October 31, 2009
Patriots take Hudson crown
The Patriots celebrate their Hudson County Tournament championship.
Click Here for more photos from Memorial vs Secaucus.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – Trying to beat Secaucus when Alexis or Shannon Waters is on her game is hard enough. But when both are on their game at the same time, it’s nearly impossible.
Memorial saw first hand just how difficult that task is as the two cousins helped lead the Patriots to a 25-19, 25-15 victory to win the Hudson County Tournament last night at John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center on the campus of NJCU.
“I just kept telling them to be aggressive, don’t stop hitting the ball,” Secaucus coach Tiffany Meyer said about the duo. “They work very well together. They’re both very strong when they’re up at the net. When they’re both having a really good day it’s hard to stop both of them.”
Shannon had 13 digs, six kills and four assists to earn MVP honors for the Patriots (21-2) in the match. It was an honor that could have just as easily have gone to Alexis who had 12 digs and four kills.
The two juniors helped set the tone for Secaucus immediately with Shannon recording kills on three of the Patriots’ first seven points of the match.
The Tigers’ defense shifted more attention towards Shannon, often placing two blockers in an effort to limit her damage. Alexis stepped up and took advantage of the situation as she added three kills of her own in the first game.
“(Alexis) stepped up,” Shannon Waters said. “I knew she’s the next person I would go to, to set to. When they blocked me then I just go to her and she knows what to do with the ball.”
Shannon would add two more kills for the Patriots in a closely-contested first game marked by fine defense from both sides.
The tension for Memorial (15-6) seemed to grow in the second game as they struggled with mistakes that they didn’t make in the beginning of the contest. On the other side of the net, the Patriots displayed a sense of calmness, normally seen in an early-season match rather than one with a championship on the line.
“We have fun no matter what when we’re playing,” Alexis Waters said. “I feel like we play better when we’re having fun.”
“We didn’t come in tight because we knew we couldn’t do that,” Shannon Waters said. “Being loose instead of being tight allows you to play better.”
It was easy for Secaucus to be all smiles in the second game as they pulled away from the Tigers. The Patriots used six aces to build up a 20-4 lead in the second game.
Samantha Gehm led the serving display with a trio of aces. Alexis Waters, Shannon Waters and Andrea Lunapiena also added aces during that stretch.
Memorial responded by winning 11 of the next 15 points, but by then the match was well in hand for Secaucus.
Caolanny Melo led the Tigers with five blocks and a pair of kills in defeat. Genesis Mosquea added three blocks and Diana Bautista had two kills.
Gehm had a team-high 10 service points for Secaucus and freshman Danielle Roesing added seven assists.
The Patriots have played in the Memorial Tournament in recent years, but had been excluded from the HCIAA Tournament because they play in the BCSL National division. Given the opportunity to prove that they are Hudson’s best, Secaucus reached their goal and are thrilled to have the title that comes with it.
“When I was in high school we had a Hudson County Tournament. It sort of diminished away and we weren’t in it,” said Meyer a former standout at Secaucus. “This was the first year that they actually brought it back. I’m just happy that they actually got to take part in a county tournament that we’ve never had before. They were just excited to be in it.”
The Patriots' Samantha Gehm had six service points and three aces in the second game.
1st |
2nd
|
|
| Secaucus (21-2) | 25 |
25 |
| Memorial (15-6) | 19 |
15
|