10-11-26 (Old Bridge)

Williamstown improved to an impressive 18-0 on the season with a 2-1 triumph over Old Bridge (16-1) on Saturday morning in a matchup of elite programs that lived up to its billing. The Braves took the first set 25-23, dropped the second 18-25, then closed out the match with a tight 25-23 third set victory to maintain their unblemished record. Old Bridge outscored Williamstown 71-68 for the match.

Stella Eberly was absolutely magnificent for Williamstown, crushing 16 kills while adding 2 blocks to lead the offensive charge. The senior outside hitter proved to be the difference maker when the match was on the line, consistently finding the floor against a scrappy Old Bridge defense. Her performance exemplified the veteran leadership that has carried the Braves through their perfect season thus far.

The balanced Williamstown attack featured significant contributions from Addilyn Belcher, who posted 11 kills and a block, giving the Braves a reliable second option throughout the three-set battle. Peyton Wright added 7 kills to provide additional firepower, while Vanessa Eberly provided spark from the service line with 2 aces. The offensive diversity made it difficult for Old Bridge to key in on any single player, forcing the Knights to defend the entire court.

The Braves’ ability to get production from multiple players has been a hallmark of their undefeated campaign, and Saturday’s match was no exception.

For Old Bridge, Ashley Markle put together an outstanding performance that nearly carried the Knights to an upset victory. The star attacker hammered home 21 kills and added 2 aces, repeatedly putting her team in position to win points. Her 21-kill performance was the best individual total of the match.

Weronika Malinowski provided solid secondary scoring for the Knights with 8 kills, while Maya Lupinski made her presence felt from the service line with 3 aces. Tatum Jones and Maya Lupinski each added 2 blocks to give Old Bridge some presence at the net. Tetiana Kontsohrada chipped in 4 kills as the Knights fought tooth and nail to try to hand Williamstown their first defeat of 2025.

The match statistics tell the story of two evenly matched teams battling for supremacy. Williamstown finished with 38 kills as a team compared to 36 for Old Bridge, while the Braves held a slight edge in blocks with 3 to the Knights’ 4. The serving game was relatively even as well, with Williamstown recording 4 aces to Old Bridge’s 5.

The turning point came in the decisive third set, where Old Bridge jumped out to an early 5-3 lead but the Braves put a streak together and then fought off a late surge for the 25-23 victory. The Braves’ experience in close matches proved valuable, as they maintained their composure and executed their game plan to perfection when it mattered most.

Williamstown’s perfect 18-0 record is a testament to the team’s consistency, depth, and ability to win close matches against quality opponents. Saturday’s victory over a 16-1 Old Bridge squad that came in riding high demonstrates that the Braves can handle the pressure that comes with being undefeated.

For Old Bridge, the loss drops them to 16-1, but there’s no shame in falling to an undefeated opponent in a competitive three-set match. The Knights showed they can compete with anyone when Ashley Markle is firing on all cylinders, and they’ll look to bounce back quickly from this setback.
As the season moves forward, both teams have proven they’re among the state’s elite programs and should be factors when playoff time arrives.