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HILLSBOROUGH: Boys win volleyball, tennis, golf openers

RAIDER ROUNDUP

by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
   The Hillsborough High boys’ volleyball team started with a flurry of big wins in the first four days of the season. The Raiders posted two regular season victories and performed extremely well in Saturday’s Raider Invitational to set the tone for a big spring.
   Hillsborough (2-0) rolled over West Windsor Plainsboro South 25-11, 25-18 in Friday afternoon’s home match. Krystian Pescinski led the assault with five kills, five blocks and three digs. Frank Batula posted a match-high 14 assists.
   Other contributors included Jared Himelfarb (3 kills, 3 blocks), Greg Stoto (3 kills, 2 digs) and Justin Tien (3 kills, 5 aces).
   The Raiders opened the season with a 25-18, 27-25 home triumph over Roselle Catholic. Himelfarb engineered the victory with 19 assists.
   Pescinski was a beast at the net with 10 kills and three blocks, while Tien made his mark with nine kills, two aces and two digs. Tommy DiClemente had a well-rounded game with three assists, two digs, two kills and one ace.
   The Raiders were set to host West Windsor Plainsboro North and play a big conference match at Bridgewater-Raritan this week.
Wu leads netmen
to opening win
The HHS boys’ tennis team edged Montgomery by a 3-2 score in Thursday’s season opener.
   First singles player Steven Wu defeated Mike Goldman 6-3, 6-3 and second singles player Mike Zhang beat Vincent Chang 7-6 (4), 6-3 to set the tone. The key victory for Hillsborough came at first doubles, where Evan Clayton and Pawel Mankowski prevailed in their varsity debut in three sets. The HHS duo came from behind to post a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory to clinch the team triumph.
   Montgomery won at third singles and second doubles, beating Will Henderson and the new varsity doubles tandem of Kyle Gottschalk and Ryan Hearns, both in straight sets.
   Hillsborough was scheduled to play four matches this week – at Watchung Hills, home vs. J.P. Stevens and back on the road at Ridge and Sayreville.
Girls bounce back
from opening loss
It didn’t take long for the HHS girls to recover from a disappointing loss to Ridge in their lacrosse opener. Three days later, they took out those frustrations on North Hunterdon with a 17-5 victory Saturday.
   Seniors Dorian Gilmartin-Dzitko and Kelsey Palmer, who were relatively quiet in the opener, erupted for five goals apiece Saturday. Arielle Urban netted a hat trick, while Katie DeLuca, Tina Marino, Nicolette Minutillo and Sam Schwalje each added a goal. DeLuca and Gilmartin-Dzitko each recorded two assists.
   Ridge sent a message to the rest of the county and conference with wins over HHS and Bridgewater-Raritan in the first few days of the season. Hillsborough fell behind 4-1 at the half and scored eight times in the second half but couldn’t come all the way back.
   Urban led the attack with four goals, while Marino tallied twice. DeLuca, Gilmartin-Dzitko and Minutillo added one goal apiece. Chelsea Williamson made 10 saves in a losing cause.
   Hillsborough (1-1) was set to host Hunterdon Central and Watchung Hills this week and entertain Montgomery and Immaculata next week on a four-game homestand.
Baseball team drops
tough season opener
Matt Mosko’s home run was the lone offensive highlight in Hillsborough’s 4-1 loss to Immaculata in last week’s baseball opener.
   Mosko broke up Immaculata ace Evan DeLuca’s no-hit bid with a solo shot in the fifth inning of a rain-shortened opener. DeLuca was dominant and outdueled HHS lefty Ryan Lukach, who struck out six and allowed only four hits but surrendered five walks.
   The Raiders, who were rained out last Friday at Phillipsburg, were set to tackle a busy week of action with games at Watchung Hills and home vs. North Hunterdon before Saturday’s Diamond Club Classic. The Raiders will play Princeton Day School at 10:30 a.m and East Brunswick at 1 p.m.
Hengerer, Wagner
sparkle on links
Ryan Hengerer and Kristina Wagner led their respective HHS golf teams in last week’s opening matches.
   Hengerer fired a 39 on a wet, damp and rainy day at Green Knoll Golf Club in Bridgewater. The Raiders posted a 207-218 victory over the Panthers.
   Wagner shot 38 at Bunker Hill in Thursday’s match vs. South Brunswick but the HHS girls dropped a 178-193 match. Hillsborough teammates Tiffany Pierce (50), Melissa DiLeone (51) and Danielle Gemignani (54) rounded out the team scorecard.
   The HHS boys were scheduled to host Phillipsburg and Immaculata, while the HHS girls were on the road at West Windsor Plainsboro South and Bridgewater before hosting West Windsor Plainsboro North at Neshanic Valley.