Girls Volleyball Loses Tough One to Caldwell

WEST CALDWELL — If Thursday was any indication, the Caldwell-Livingston volleyball battle is sure to be a barn burner down to the finish this season.

Not only do they have one more regular season match, but the teams are expected to face each other in the Essex County final.

On Thursday, Caldwell drew first blood with a 25-20 and 26-24 victory over the Lady Lancers. With the win, the Lady Chiefs raised their record to 6-0, while Livingston dropped to 2-1. Both teams are also in the Super Essex Conference American division, with Caldwell getting the upper hand with the victory.

Caldwell senior opposite hitter Melis Toskoy was the difference down the stretch in the second game, when Livingston was only a game-point from sending the match into the third game.

"Melis got in some good serves and helped us pull it out," said Don Cooper, Caldwell head coach, about the second game.

Down 24-21, the Chiefs took advantage of a miss hit by Livingston sophomore Jamie Schneck that cut the Lancers lead to 24-22.

With Toskoy serving, Caldwell's top hitter senior Kelly McCaddin scored on a dig to slice the Livingston lead to 24-23. Livingston head coach Al Partelow called a timeout to change the momentum, but Caldwell scored the next two points as McCaddin smacked a shot past the Lancers while Livingston freshman outside hitter Cate Lin Leu's hit just went out to give the Chiefs the two-game victory.

On Livingston's side, junior Nancy Yang led the Lady Lancers cause with six kills and six digs, while senior Michelle Lee added five kills. Sophomore setter Allison Edelstein led the way in assists with nine.

Caldwell's coach said the difference came down to the team's winning experience, which includes back-to-back state group titles.

"The key was the tradition to win and refuse to give up," said Cooper, who gave credit to the Lancers. "They are well-coached and dug up the ball."

For Livingston's coach, there just was not enough of Yang for his liking.

"We wanted to go to our strength and we didn't execute that," Partelow said about getting the ball to Yang, whom he considers the best hitter in the league.

The next episode of this saga will be on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Livingston.   The teams will then possible play on Saturday, Oct. 23 in the ECT finals.

Livingston Girls Volleyball Schedule

(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)

Sept. 20    Montclair
Sept. 22     at Montclair Kimberly Academy
Sept. 25     Lancer Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 29    East Side Newark
Sept. 30    Roselle Catholic
Oct.  2       at Northern Valley Tournament, TBA
Oct.  4       Belleville
Oct. 6        Bloomfield
Oct. 7        at  Hunterdon Central, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 11       Science Park
Oct. 13      Caldwell
Oct. 18      at Montclair
Oct. 20     Montclair Kimberly Academy
Oct. 21      Ridge
Oct. 26     at Mendham
Oct. 27     at East Side Newark
Oct. 28     at Bridgewater-Raritan