County Run Ends: Immaculata Knocks Off Montgomery in Somerset Quarterfinals

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

MONTGOMERY, NJ — Montgomery High School’s outstanding girls volleyball season hit a postseason setback Saturday morning as Immaculata defeated the Cougars in straight sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-11, in the quarterfinal round of the Somerset County Tournament.

The loss dropped Montgomery to 17-3 on the season, while Immaculata improved to 12-7 and advanced in the county tournament. For much of the first two sets, Montgomery stayed within striking distance. But after fighting through two relatively close games, the Cougars were unable to slow Immaculata in the third as their county tournament run came to an end.

Koslow Leads Montgomery Attack
Sidney Koslow provided the bulk of Montgomery’s offense, finishing with a team-high 15 kills. Pooja Venkat added five kills, Leah Fenmore contributed four and Anita Balashova finished with three. Avery Zhao added two, while captain Ritisha Mungi recorded one. Montgomery finished with 30 kills as a team. Mungi once again directed the offense, recording 19 assists along with nine digs, three aces and a kill.

Cougars Battle Through First Two Sets
Immaculata took the opening set 25-21, but Montgomery remained close throughout. The second was even tighter. The Cougars pushed Immaculata before ultimately falling 25-22, putting Montgomery in a two-set hole and leaving little margin for error. Immaculata then seized control in the third, winning 25-11 to complete the sweep and secure a spot in the next round.

Defense Produces 64 Digs
Even in defeat, Montgomery’s back-row defense remained active. Selina Tan and Carly Zissman each recorded 20 digs, combining for 40 of the Cougars’ 64 total. Venkat added 10 digs, while Mungi contributed nine. At the net, captain Anshika Verma recorded Montgomery’s two blocks. Verma also led the Cougars at the service line with five aces, while Mungi added three and Venkat finished with two. Montgomery totaled 10 aces in the match.

County Tournament Exit Does Little to Diminish Strong Season
Saturday’s result marked just the third loss in 20 matches for a Montgomery team that has put together one of the school’s strongest fall campaigns. The Cougars entered the county quarterfinal at 17-2 after defeating Bernards in four sets earlier in the week and had built their record through a combination of offensive balance, strong back-row play and contributions throughout the lineup. Immaculata, however, proved to be the better team Saturday morning, winning three consecutive sets and denying Montgomery an opportunity to move deeper into the Somerset County Tournament. The loss ends the Cougars’ county tournament run, but it does not erase what Montgomery has accomplished through its first 20 matches. At 17-3, the Cougars remain in the midst of an impressive season one that has already featured extended winning streaks, tight three-set battles and contributions from throughout the roster. Saturday simply provided the latest test. And for a Montgomery team that has already demonstrated an ability to respond following difficult losses, the attention now turns to what comes next.

Photo Credit: Nick Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomry.com