<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=08SiAO_0tHnDgVp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=08SiAO_0tHnDgVp00" width="1400" height="917" ><figcaption>ADD TO THE PILE: The Southern Regional boys volleyball team shows off its banner and trophy after winning an eighth consecutive Shore Conference Tournament championship with a 25-22, 25-21 victory over Howell on May 16. (Photos by David Biggy)</figcaption></figure>With a dominant 2-0 win over second-seeded Howell, the Southern Regional boys volleyball team emerged as Shore Conference Tournament champions on May 16, as the Rams claimed their eighth consecutive SCT title and 14th overall.“We came in today with a lot of confidence,” said junior Aiden Krinic, who led Southern with nine kills in the championship match. “We put together a good show today. But I feel like if we smooth things out, we can be the best in the state.”Playing the semifinals and final at Georgian Court University, Southern (24-2) took on a Rebels team entering the title match with a wealth of momentum after beating third-seeded Freehold Borough, 2-0, in the semifinal, and early on in the final’s first set the Rams trailed Howell by several points. The Rams did not help themselves, though, as they opened the set with multiple service errors and miscommunications.“There were a little nerves, but we come in expecting to win it basically every year,” said senior Jack McKenna of the team’s initial lapses.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3CSYQO_0tHnDgVp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3CSYQO_0tHnDgVp00" width="1200" height="942" ><figcaption>HAMMER IT: Jack McKenna blasts a shot off a blocker during the first game of the Southern Regional boys volleyball team’s 2-0 win over Howell.</figcaption></figure>After going back and forth with the Rebels for two dozen points, Southern finally surged forward behind the heavy hand of Krinic, who provided three ferocious kills during a 6-0 run that gave the Rams a 19-16 lead. They eventually won the first game, 25-22.“I came in and we were down a couple of points, and I just figured that if I didn’t do something, then we might fall apart,” said Krinic. “I just started swinging, and it worked.”In the second game, Southern settled into a rhythm and led nearly the whole way, thanks mainly to its phenomenal defense. The set was defined by a number of daring digs that had the Rams’ bench and fans hollering in disbelief.“Defense wins championships,” said head coach Eric Maxwell, whose squad last lost an SCT final in 2015. “We were just picking everything up, and that frustrates the opponent, and those mistakes that happen on the other side of the net are because of the defense.”Down 24-19 late in the second set, the Rebels plucked at the deficit with a late spurt, but a serve into the net delivered an anticlimactic end as Southern scored the 25-21 win and brought home the championship banner and trophy.Krinic’s nine kills were his most ever in a match. McKenna was right behind with eight kills, while Van Miller finished with five. Angelo Addiego totaled 24 assists. Colin Olcott managed six digs, and Caden Schubiger finished with five.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4LIYj8_0tHnDgVp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4LIYj8_0tHnDgVp00" width="1200" height="923" ><figcaption>CAREER DAY: Southern Regional’s Aiden Krinic delivers one of his nine kills during the Rams’ victory over Howell in the Shore Conference Tournament title match.</figcaption></figure>The Rams easily handled fourth-seeded St. John Vianney in the semifinal, 25-17, 25-11. McKenna led Southern with eight kills against the Lancers, while Krinic, Ian Batchelor and Miller each chipped in with three kills. Addiego distributed 16 assists and scored on three aces. Olcott finished with eight digs.The Rams did not drop a single set in three SCT matches, as they also swept ninth-seeded Barnegat, 26-24, 26-24, in the quarterfinals on May 13. McKenna drilled seven kills and scored an ace, while Krinic delivered five kills, Miller smashed four kills, Olcott managed nine digs, and Addiego dished out 13 assists to go along with an ace. For the Bengals (18-4), Jack Buscaglia tallied 21 assists, 10 digs and a pair of blocks, while Ian Soberano crushed 11 kills and scored on a pair of blocks to go along with eight digs.“We’re starting to peak at the right time, which is what we always want to do,” Maxwell said. “Here today, I thought we played some really good volleyball in both matches.”— Jake Tiger</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

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Southern Regional Captures Eighth Consecutive Shore Conference Crown

With a dominant 2-0 win over second-seeded Howell, the Southern Regional boys volleyball team emerged as Shore Conference Tournament champions on May 16, as the Rams claimed their eighth consecutive SCT title and 14th overall. “We came in today with a lot of confidence,” said junior Aiden Krinic, who led...

Southern Regional Captures Eighth Consecutive Shore Conference Crown

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