Boys Volleyball Cruises in Counties

With an easy win in first-round county playoff action Thursday, the three-time defending champion Boys Volleyball team embarked on what they hope results in yet for the program.

The Cutters opened Thursday's match against Bergen Tech with a 25-11 blowout victory in the first game, and settled for a 25-17 win in game two after coach Peter Zisa inserted some of his younger players to give them valuable playoff experience.

“I thought we played well when our initial guys were in there," Zisa said after the match. "We got a little bit loose towards the end of the second game, but that happens when some younger guys are placed in a position that they’re not comfortable in."

All five of the team's hitters had three kills or more, which Zisa said is indicative of the balanced and versatile nature of this year's team.

"We’ve been getting contributions from all over and that’s what’s great about this team," Zisa said. "That’s what’s going to be required for us to win a championship, is for everyone to be able to contribute on every single day and today was a good indication of that."

With the win Thursday, the Cutters advance to face fourth-seeded Garfield in the county semifinals on Tuesday, May 15, at 4 p.m.

The team will remain plenty busy leading up to its match with Garfield. The Cutters play Friday at home against Passaic Valley and then on Saturday in the Super Six Showcase, which pits six of the top eight boys volleyball teams in the state against one another in what should be a good warm-up for the state playoffs.

"[The Super Six Showcase] will serve as a good indication of where we stand in terms of trying to achieve our ultimate goal, which is winning another outright state championship," said Zisa, whose 27-1 Cutters seek to avenge their only loss of the year against Southern Regional High School at the Super Six on Saturday morning.

Friday's Senior Day match against Passaic Valley is , who passed away on April 22. 

Friends, residents, and members of the volleyball community are invited to attend Friday's 4 p.m. match at  to celebrate Donohue's life.