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RANDOLPH — Cole Cantada really didn't want to be the setter for the Randolph boys volleyball team. Cantada had been a starting outside hitter, who sometimes played libero on his club team.
Setter was uncharted territory, a new position to learn for his senior season. But the Rams needed a setter after Kevin Tinio graduated, and coach Erik Novack thought Cantada would blossom in a bigger role.
He was right.
With Cantada and Alex Henriques passing the ball, Randolph went right back to the Group 2 North title. The Rams defeated Ramapo, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14 to defend their championship on June 5.
"It's awesome. I have no words, that's how awesome it is," said Cantada, who had 21 assists, seven digs, six kills, a block and an ace in the sectional final.
"Switching into this role might have hurt the team in the beginning, but over time, it helped. I was on the court doing all that I could. I feel like I did a lot more than in the last sectional final, because I'm touching the ball every single play, no matter what."
More: Delbarton, Mount Olive add to explosion of NJAC boys volleyball
Randolph gets a rematch with St. Joseph of Metuchen in the Group 2 final on June 10 at South Brunswick. It's something the players had been looking toward all season, even in that first scrimmage at Scotch Plains on March 17, when Cantada admitted, "I was not a good setter." But he adjusted to the Rams hitters, and they adapted to him – and sometimes, Novack was able to switch things up and play a 6-2 with Henriques.
Senior-laden Randolph earned praise from Tinio, who was back to watch after his freshman season playing libero at Widener University.
The Rams (27-4) never trailed in the sectional final, responding four times when Ramapo tied the score early in the first set.
Randolph has won eight straight games without dropping a set, dating back to May 12. Along the way, the Rams also brought home the third Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference title in the tournament's five-year history.
Senior outside hitter Ben Barninger emerged from Randolph's postgame meeting wearing a white hard hat with the players' names stenciled on it in blue – the Player of the Game prize. He had a team-high 17 kills and a block, two aces, eight digs and an assist.
More: 2026 Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference boys volleyball awards
Junior outside hitter Jan Rostek added nine kills, a block, four digs and an ace in the sectional final. Senior libero Aedan Perez had 10 digs and three assists.
"We tried to come into the season not thinking that we were going to win it again. We just made sure that we worked our hardest on and off the court," Barninger said. "We showed up and left it all on the court."
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Randolph defeats Ramapo in boys volleyball sectional final
Continue reading...
Setter was uncharted territory, a new position to learn for his senior season. But the Rams needed a setter after Kevin Tinio graduated, and coach Erik Novack thought Cantada would blossom in a bigger role.
He was right.
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With Cantada and Alex Henriques passing the ball, Randolph went right back to the Group 2 North title. The Rams defeated Ramapo, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14 to defend their championship on June 5.
"It's awesome. I have no words, that's how awesome it is," said Cantada, who had 21 assists, seven digs, six kills, a block and an ace in the sectional final.
"Switching into this role might have hurt the team in the beginning, but over time, it helped. I was on the court doing all that I could. I feel like I did a lot more than in the last sectional final, because I'm touching the ball every single play, no matter what."
More: Delbarton, Mount Olive add to explosion of NJAC boys volleyball
Randolph gets a rematch with St. Joseph of Metuchen in the Group 2 final on June 10 at South Brunswick. It's something the players had been looking toward all season, even in that first scrimmage at Scotch Plains on March 17, when Cantada admitted, "I was not a good setter." But he adjusted to the Rams hitters, and they adapted to him – and sometimes, Novack was able to switch things up and play a 6-2 with Henriques.
Senior-laden Randolph earned praise from Tinio, who was back to watch after his freshman season playing libero at Widener University.
You must be registered for see images attach
The Rams (27-4) never trailed in the sectional final, responding four times when Ramapo tied the score early in the first set.
Randolph has won eight straight games without dropping a set, dating back to May 12. Along the way, the Rams also brought home the third Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference title in the tournament's five-year history.
Senior outside hitter Ben Barninger emerged from Randolph's postgame meeting wearing a white hard hat with the players' names stenciled on it in blue – the Player of the Game prize. He had a team-high 17 kills and a block, two aces, eight digs and an assist.
More: 2026 Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference boys volleyball awards
Junior outside hitter Jan Rostek added nine kills, a block, four digs and an ace in the sectional final. Senior libero Aedan Perez had 10 digs and three assists.
"We tried to come into the season not thinking that we were going to win it again. We just made sure that we worked our hardest on and off the court," Barninger said. "We showed up and left it all on the court."
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Randolph defeats Ramapo in boys volleyball sectional final
Continue reading...
