gain some momentum, but even then I felt we were still in control. We just had to work a little harder. We had to squelch it, and once we did that we were OK.

“When [Seneca coach Noah Champene] called a timeout, I told the girls, ‘OK, you got the lead back, now limit them to one point at a time – no more runs,’ and we did that the rest of the way.”

On the first serve of the match, the rally went on for over a full minute with Seneca (11-2), digging three Malone blasts before a tip by Taylor Christian took the point. Seneca had a 6-5 edge on a kill by Zoe Hougas before things went south for the Irish. A Malone kill and then a nine-point, four-ace streak by Adams took Newark to an insurmountable 15-6 lead.

A sideout block by Kjersten Friestad and four points by Megan Williams put the visitors up 5-0 in the second set. However, down 8-5, Giertz’s short run and later an Addie Olson ace and Addie Bland kill put the home team on top, 13-9.

But after a net violation negated a successful Seneca kill, the Irish collapsed under the intense pressure of Newark’s serving, as all seven of Long’s decisive points came on Irish errors. As Grayson asked, her team allowed only sideout points the rest of the way.

“It seemed like everything we did to try and stop Madi Malone, she just adjusted,” Champene said. “We moved our right back up, she’d hit line deep. We moved her back, she just tipped over. She’s just an excellent, excellent player, and she’s not the only one over there.

“The reason we struggled passing is that they served well. They put a lot of pressure on your passers. When we did get a pass up, I thought we hung with them at some points at the net. Madi Bromberek (seven kills, two blocks) had a great game, but Brookyn was pulled off the net so much.

“Newark is an excellent team , two-time state champions and would have had a great chance of winning it again this year, … but I couldn’t have been more proud of the way this team played today. We played our hearts out and did everything we possibly could. Sometimes, it’s just not enough.”