Caldwell Girls Volleyball Won



Caldwell Girls Volleyball Won

Group 2 State Championship

By Steve Tober

For

Just like clockwork Caldwell girls volleyball was once again one of the state’s top teams, capping the recently-completed 2009 fall season by winning yet another state championship, capturing the Group 2 crown and reaching the semifinals of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.

Along with a glittering 30-3 record, the Lady Chiefs boasted one of their most talented squads, led by seniors Megan Knott (outside hitter) and setter Gabby Migliore (setter) and junior Kelly McCaddin (middle blocker).

Caldwell defeated Tenafly, 25-15, 25-12, to take Group 2 honors on Nov. 14, and also knocked off Group 1 champ Pascack Hills, 25-19, 24-26, 25-22, in the quarterfinals of the TOC on Nov. 19. The season finally came to an end with a 25-10, 25-13 defeat to top-seeded and eventual TOC champion Immaculate Heart in the semis on Nov. 21 at William Paterson University.

“The Group 2 state championship was a wonderful accomplishment for our players and program,” said Caldwell head coach Jeff Stiefbold, who combines with brother Scott to head the longtime volleyball power, which is an amazing 280-31 in the past decade alone. “Year in and year out, we have been fortunate to have the ability to work with so many talented, coachable and hard-working players.

“We don’t play for championships just once a year. We play for championships every day in practice. The Caldwell coaches and players take pride in the fact that we have won six state championships this decade.

“And, with 11 Final Four appearances in 12 seasons, our program has consistently played at a high level, which has enabled us to be considered amongst the best programs in New Jersey.”

Caldwell went undefeated in the Super Essex Conference, American Division and also won the Essex County Tournament championship to go along with the Group 2 crown.

“Being able to repeat our Triple Crown season from 2008 was an awesome accomplishment for this team,” said Stiefbold.

Leading the way for the Lady Chiefs were Knott, Migliore and McCaddin, known as ‘The Big 3’ to some Caldwell volleyball followers, who helped carry the team offensively. Knott, who is still undecided on her college destination, led the team in kills, digs, service points and aces, finishing with 415 kills in 2009 and 1,181 career kills.

“Megan is the best volleyball player to ever put on a Caldwell uniform,” said Stiefbold.

Migliore, a terrific captain who has signed to play collegiate volleyball at Felician, finished the 2009 season with 785 assists and 25 kills.

“Gabby’s biggest contribution to our team cannot be found on the stat sheet,” said Stiefbold. “Her greatest contribution is her leadership skills. She is one of the best leaders we have ever had at Caldwell.”

McCaddin, a brilliant player around the net, finished with 347 kills and 84 blocks.

“Kelly had a breakout season,” said Stiefbold. “She finished with 347 kills and 84 blocks. She was second on the team with 191 service points and 49 aces.”

Although ‘The Big 3’ was vital to the success of the Lady Chiefs, there was plenty of support throughout the lineup.

“You can’t win a championship with just three players,” said Stiefbold. “The rest of the team excelled at the roles we gave them.

“Paige Johnson added strong blocking (35 blocks) and timely hitting (35 kills) for us in the front line. Aly Papasidero provided strong pass receiving and solid defense from the libero position. Melis Taskoy, Lilly Thomann, Diana Coe, Lauren Stiefbold, Melissa Stiefbold and Jesse Sengstacke worked hard every day in practices and were great defensive players and serving specialists.”

In traversing the first-year SEC, with strong programs such as Science Park, Livingston and Newark East Side, was not easy terrain, but the Lady Chiefs managed to ward off the opposition to the tune of an undefeated conference record.

“I thought the SEC was a first-rate conference,” said Stiefbold. “The American Division was loaded with outstanding programs, players and coaches. It was great that Science Park reached the Group 1 state finals this season.

“Day-in and day-out, every match was a battle in the SEC. I believe that playing against strong competition in the SEC helped our team win a state championship this season.”

Winning the Group 2 crown and emerging victorious in a TOC quarterfinal were part of the impressive finish for Caldwell, which saw its season end against a mighty IHA squad, led by Penn State-bound 6-5 star Ariel Scott.

“Immaculate Heart Academy was an amazing team,” said Stiefbold. “They are the best high school volleyball team I have seen in my 23 years of coaching. IHA is outstanding in every aspect of the game.”

While copping its sixth group title in the past 12 years, Caldwell again established the fact it is a program to be reckoned with on an annual basis, a fact that should continue to pervade even with the graduation of stars such as Knott and Migliore.

“We are graduating three players and returning eight players from this state championship team,” said Stiefbold. “It will be nearly impossible to replace Megan Knott and Gabby Migliore.

“We will do the best we can to help turn the returning girls into championship players.”

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