Mustangs provide drama on way to state playoffs
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Say this for the 2007 Marlboro High School boys volleyball team, it provided a lot of drama.

The Mustangs literally took their playoff bid down to the wire.

Sporting a 7-10 record with three matches to play before the state playoff cut-off date (May 15) to be .500, the Mustangs had no margin for error. All that stood in front of them was three playoff-bound teams, including Howell, the public schools Shore Conference A North Division champions, that had already beaten them.

Having their postseason life-on-the-line seemed to bring out the best in Marlboro as the 'Stangs beat Howell and Long Branch to improve to 9-10 and remain in the playoff hunt.

It was two down and one to go and coach Margie McNamara knew better than to expect a tidy two-set victory against Manchester.

"They provided a lot of drama all year," she said. "We played in a lot of three-game matches this season."

So why would playoff clincher be any different? McNamara was not surprised to see her team playing a third set against Manchester, but had to admit she was very nervous when the score reached 23-23. The Mustangs, though, would score the next two points to take the set 25-23, the match and even their record at 10-10.

"We had an up and down season," McNamara pointed out. "At the end, they did what they had to do. They were so focused.

"I told them 'you are better than this, you deserve to be in the states, dig down and go for it,'" she added. "They liked the pressure."

McNamara credited the slow start and up-and-down nature of the season to the team's search for chemistry. The team was probably the most-talented skill-wise that Marlboro has had, but it took time to find out who played best where.

"I tried all different combinations to find our where everyone was comfortable," said McNamara.

One move that had the biggest impact was bringing sophomore Brian Hellee up from the jayvee. The team needed someone at setter who could control the ball and make the offense click. McNamara turned to Hellee out of necessity and he turned out to be the answer.

"It was a lot of pressure to put on a sophomore," she said. "He has good hands and we needed a point guard who could organize the offense. He made a difference."

Also making a difference were two first-time seniors up front at middle hitter. Greg Levine and Adam Mohamad took time to develop into impact players. Once they did, the team took off.

"They became blocking machines," noted McNamara. "They were getting us 10-12 blocks a game."

Matt Weinberg and Igor Targovnik were Marlboro's most reliable servers. They helped the team get on scoring runs during games. Weinberg had a very effective jump serve.

Williamstown would end Marlboro's dramatic season with a straight-set 25-13, 25-12 victory in the NJSIAA Central/South Jersey tournament. Mohammed had two kills and two blocks as he continued his solid play at middle hitter in Williamstown.

Howell and Colts Neck were state qualifiers as well, playing in the same section as the Mustangs, and like the 'Stangs, they were on the road for their first-round matches.

Howell threw a scare into Collingwood in their match before falling, 25-19-20-25, 25-18.

Steve Sylvester had another fine game at the net for Howell coming up with seven kills, one block, five digs and one service ace. Adam Feehan had eight assists to go along with four kills and one block. Rob McClintock had seven kills and two blocks for the Rebels, who finished at 12-6.

Colts Neck fell to Cherry Hill West, 25-16, 25-19. Steve LeFante had nine assists and two digs for the 14-8 Cougars. Allistar Matthews had seven kills, two digs, one blocks and one service ace and Sean Wirth four kills, two digs, one block and one service ace.