Teams to Watch Out For in 2021: Park Ridge
We’re inching closer to the opportunity of having volleyball this spring as we have transitioned into 2021! These girls’ opportunity to play the game they love is starting to become a reality. There are…
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Continue ReadingWe’re inching closer to the opportunity of having volleyball this spring as we have transitioned into 2021! These girls’ opportunity to play the game they love is starting to become a reality. There are teams with a great chance to have monster seasons’ who came up just short in 2019. One team to watch out for is Park Ridge.
Park Ridge was a solid team last year with plenty of depth and gave everyone playing time to be able to showcase their ability. Yes, the squad was led by some seniors like middle blocker Shannon Burnsbut this team has plenty of depth with a majority of their core returning. Park Ridge can be a team to be on the look out to surprise people this year. This presents a grand opportunity for them to improve off of a 17-11 campaign.
The team is bringing back some outstanding talent and have the potential for a something special. The squad finished third in their division in the NJIC behind Bogota and Midland Park. Unfortunately, Bogota is their nemesis at the moment as Bogota eliminated them in the NJSIAA tournament Group 1 in the quarterfinals. Park Ridge was also eliminated in the first round of the Bergen County Tournament.
Some players to look out for are Kailey Levinson, Kate Rutowski and Madison Szabo. Levinson was a great setter a year-ago and she sometimes goes unnoticed in a dominant NJIC. As a sophomore, she finished with 426 assists and 180 digs. She can pass anywhere on the court with perfect placement that gives Park Ridge plenty of scoring opportunities.
Rutowski had a solid sophomore campaign by finishing with 159 kills and 101 digs. Rutowski is a lethal outside hitter who can hit to every angle. It makes her difficult to block as opposing teams struggle to defend cross-court or line. Rutowski was solid as the number one option for Park Ridge and with another year under her belt, she could be looking for a major junior season.
Lastly, Szabo was a key piece for Park Ridge in their 2019 fall campaign. She was lethal in the middle offensively and defensively. Her length and athleticism cause opponents fits and she compliments Rutowski perfectly. She finished last season with 145 kills, 77 blocks and 58 digs.
My concern for Park Ridge is to go into their major matchups with confidence. Midland Park and Bogota are ranked as two of the top teams in the state not just the NJIC. Park Ridge needs to go into those matchups with the belief they can win. If so, they are going to be able to potentially knock one or both of those teams off.
This is a squad that 8 players returning with 5 of them being starters! Park Ridge has the potential of raising some eyebrows not just in the NJIC but in the entire state of NJ. Watch out for Park Ridge going into the upcoming spring season.