The Montclair Kimberley Academy (Montclair, NJ) varsity volleyball team will play a neutral playoff match against Saddle River Day (Saddle River, NJ) today. This game is part of the 2024 New Jersey High School State Girls Volleyball Tournament – Non-Public Group B.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: New Jersey High School Volleyball
Who: Saddle River Day vs Montclair Kimberley Academy
When: Today, November 11, 2024
Time: In progress
Bracket: 2024 New Jersey High School State Girls Volleyball Tournament – Non-Public Group B
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Game preview: Saddle River Day vs Montclair Kimberley Academy

As the 2024-2025 season unfolds, two competitive teams from New Jersey—Saddle River Day and Montclair Kimberley Academy—are making waves in their respective leagues. Both teams have showcased promising performances, with Saddle River Day maintaining a solid overall win percentage, while Montclair Kimberley Academy has demonstrated a resilient but mixed record. Let’s dive into a breakdown of their rankings, team performance, and head-to-head comparison.

Team Rankings and Records

Saddle River Day

• Overall Record: 12-9
• League Record: 5-3
• Home Record: 4-6
• Away Record: 7-3
• Neutral Record: 1-0
• Win Percentage: .571
• League Win Percentage: .625
• Games Played: 26
• Games Won: 21
• Games Lost: 21

Saddle River Day has had a strong showing this season with a winning record overall (12-9) and a dominant performance in league games, posting a .625 league win percentage. Their away games have been particularly impressive, with a 7-3 record, indicating their ability to perform under pressure when playing outside their home turf.

Montclair Kimberley Academy

• Overall Record: 8-8
• League Record: 0-2
• Home Record: 4-2
• Away Record: 3-6
• Neutral Record: 1-0
• Win Percentage: .500
• League Win Percentage: .000
• Games Played: 21
• Games Won: 20
• Games Lost: 20

Montclair Kimberley Academy has had a more balanced but less stellar record, ending the season at an even 8-8. Their league performance has struggled, with a 0-2 record in league games. However, they have proven to be competitive at home, going 4-2, but have faced challenges on the road (3-6).

Team Scoring Averages

Both teams have demonstrated consistent offensive power throughout the season, with only slight differences in their scoring averages per season.

• Saddle River Day:
  • S1: 22.7
  • S2: 21.7
  • S3: 25.0
  • Wins: 1.2

Saddle River Day’s scoring has fluctuated slightly throughout the season but remains high, especially in the third period where they average 25.0 points per game. Their consistent scoring power has helped secure key victories.

• Montclair Kimberley Academy:
  • S1: 23.2
  • S2: 22.4
  • S3: 23.0
  • Wins: 1.3

Montclair Kimberley Academy has maintained steady scoring throughout all three periods, with their highest scoring average coming in the first period (23.2). Despite the consistency, their overall performance has been hindered by other factors.

Common Opponents

Both teams faced off against Mary Help of Christians Academy in early matches, with both teams securing a 2-0 win against them. This common victory suggests that both teams can handle similarly matched opponents well. Below is a summary of their common opponent encounters:

• Saddle River Day:
  • Opponent: Mary Help of Christians Academy
  • Date: 9/26/24
  • Result: Win (2-0)
• Montclair Kimberley Academy:
  • Opponent: Mary Help of Christians Academy
  • Date: 11/8/24
  • Result: Win (2-0)

Both teams demonstrated strong performances against Mary Help of Christians Academy, but these wins are not necessarily a reflection of their overall season standings.

Record Breakdown

The record breakdown provides further insight into the teams’ performances across different matchups:

• Saddle River Day:
  • League Record: 5-3
  • Non-League Record: 6-6
  • Head to Head: 1-0
  • Home Record: 4-6
  • Away Record: 7-3
  • Neutral Record: 1-0
  • Playoff Record: 1-0
• Montclair Kimberley Academy:
  • League Record: 0-2
  • Non-League Record: 7-6
  • Head to Head: 0-1
  • Home Record: 4-2
  • Away Record: 3-6
  • Neutral Record: 1-0
  • Playoff Record: 1-0

The contrast in league performance stands out. Saddle River Day has excelled in league play, while Montclair Kimberley Academy has struggled, contributing to their lower league win percentage of .000.

Conclusion

Both Saddle River Day and Montclair Kimberley Academy have displayed strengths in different areas. Saddle River Day has been a more dominant force overall, particularly in away games and league play. In contrast, Montclair Kimberley Academy has struggled to assert itself in league games but has maintained a respectable overall performance with strong home court advantages.

As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how both teams adapt to their remaining schedule, especially as they continue to face off against common opponents and prepare for playoff contention.