The Terriers have been one of the most consistent programs in Group 1 volleyball these last several campaigns, which have all been capped by a championship.
Coming into the 2024 season, Delaware Valley took the court with four consecutive titles under their belt in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 1 sectional tournament. A standard has been set and now, the Terriers are inching closer to making it a fifth straight crown.
On Wednesday in Frenchtown, the top-seeded Terriers hosted 8-Keyport in the quarterfinals, and jumped out to a 6-0 lead to set an early tone.
A tough schedule has prepped Delaware Valley for this postseason, which allowed them to prevail once again. In front a big crowd at "The Hutch," the Terriers reeled in a 25-17, 25-11 victory to advance to the semifinals.
The win improved the Terriers to 11-11, but don't let that .500 record fool you. It was by design.
This Group 1 unit has gone through the gauntlet, facing numerous Group 4 and Non-Public squads this season.
They garnered a huge win against Montgomery, while nabbing set victories against Hunterdon Central, Watchung Hills, Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, and Mount St. Mary.
"We're in a bit of a weird spot here location-wise. There aren't many schools our size in this area, so we look to grab wins within a match against bigger teams. We have learned a lot in those games," DelVal head coach Erin Green said.
On Tuesday, senior All-Group star Abbey Bivona collected her 15th double-digit kill match of the year, slamming 13 against Keyport alongside five aces and a block.
Bivona also recorded the 400th dig of her career, adding on to a pile of milestones in 2024.
She holds the single-season program record for kills (248 and counting), giving her 660 for her career, which is also the most in Terriers history.
A mainstay among Group 1 All-Stars, Bivona's made herself a concrete case to walk away as the greatest player to wear a Delaware Valley jersey.
"I am so beyond grateful for my coaches and my team at Delaware Valley. I can't take full credit for everything that's happened to me since my freshman season, so I am thankful to be able to contribute to this program," Bivona said.
She even contributed to the championship-winning team in 2021 as a rookie, which benefitted Bivona in the long run. She learned from a tremendous upperclassmen roster, which handed her the keys to take the driver's seat for the next three seasons.
"I was really nervous to take a freshman onto the varsity team, but Abbey fit right in. She's grown so much over the last few years and has been so consistent for us," Green said.
Green is in her fifth season as head coach of the Terriers after spending the previous five years with the junior varsity unit. Green has won a sectional title every year at the helm, but has not taken the success for granted.
It's easy to get lost in past accolades, but Green makes the effort to ensure that Delaware Valley hones in on the present season.
"Winning the sectional title is not a given," Green said. "That's the first thing I make sure that all the girls are aware of. It's been a tremendous few years, but we need to focus on every single game. You never know what could happen out there."
Considering all of the trophies that the Terriers volleyball team has brought back home, the crowds are starting to grow larger in the playoffs, as well as becoming the talk around town.
That calls for some adjustments to be made mentally, but Delaware Valley is beginning to handle the external factors, transitioning into more wins.
"I think there is an expectation for us to win the tournament again, but I wouldn't say there is pressure. Whether it's among our classmates, our teammates, or ourselves, I think we proved that we can compete at a high level," Bivona said. "We are just so excited to be in this position to potentially do it again."