Strincoski reflects SBHS progress

By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
   Like many of the players on the South Brunswick High girls’ volleyball team, Jessy Strincoski moved to a new position this season. And she, like the Vikings as a whole, is starting to flourish.
   ”She’s stepped up to a degree,” South Brunswick coach Shaun Ruymen said. “She moved from the middle to the outside and she’s doing really well there. We expected her to play well, but we didn’t expect her to be that go-to player for kills. She’s been in that role.”
   The Vikings, who graduated eight seniors from last year’s 18-5 team, were 4-6 entering today’s (Thursday’s) match against Edison. For much of the early part of the campaign, the challenge was getting to know new faces, as well as new roles.
   ”It’s hard to play with new players,” said Strincoski, who is a senior. “Everyone is shy and you have awkward moments. Now, we’re starting to get together and we know more of each other’s skill levels. We know what each other’s strengths and weaknesses are. We don’t have to talk; it’s just a sense. Everyone on the team is starting to have a connection like that.”
   As for her new role, Strincoski was pleased.
   ”I like it better than middle,” she said. “Outside, I feel like I can have more of an approach, which is making me hit stronger now.”
   South Brunswick showed flashes of potential during the season’s first half, like pushing defending Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament champion East Brunswick to 29-27 in the second game of a recent match. Ruymen expects more than flashes as the year progresses.
   ”We can play with these teams; it’s just a matter of remembering we can play with these teams,” the coach said. “I think now more than ever it’s starting to fall into place. We were so young, we were trying to see who worked best in what spot. Now it’s come to a point where everyone feels comfortable knowing their role and being able to play their role and follow through with the responsibilities that go along with it.
   ”I feel good about the second half of the season. I think we’ll do better.”
   If the Vikings do improve the rest of the way, the game against East Brunswick might be one of the turning points. Making the second game more impressive was the fact South Brunswick dropped the first game by 25-8.
   ”In the first game, we had good passes but we just weren’t finishing the plays,” Strincoski said. “In the second game, we were talking a lot more. Once we started hitting at them, we started scoring more points. It made me feel really excited because East Brunswick is a really good team. To know we kept up with them was a big step for us. It gave us a lot of confidence.
   ”We’re really putting everything together now. We’re staring to play to our ability every game.”