Ruymen hopes losses fuel SBHS tourney run

By: Lance Manion
   There’s a theory that it’s not exactly a bad thing to lose a game or two heading into the postseason. Shaun Ruyman is one coach who buys into that school of thought.
   His South Brunswick High girls volleyball team dropped two of its final three regular season matches, but Ruyman believes the losses to rivals Old Bridge and East Brunswick is something that will fuel the Vikings heading into the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament.
   "It’s definitely something they’re using as motivation," Ruyman said. "Some of the girls even came up to me before practice today and said, "We just want another shot at those teams. We know we can beat them.’ "
   The Vikings didn’t, falling to Old Bridge and East Brunswick both in three sets. The Old Bridge match was considered an upset considering the Vikings took a lofty 19-2 record into the match and had swept the Knights earlier in the season.
   "It’s funny because we won the first set and it looked like we were going to have our way with them again," said Ruyman, whose team was led in defeat by Jordan Confessore (7 kills, 10 assists) and Kaci Kelly (5 kills, 3 digs). "I don’t know if we played down to the level of our competition after that, but we definitely made some mental mistakes that cost us. That’s taking none of the credit away from Old Bridge. As I told the girls afterwards, they deserved to win that game because they played better than us."
   The East Brunswick defeat was a moral victory of sorts as the Vikings took a set from the unbeaten Bears before bowing 25-15 in the decisive frame.
   "I think that was a match that proved to them they belong," Ruyman said. "They went head-to-head with the team everyone considers to be the best in (Middlesex) County and more than held their own. That’s something they can take with them when we play them again."
   Notice Ruyman said when, not if. The first-year coach is confident that, after an easy first-round win over Edison Wednesday and a potential rematch against Old Bridge in the semifinals Friday, his team is one of the teams to beat in the GMC Tournament.
   "We go into every match thinking that way," Ruyman said. "That’s a mentality you have to have, I think, because it gives the girls confidence knowing they’re up for any challenge. We’re really not looking past anybody, and we know we have to take it one game at a time, but when these girls play up to the best of their ability, they’re pretty tough to beat."
   NOTES: In their regular-season finale, the Vikings defeated Peddie. Jordan Confessore led the way with 6 kills, 5 digs and 3 aces as South Brunswick became just the second team in the state to knock off the prep power. … Confessore and April Thomas were each selected to the All-GMC team last week in a vote of league coaches. Kelly and Nikki Weiss were heavily considered, but each narrowly missed the cut, Ruyman said. … While the state tournament is slated to begin Nov. 1, the NJSIAA has yet to determine the field. But with its 20-4 record, the Vikings should receive a 3-seed or better.