SOMERSET – During the NJSIAA high school championships, Mother Seton won 3-0 on Sunday afternoon against Montclair Kimberly Academy at Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ. This was the final match in the Non-public Group B, where they took home the trophy.
The Mother Seton Setters started the game off strong with the first few points, taking the lead. Senior libero Isabelle Matias was active the entire game, diving for the ball every single time and saving it on multiple occasions. MKA setter Mahala Weintraub even hit the floor to keep the rally going and was a dominant force on the court. Senior #11 Kiera Duffy of the Setters came in with multiple kills throughout the set, leading the MKA Cougars to call a timeout at the losing score of 12-6.
Seton’s middle blocker, Addyson Anderson, was a powerhouse at the net, leading her team in blocks and racking up points throughout the set. Junior Annabelle Burns saved the ball toward the end of the set before spiking it right into the arms of the Cougars. The Setters won the first match with a high score of 25-16.
“We tell the girls, this is a great experience,” head coach Tom Moran excitedly commented. “Let’s keep building on that, and it really helped to play strong teams like that to give us the confidence to go through this tournament.”
Burns proved to be the star of the second set, spiking kill after kill to rack up points for her team. With the help of blocks from her senior teammate Jazmine Cardenas, they led early on with 10-3. Matias continued to hustle throughout, leading her team in digs the entire game.
The Cougars fought hard in the second set, holding a rally against their opponents. It was a lot of back and forth, digs, blocks, and hits, but they eventually took their ninth point and only went up from there. Weintraub was not only a great setter, but a fantastic blocker as well – she, along with fellow middle Ava Wheeler, blocked the many hits coming from Mother Seton, some of them gaining points. Though the match was fierce, they eventually lost the second set with the same score of 25-16.
The third set was where both teams shone. Setters freshman Faith Forenza dominated this time with constant kills and back-to-back hits that gained points for her team. On the flip side, outside hitter Layla Brown of the Cougars caught nearly every single fast hit from Mother Seton players, effortlessly passing the ball to her setter for an effective play. Once again, the teams engaged in a long rally that lasted minutes, though the 24th point eventually went to the former. The final set ended in a win for them, finishing it off at 25-18 – though not without a fight from MKA.
“This is for all the players over the last 29 years,” Moran continued on with high emotion. “They inspire us every year, and this group of girls came together. And the hard work means everything to us.”
With a final whistle, the championship belonged to the girls of Mother Seton – capping off a season defined by grit, teamwork, and relentless determination.
For more coverage from the 2025 NJSIAA Non-Public B Girls Volleyball State Championship, check out the photo gallery from OnNJ Sports photo editor, Christopher Shannon.
