The 2025-2026 Cresskill volleyball season was certainly one to remember. The team finished with an overall record (teams in the NJIC and the league) of 16-11 and 10-4 record in the league. When Head Coach Germano was asked how she feels about this season, she explained, “I think this year was a success. We entered a whole new league, so we had no idea what to expect. We ended up coming in second in the league. Most of our matches went three sets, and the girls fought hard for every win.”
One of the most memorable moments was the team’s huge state win against rival Park Ridge. Each volleyball game in states goes to five sets, whoever gets to 25 first wins the set. The team won the first set (25-22), lost the second (22-25), lost the third (20-25), came back and won the fourth (25-16), and then the fifth (15-13) to secure the win and move on in states. In that set, the girls climbed out of a 1-8 hole to secure the win.
The team made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the state tournament where they put up a good fight against Westwood, the number one seed. Germano reflected on the game saying, “The Westwood game was a bonus in the State Tournament. We were matched up against Park Ridge in the first round of the NJSIAA Group 1 State tournament and both teams knew going into that game, it was the true Group 1 final. Westwood is a Regional HS and should not be in Group 1. The girls held their own for 3 sets, and it was a true testament of our work ethic and our season.”
Beyond the big wins, the season was defined by teamwork, growth, and passion. Every player contributed to the team’s success, whether through leadership on the court, energy from the bench, or the support they gave each other through every set. The team’s chemistry and determination were clear all season, creating a standard future teams will look up to. Germano says, “This year felt different from previous seasons from the first day back in August. The bond that the girls had from day one was something special and it really set the tone for the whole season.”
