Hudson boys volleyball notebook: Harrison finding its rhythm

A solid showing this past weekend looks to carry over into this week for the Harrison boys volleyball team.

Harrison posted a 6-2 record, good for second in Pool A, in last Saturday's Verde-McNeill Invitational and lost to Pool B winner Hackensack, 25-12, in the semifinal round at Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls.

"We have a very young and inexperienced team this year that is still trying to find that team rhythm. We only have three seniors on the team and our starters are made up of juniors and sophomores," said Harrison head coach Nick Landy, who is in his 11th season at the helm.

Junior setter and defensive specialist Sandro Barrantes (226 assists, 65 service points, 15 aces) and sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Ray Ugaz (73 kills, 52 digs, 35 service points) each provide a hard work ethic and consistency in play to the program.

Juniors middle blocker/outside hitter Kevin Molina (86 kills, 45 service points, 11 aces) and junior libero/defensive specialist Tristan Crespo (45 digs, 11 service points), the only varsity carryovers from last season, still need to find the same success as last year.

"They need to step out of the shadow of last year's graduating seniors and shine on this team," added Landy.

In regular season play, Harrison (7-4) has dropped three straight and four of its last five matches and looks to regain some momentum as it has three matches on tap this week. Harrison hosts Lyndhurst on Tuesday at 4 p.m., visits Bergen Charter Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and visits Science Park Friday, also at 4 p.m.

Jersey City Public Schools Tournament (JCPS)

The Jersey City Public Schools Tournament takes place Saturday with Dickinson, Ferris, Lincoln, McNair and Snyder. Last year, McNair rallied to upend Dickinson on the road, 25-23, to take its seventh JCPS title in eight years, Ferris was the 2016 champion, and Dickinson is looking for its first JCPS crown since 2009.

Top 20 (as of 4/20 by NJ.com)

10-Fair Lawn, 11- Bayonne, 12-St. Peter's Prep.

HCIAL teams staying above the fray (through Saturday, 4/21)

Bayonne (8-2), Kearny (7-3), North Bergen (6-5), St. Peter's Prep (4-2), Union City (7-2).

The week ahead:

Tuesday: North 13th Street Tech at Ferris, 4:30 p.m.; Kearny at Hudson Catholic, 4:30 p.m.; Bayonne at Lakeland, 4:30 p.m.; METS Charter vs. Snyder, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Union City at Union, 4 p.m.; Elizabeth at Dickinson, 4:30 p.m.; Paterson Charter at Hoboken, 4:30 p.m.; Ferris at Marist, 4:30 p.m.; METS Charter vs. McNair, 4:30 p.m.; North Bergen vs. Memorial, 4:30 p.m.; Newark Central at Snyder, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday: St. Peter's Prep vs. Bergen Catholic at St. Joe's (Metuchen), 4 p.m.; Kearny at Hackensack, 4:15 p.m.; Don Bosco Prep at Ferris, 4:30 p.m.; Kearny at Hackensack, 4:30 p.m.; St. Peter's Prep at St. Joseph (Met.), 4:30 p.m.; Newark East Side at Union City, 4:30 p.m.; St. Peter's Prep vs. Bloomfield at St. Joseph (Met.) High School, 5 p.m.

Friday: Bayonne at Union City, 4 p.m.; Kearny at Hoboken, 4:30 p.m.; Hudson Catholic at Lincoln, 4:30 p.m.; Dickinson at Marist, 4:30 p.m.; Ferris at Memorial, 4:30 p.m.; North Bergen at Snyder, 4:30 p.m.; McNair at St. Peter's Prep, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: McNair vs. Ferris at Jersey City Public Schools Tournament, 9 a.m.

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