East spikers surging from the south
By TONY MARQUIS
The Cherry Hill Sun
12/5/2009

When the nine seniors on the Cherry Hill East volleyball team first stepped on a court, not one had ever set, spiked or served.

But each year, those nine Cherry Hill East players worked together over the summer and each year they got better. And each year, despite facing teams with double their experience, they went further and further in the playoffs.

In 2007, the Cougars lost in the second round. In 2008, they fell to Bridgewater-Raritan in the quarterfinals.

This year, Cherry Hill East made its deepest run since its state title, all the way to the final four — the state semifinals — where it lost a close game to Bridgewater-Raritan, 25-23, 25-17.

“That’s really what makes their accomplishments even more remarkable,” coach Scott Mooney said. “Because most of the girls throughout the state, particularly in North Jersey and Central Jersey, start playing volleyball in sixth grade.”

For years, since girls volleyball became an NJSIAA sport in 1982, the best teams have traditionally been from North Jersey.

Teams like Paramus Catholic (10 titles) and Ridgewood (3 titles) once dominated Group 4, before turning over to Hunterdon Central and Bridgewater-Raritan, which went on to win the 2009 championship. When Cherry Hill East won its first title, it was just the second South Jersey team in 24 years to win a Group 4 championship.

Despite their geographic disadvantage, the Cougars have made it to at least the second round of the playoffs every year since 2001. Their 19-3 record was their best since 2005. According to Mooney, their success this year has been due to seniors like setter Yael Einhorn and senior hitters Marissa Johnson and Anna Johnson – who are not related. Marissa, Anna and senior Jess Smith combined for 288 kills – more than 60 percent of Cherry Hill East’s offense.

Einhorn had 370 assists, leading what Mooney called the Cougars’ “high-powered” attack.

“(Einhorn) was a really high-quality setter – probably could have started as a junior anywhere else – except we had Steph Miller,” said Mooney, recalling Stephanie Miller, who is now the starting setter at Rutgers University-Camden.

The Cougars offense and senior leaders had them thinking state championship. They had already upset No. 4-seeded Livingston, 26-28, 25-23, 25-19, in the quarterfinals.

But for the second year in a row, Bridgewater-Raritan ended Cherry Hill East’s season. Mooney said his team wasn’t upset at losing to the New Jersey powerhouse.

“Bridgewater’s a very good team,” Mooney said. “I think they were disappointed because volleyball for them was over. They really enjoyed playing the game.”

Though he’ll lose a bulk of starting lineup, Mooney isn’t concerned. He’s retooled before after losing a successful group of seniors.

“We got seven talented juniors coming back and a lot of them were able to contribute at the varsity level,” Mooney said. “So I’m not worried.”