The
players are already champions. And they played like it today.
The Group 4 titleholders cruised past Old Tappan
in the Tournament of Champions semifinals at William Paterson University.
The third-seeded Lions (28-3) play top-seeded Immaculate Heart Academy, the Non-Public champion, at 2 p.m. Sunday in the tournament final at William Paterson.
"I feel like we were confident," North Hunterdon junior Katie Primatic said. "It's such a thrill just to be here in the Tournament of Champions. Since our goal was to win the Group 4 title, everything else that we win is a bonus. We feel like we really have nothing to lose and we're just trying to play our hardest and be happy while doing it."
blocked Old Tappan's Natalie Alechko, who had two tries at it but couldn't beat the North Hunterdon block, to give the Lions a 17-13 advantage in the first set.
The Golden Knights (22-4) climbed back to within one at 17-16 on a kill from Brittany Barry. However, the Lions notched three straight points, including scores from Christina Linne and Primatic, to regain control.
Linne added another kill to force set point at 24-20 before a misplaced hit by Old Tappan wrapped the frame up for North.
"We just needed a little energy and the girls got it in the second half of the first game," Lions coach Kirk Hissner said, "and then they got the energy in the second game and kept it up. They played well."
A kill from Jenna Slusar, an error from Old Tappan and score from Linne opened up a 12-6 lead for North in the second set -- and the margin grew from there.
Lane and Primatic had blocks for North down the stretch as Old Tappan, the Group 3 champ, folded en route to a 25-13 finish in Set 2.
Lane, a senior and the Lions' leading scorer this fall, said the mindset was: "Everything is icing on the cake, so have fun.
"When we do have fun we play even better; I think that's really good with this group," she said.
Primatic, one of the state's top blockers, had another productive day at the office, smoothly swatting down attempts from the Golden Knights.
"I felt really good," she said. "I felt light on my feet and like I knew where the ball was going to go while it was being set."
"Offensively and defensively, she did it on both ends today," Hissner said of Primatic. "I can't wait for next year with her because she's only going to get better."
The Lions have a tall task next in Immaculate Heart, which has won a state-record 45 matches this season, and Penn State recruit Nia Reed, who is one of the -- if not the most -- dominant forces in New Jersey.
"Let's go for it," Hissner said. "(Immaculate Heart) is really strong and we're going to try to scrap it up with them. I can't wait for tomorrow. I wanted to be up here this weekend -- the whole weekend."
North setter Libby Cimei thinks her team is ready for its ultimate challenge.
"Our team has come a long way and we're basically like sisters now," she said. "Tomorrow, we're going to give it our all and hope for the best."