Bridgewater-Raritan Hands Montgomery Second Loss, Setting Stage for County Tournament Rematch
Nicholas Mistretta
MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent
MONTGOMERY, NJ — Montgomery High School’s girls volleyball team faced one of its tougher tests of the season Friday night, falling to Bridgewater-Raritan in three sets, 24-26, 26-24, 25-18. The loss dropped the Cougars to 15-2, while Bridgewater-Raritan improved to 9-9. The matchup carried added significance because the two teams are scheduled to meet again in the Somerset County Tournament, giving Montgomery an early look at an opponent it will soon have to face with postseason stakes attached.
Cougars Take Tight Opening Set
Montgomery opened the match with a narrow 26-24 victory, surviving a closely contested first set to take an early advantage. Bridgewater-Raritan answered immediately. The Panthers edged Montgomery by the same two-point margin in the second, 26-24, forcing a decisive third set. From there, Bridgewater-Raritan created some separation, taking the final set 25-18 to complete the comeback and hand Montgomery only its second defeat of the season.
Venkat Leads Montgomery Attack
Pooja Venkat delivered one of her strongest offensive performances of the season, leading Montgomery with 10 kills while also recording 17 digs and an ace.Sidney Koslow added seven kills, 11 digs and three aces, while Leah Fenmore and Avery Zhao each contributed five kills. Captain Anshika Verma finished with four kills, while Ritisha Mungi directed the offense with 26 assists and also added seven digs. Montgomery totaled 31 kills, 63 digs and nine aces in the three-set match.
Tan Anchors Back Row
Defensively, Selina Tan led the Cougars with 20 digs, while Venkat added 17 and Koslow finished with 11. Tan also contributed five aces and three assists, helping Montgomery generate pressure from the service line. Carly Zissman and Mungi each added seven digs. The Cougars’ 63 total digs reflected the extended rallies and defensive work required against a Bridgewater-Raritan lineup that produced 35 kills.
Bridgewater-Raritan Finds Balance
Bridgewater-Raritan received strong production from several players. Margarita Slivar led the Panthers with 11 kills, 10 digs and four aces, while Brooke Krizan added 10 kills, 19 assists and a block. Viktoria Borodkin finished with five kills and five blocks, giving Bridgewater-Raritan an additional presence at the net. The Panthers also served effectively, finishing with 14 aces.
A Loss — and a Preview
For Montgomery, the result ended another strong stretch but did little to change the larger picture of a season in which the Cougars have won 15 of their first 17 matches. More importantly, the match provided a preview of what lies ahead. Montgomery and Bridgewater-Raritan will meet again in the Somerset County Tournament, meaning Friday’s three-set battle could serve as an important measuring stick for both teams. The Cougars now know how closely matched the two sides can be. Two of the three sets were decided by just two points, and Montgomery had opportunities to take control before Bridgewater-Raritan closed stronger in the deciding set. At 15-2, Montgomery remains in the midst of an outstanding season.
Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomry.com