Passaic girls volleyball team bumps into state tourney

Senior Fernanda Reyes first Indian to be named First Team All-County

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Courtesy of girls volleyball team

The Passaic High girls volleyball team finished 13-8 in 2019.

The Passaic High girls volleyball team capped a big season with its first trip to the state tournament this fall.

The varsity went 13-8, placed second in the North Jersey-Liberty Division standings and earned the fourth seed for the Passaic County Tournament, where it lost in the semifinals to Wayne Valley after knocking out Lakeland.

At states, Passaic shut out Plainfield before falling to Williamstown in the second round in Group 4.

Passaic coach Omar Muñoz said he couldn’t be more proud of what the team accomplished this season, starting from off-season and through practices, games, and tournaments. 

“‘Embracing the competition’ was our mantra for the first half of the season,” said Coach Munoz. “This was a saying that got us through the understanding of what varsity is like.”

The Indians also beat Clifton High School for the first time in 20 years.

Senior Fernanda Reyes was named First Team All-Passaic County. Clauren Reyes was named Second Team and Selena Romero was Honorable Mention.

“These challenges allowed us to grow as a team,” said Romero. “It showed us how little we knew on how to be great. It humbled us in a way that made us work harder in practice. We wanted to leave a legacy this season for years to remember.”

At the varsity level, there is an expectation that they look to compete for championships, state rankings, and legacy. The Indians had a total of 15 players, but only six get to play on the court at a time. Every second counts, each player must bring their best. 

This year, the varsity volleyball team accepted challenges throughout the season, and communication led the Indians to a successful season.