The trip has become quite familiar. Take I-295 to Route 1 before a few twists and turns to get to Franklin High School in Somerset County. A little over 60 miles.
The Paul VI High School girls volleyball team has learned that route well in the past three years, as it’s the final destination for the annual state tournament. And although the last two trips didn’t result in a trophy, the Eagles plan to continue to pound those roads on their route to history.
“We are very proud of our kids,” Paul VI coach Dan Chung said. “There’s going to be some ‘what-if this and that,’ but they did a heck of a job.”
On Nov. 12, Paul VI fell to Immaculate Heart Academy in three sets for the second straight year in the Non-Public A state championship game. The pair of runner-up finishes follow Paul VI’s state championship in 2021, which was a meeting of the same two powerhouses.
After dropping the first set, 25-17, the Eagles dug in its heels and scrapped for every point in a come-from-behind 28-26 second set. The Eagles trailed by five early in the stanza but rallied to force the deciding third set.
“That second set, especially the way we executed and how we came back, was really well done,” senior Kailyn Greene-Gordon said. “We weren’t going out easy.”
After an emotional victory in the second set, the Eagles had trouble early in the third and fell behind. Even a late rally still ended up a 25-15 win for Immaculate Heart, which successfully defended its title and picked up its 17th state title in school history.
“I think we played well,” Paul VI junior Danielle Mascolo said. “We didn’t come out as strong in the third set … but the second set was a big battle, and I’m really proud of how we came back.”
The Eagles will graduate only three players in the spring, including Greene-Gordon, Jesse Zulueta and Emily Ezeiruaku. During their time at Paul VI, the program compiled an 88-10 record, four sectional championships and one state title.
“It’s been amazing,” Greene-Gordon said. “The program is really special. I really did enjoy my time here.”
That time included team dinners, bowling outings, casual get-togethers and practicing their faith as a group. For example, because the championship match was scheduled by the state for 10 a.m. on a Sunday, the team attended Mass the evening prior.
“We’re a Catholic school, and we believe in our religion,” Chung said. “Mass is important.”
Early on Sunday, Immaculate Heart was ready. The Blue Eagles, who have appeared in the state championship every year it has been held since 2006, secured another trophy. Their only blemish since 2007 was when Paul VI High School interrupted a run of 13 straight titles in 2021. Paul VI is hoping for a chance to snap a new streak next year.
“We’ve been working since the spring with extra practices,” Mascolo said. “It’s like a six-month effort of getting here. I’m excited for it again.”
It’s no secret that North Jersey has dominated the lists of state championships overall. And since the state doesn’t break the postseason tournament into geographical sections like most other sports, there’s no guarantee for a South Jersey team to even make it to the final. Aside from Paul VI, the only other school remotely close to South Jersey that appeared in one of the six volleyball state championship games this year was Southern Regional in Group 4, which made its second appearance in school history.
In the history of the sport, which stretches back to 1981, the only other South Jersey schools to make it to a state final in their respective group are Williamstown (six times), Cherry Hill East (twice), Cherokee and Northern Burlington. Paul VI has now been there four times, and they are the only South Jersey school to do it three years in a row.
“The run that we’re making right now has never been done in South Jersey,” Chung said.
He continued, “Our goal every year is to get to state finals and finish the job. The expectation and the standards are not going to change any time soon as long as I’m here. I think our kids believe in the same thing. They are expecting to come back here, and we’ll try it again.”
They know the way.
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