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Huland El, Virginia dance into second round

Huland El, Virginia dance into second round

PISCATAWAY _ The goals are to "keep the ball bouncing, make things shake," said Randolph native Aliyah Huland El when discussing Virginia's desire to extend its season as long as possible. Huland El, a senior guard, and the 10th-seeded Cavaliers triumphed in their first-round NCAA game, defeating No. 7 California, 68-62, on Friday, March 16 at 5 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. Virginia (19-13) is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 so Huland El and her teammates, including fellow Jerseyans Jocelyn Willoughby and Lauren Moses, are eager to make an impact. "Honestly, we've…

Coaching suits Mendham's Messinger

Aly Messinger experienced great thrills in 2014 and 2016 when North Carolina captured NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championships. The second time around, Messinger, the former Mendham High School star, was named the Most Outstanding Player. One year later, Messinger is on longer on the turf but is serving as an assistant coach for Navy.  "It's been awesome," Messinger said of coaching. "It's definitely different. It's a transition. There's a wonderful environment at Navy. I'm really enjoying it. I love the atmosphere and the lifestyle. I get to spread the sport I've loved and played for many years." Messinger undoubtedly felt…
It It was common for West Morris High School graduate Kat Spilman to get on base as evidenced by the 45 hits she had going into NCAA Division III Regional play.

West Morris grad wields booming bat

BETHLEHEM, Pa. _ Like the majority of freshmen on college teams, West Morris High School graduate Kat Spilman simply hoped to blend in and contribute at Moravian. Spilman, though, gained notoriety, earning Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year honors, a distinction that stunned the center fielder.
Randolph's Aliyah Huland El made 10 starts for the Cavaliers this season.

Former Randolph star making impact at Virginia

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. _ Randolph's Aliyah Huland El had spent many hours at the Rutgers Athletic Center, attending camps, playing in AAU games and taking in Scarlet Knights games as a fan. In the second round of the WNIT, Huland El, who enjoyed watching Essence Carson, had the opportunity to play at the RAC when she and Virginia clashed with Rutgers.
Montville native Katie O'Reilly has been a key player off the bench for undefeated University of Scranton.

Montville's O'Reilly, Scranton are 27-0

SCRANTON, Pa. _ In the minds of Katie O'Reilly and her University of Scranton teammates, they went 1-0 each time they took to the court this season. That's what coach Trevor Woodruff asked them to do: Take the tiniest of baby steps. The result thus far? A 27-0 record and a Landmark Conference Championship.
Michelle Fallon, a Pequannock High School graduate, is off to a fast start for Drew.

Memorable showing for Fallon

MADISON _ It took one game for Michelle Fallon to surpass her statistics from last year. Fallon, a senior center forward, scored five goals and had four assists when Drew opened its season with a 13-2 victory over Cedar Crest on Friday, Sept. 4. The effort was Fallon's best ever, surpassing any single-game showing, including those during her time at Pequannock High School. "It was actually very exhilarating," Fallon said. "I did not expect that. It was a big confidence boost. We had momentum the whole game. I just capitalized when I had opportunities." Obviously, there were plenty of chances.…

Princeton had historic run

PRINCETON _ At the first workout of the 2015-16 Princeton women's basketball season, Amanda Berntsen felt a bit odd. It was Monday, April 6 - exactly two weeks after the previously undefeated Tigers fell to Maryland 85-70 in a NCAA second-round game - and Berntsen, a Chatham High School graduate, experienced a brief spell of separation anxiety.
Jessica Porada, left, scored the 1,000th point of her career versus Haverford on Feb. 18, 2015.

Porada hits 1,000 at Ursinus

Jessica Porada's mother, Veronica, has plenty of faith in her daughter's basketball abilities. However, she felt there was a possibility that Jessica, in need of 20 points to reach 1,000, would not reach the milestone when Ursinus played Haverford, a perennial power in the Centennial Conference on Feb. 18. So, her mother left the specialty cookies she had bought for the occasion in the car. She recalled the heartbreak Jessica experienced against Haverford as a freshman when she broke her hand, ending her season. The cookies were needed, after all. Porada's grandparents, among the fans on hand for the special occasion, were sent to the…
Brennan Sharkey has been Patriot League Rookie of the Week three times.

Sharkey makes immediate impact

LEWISBURG, Pa. _ Brennan Sharkey was "expecting nothing at all" when she began running cross country for Bucknell University. Sharkey, a West Morris High School graduate, figured she'd spend her freshman season feeling things out and settling in.
Jeane Drury poses with Pace Male Athlete of the Year Matt Gebhardt.

Prestigious honor for Drury

FLANDERS _ Not once while in high school did Jeane Drury consider the winter months boring. Each year, in December, January, February and into March, Drury got a large dose of excitement by playing basketball for Morris Catholic.
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