10/7/25

The scoreboard may have read 3-2 in favor of the visiting Princeton Tigers (15-0, 10-0 BCSL – CVC) after a marathon battle, but the Tuesday night matchup against the Southern Rams (12-6, 8-2 Shore – A South) delivered a volleyball spectacle for the ages. The Tigers, maintaining their perfect season record, narrowly defeated the Rams with set scores of 25-27, 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, and a final 15-12 in the fifth, thanks to several jaw-dropping performances on both sides of the net. It was Princeton’s first time losing a set this season.

Lygas’s Historic Night Anchors Tiger Victory

The undisputed star of the night was Princeton outside hitter Naomi Lygas. Her performance was not just career-defining, it was historic. Lygas earns a special accolade for her phenomenal, decade-best outing, exploding for an astonishing 36 kills. This offensive output, nearly half of her team’s total of 66 kills, was made even more memorable as she powered past the 1,000th career kill milestone during the match. Beyond her attacking prowess, Lygas was a complete player, adding 8 digs and 5 aces.

Directly facilitating this historic night was Princeton setter Kaelin Bobetich. Bobetich orchestrated the offense with precision, with an impressive total of 47 assists while managing a triple-double threat by also contributing 10 digs and 3 blocks. The Tigers’ balanced attack also saw significant contributions from Charlotte Woods, who tallied 17 kills, and Carmen Barbosa, who added 12 kills, ensuring the Southern defense couldn’t focus solely on Lygas. Bobetich, who switched to setter this season, also surpassed 500 kills on her career this evening.

Diggers were in abundance in this match like no other match this season. There will close to 300 digs over 5 sets by both teams. Those are insane numbers. Camila Barbosa had a remarkable 54 of her own for the Tigers.

Southern’s Leaders Push Match to the Brink

While #4 Princeton secured the win, the Southern Rams matched their high-ranked opponent stride-for-stride, largely due to incredible leadership in nearly every statistical category. The home team opened the match with a dramatic 27-25 first-set win and fought fiercely through all five frames. The Rams’ offensive leader was Kayden Bulger, who earned a special accolade for her outstanding total of 33 kills, a remarkable achievement that kept Southern in contention during the grueling sets.

The Rams’ setting and defensive efforts were equally top-tier. Setter Lauren Ambar was brilliant, earning a special accolade for leading all players with a massive 55 assists. Defensively, Heather Henderson was a force at the net, earning a special accolade for her 6 blocks, while also contributing 18 digs and 11 kills to the intense effort. The entire Southern lineup demonstrated their resilience, forcing the undefeated Tigers into the decisive fifth set. This incredible display of talent solidified the match as one of the best of the season, showcasing the strength of both New Jersey programs.

Southern also proves that no matter what their record, they have the ability to compete at a high level with just about any team in the state. It was their 6th loss of the season, but all of their losses have come at the hands of some of the best teams in NJ.

Final Score: Princeton 3, Southern 2 (25-27, 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12)

Team Totals:

• Kills: 66
• Blocks: 6
• Digs: 146
• Assists: 51
• Aces: 10

Top Performers:

• Naomi Lygas: 36 kills, 28 digs, 2 aces
• Kaelin Bobetich: 47 assists, 10 kills, 19 digs, 3 blocks, 2 aces
• Charlotte Woods: 17 kills, 34 digs
• Camila Barbosa: 54 digs, 3 aces
• Lily Cao: 10 digs, 2 aces

Southern (12-6 • 8-2 Shore A South)

Team Totals:

• Kills: 66
• Blocks: 19
• Digs: 141
• Assists: 61
• Aces: 10

Top Performers:

• Kayden Bulger: 33 kills, 18 digs, 1 ace, 3 blocks
• Heather Henderson: 18 kills, 6 blocks, 9 digs, 2 aces
• Lauren Ambar: 55 assists, 30 digs, 4 blocks, 1 ace
• Grace Thurber: 12 kills, 29 digs, 1 ace
• Gianna Manochio: 24 digs, 3 assists, 2 aces