Ranked #1 in the National Big North standings, the Demarest girls varsity volleyball team advanced through the state sectional finals and went on to win the state championship.
This season’s success was marked by 18 victories and four losses, securing Demarest the league championship title. After climbing their way up the state sectionals bracket with victories over rivals such as Mahwah, Pascack Valley, and Old Tappan, the team reached the state sectional finals against River Dell. Their win in that match sent them to the state championship, where they completed their postseason run with a final victory against Pinelands.
Senior captain Schuyler Berenbroick expressed that the lead up to the championship match carried emotional weight.
“It’s obviously bittersweet because I’m so proud of how far we’ve come this season. I’m just so grateful to my team for making it such a memorable senior year,” Berenbroick said.
Berenbroick credits the team’s success to its growth in support and integrity over the years.
“In the past seasons, the team has had a mix of very harsh captains and seniors. It’s gotten to the point where we’ve really made a change. It’s more beneficial to us as a team to support each other and pick each other up on the court,” Berenbroick said.
Junior Kara Kim also noted that this year’s success has come from strong connections both on and off the court.
“We do a lot more team bonding than in past years. On the court, we play so much better together because we are all so connected. Our setter has great connections to all of our hitters and passers which plays a big role in how we play in a game,” Kim said.
Sophomore Maya Snir, who surpassed 500 assists this season, has been the leading force to the setter-hitter connection.
“My mindset in big matches is to trust my hitters and make sure I set them in ways they can work around the blocks, especially against tall blocking teams, ” Snir said.
Even when faced with tough matches, the team’s mindset has remained consistent.
“One of the toughest matches was against Old Tappan. They’re our rivals, and we wanted the win really badly which ultimately allowed us to secure it,” Kim said.
Snir reflected on how much the team has grown this season, both on the court and off.
“I think we’ve learned to be patient. We’ve been working extremely hard at practice everyday but progress isn’t made overnight,” Snir said.
As the Demarest Volleyball team entered the state sectional finals, they understood the significance of each remaining match.
“It’s obviously very scary to know this match might be my last time playing with this group of girls again, but I believe in this team and I am confident that we will win,” Berenbroick said.
That confidence carried through, allowing Demarest’s win in the state championship game.
“It’s such a meaningful experience to see all of our hard work pay off and to achieve what we talked about for the whole season. It just feels so surreal,” Berenbroick said.
