December 14, 2021 – By NJP

Williamstown, after a truly magical undefeated season, now has one more historic achievement to add to their record. They are now the “last” NJ Girls high school volleyball Tournament of Champion winner as the NJSIAA voted to end this tournament this week as part of the high school girls volleyball landscape.

We applaud the NJSIAA and President Colleen Maguire for having the fortitude to address what they feel is not in the best interest of the sport as a whole, and provides more season playing time for teams across the state. A gutsy call, especially when knowing the adversity that a decision like this would entail.

For volleyball, the Tournament always represented a grand conclusion to honor one team as the best in the state. We loved how it drew so many players, coaches and fans together to watch the finale. But we are lucky to have state championship games held together in one event at William Paterson that accomplishes this comradery. Maybe there will be some consideration in the future for perhaps a more central location like Rutgers or Princeton.

Change never comes easy, and we certainly don’t expect that this decision will be embraced. But like always, the NJSIAA makes their decisions based on the effect of all of the players in New Jersey. And we can always trust that to be the case. So, no matter what your personal agenda or belief is, we can rely on this organization carrying the student athletes best interest at heart.

A vote on a controversial topic like this would expect to be close, but to the contrary, the board passed the motion with a 33-4 vote. The sports effected by this change are girls volleyball, field hockey, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, bowling and softball. It remains to be seen how boys volleyball will be effected, if at all, as they also work down to one state champion, but do not call it a TOC.

For the perennial power programs, this is likely a disappointment. But in the future, they will have to settle for Group and Sectional state championships, which to us, doesn’t seem like a bitter pill to swallow.

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