If there's one universal truth, it's that all of our bodies begin changing at some point. That's especially true for women who are over the age of 50. One day it seems like we're rolling out of bed with a pep in our step. The next, our emotions are out of control, our weight won't go down, and we constantly have hot flashes. If that sounds like you, don't worry â millions of other women worldwide are going through the same difficulties.
The fact of the matter is these symptoms are part of a natural process women go through. This change, called menopause, marks the end of a woman's ability to reproduce and menstruate. The average age for this to occur is 51, though it officially begins a year after a woman's final period. During this transition to menopause, estrogen and other hormones in a woman's body start to deplete When those hormones deplete, frequent and sometimes severe symptoms can manifest:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be scary for both women and their partners. That makes dealing with a hormone deficiency tricky because many symptoms are tied to nutrition, stress, lack of exercise, and toxins in your body.
However, if you're getting older and dealing with some of the symptoms listed above, have hope. A solution to your hormone problems may be closer than you think. Hormone replacement therapy for women may help correct imbalances caused by menopause. These effective, safe treatments help many women throughout the menopause process and may even help them reclaim their youth.
To live a healthy life, hormone stability is very important for women. That's where the beauty of HRT treatments for women begins to shine because it balances hormones that would otherwise be altered due to menopause.
HRT treatments for women represent a revolutionary step toward living life without the pitfalls of old age. However, at Juventee, we understand that no two women, and by proxy, patients, are the same. That's why our team of doctors and specialists provide personalized treatment options for women, combining holistic treatment, nutrition, fitness plans, and more to supplement our HRT treatments.
Is HRT the answer if you feel exhausted, overweight, and moody? That's the million-dollar question that we're asked almost every day. And to be honest, it's hard to say without a comprehensive exam by an HRT expert at Juventee. What we can say is that when a woman's hormones are better balanced during menopause, she has a much better chance of enjoying life without the crippling symptoms that other women feel.
At Juventee, helping women reclaim their vitality and love of life is our top priority. While some HRT clinics see patients as nothing more than a means to make money, our team is cut from a different cloth.
The key to balancing your hormones and improving your well-being is a process that we have refined over time. The Juventee HRT process consists of a comprehensive review of your health and hormonal status. Our team then customizes your plan and prescribes treatments, procedures, and supplements under the guidance of our local HRT experts.
At Juventee, we want to revitalize your health by promoting balance, energy, intimacy, and beauty. We start by assessing your baseline biomarkers and implementing a personalized plan to help you feel like your younger self. Our in-depth process covers many factors, almost like a web. Each component of that web works in conjunction with others to make up how you feel. If one area is out of sync, women can experience unwanted fluctuations in their weight, energy, emotions, libido, and more. Juventee is committed to evaluating our patient's overall health so that we may bring vitality and happiness to as many aspects of their lives as possible.
We've mentioned all the greatness that can come with an HRT regimen from Juventee, but what exactly are the benefits of HRT for women? Let's take a look.
We Work With
Unlike some HRT clinics, Juventee's HRT programs are carefully crafted and personalized for each patient. There are no cookie-cutter solutions at our office. Instead, we assess each individual's needs and customize treatments to help their bodies as they age. We replace hormones that are deficient and restore them to their physiological state using HRT pellets.
These hormone pellets are prescription hormones inserted under the skin through a simple in-office procedure. Each pellet is about as large as a big grain of rice. Once inserted, our HRT pellets get to work quickly. With this treatment, patients don't have to worry about applying greasy creams or swallowing pills. Instead, our pellets are metabolized by the body. That way, patients don't stress over taking too much or too little.
Remember, at Juventee, our goal isn't just to balance your hormones â it's to completely optimize your health and well-being. You won't ever have to worry about our doctors writing you a prescription and sending you on your way without any additional communication. Instead, we aim to be part of our patient's journey back to health and work with all of our HRT patients to do so.
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with hormone replacement therapy, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen levels, HRT may relieve symptoms of menopause and even optimize bone health.
But that's just the start. At Juventee, our patients report many benefits of taking HRT for women:
If you're ready to feel better and enjoy the vitality of your youth, Juventee is here to help you every step of the way. It all starts with an in-person evaluation, where our team will determine if HRT is right for you.
For many women, menopause is a difficult time filled with ups, downs, and hormonal hurdles to overcome. While menopausal issues are well-known by some, other women only know that menopause can affect their hormones. The reality is that going through menopause can mean more than moodiness and hot flashes.
At Juventee, we're big believers that a little knowledge can go a long way. With that in mind, if you're going through menopause or are approaching "that" age, consider these common issues. First, let's examine some alternative causes of menopause beyond age:
The most common reason for menopause is diminished, unbalanced hormones. However, menopause can also result from:
Now that we've examined some of the ways that menopause manifests, let's look at some common problems that females regularly endure:
If you're going through menopause and feel like life is a tiresome burden, you're not alone. Studies show that 15% of women go through depression to some degree during menopause. What many women don't learn is that depression may start much earlier, during perimenopause or even earlier.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, even without perimenopause and menopause as a factor. With that said, keep the following signs in mind. If you notice any, it might be time to speak with a physician:
If you notice any of the signs above, it's important that you understand that you're not weak or broken. You're going through a very normal emotional experience, which may be caused by hormone deficiency. However, with proper treatment from your doctor, depression doesn't have to rule your life.
You don't have to have hormonal imbalances to have mood swings. Indeed, everyone gets moody from time to time. For women going through menopause, however, mood swings can be extreme and happen often. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go together, resulting in unusual emotional changes and even issues like insomnia.
Estrogen production, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, affects serotonin production, which regulates mood. When both hormones are deficient, mood swings can become quite prevalent.
Fortunately, HRT treatments in Bogota, NJ, work wonders for women because they work to regulate hormones like estrogen. With HRT from Juventee, women don't have to settle for the negative consequences that drastic mood swings can cause.
Hot flashes: whether you're a man or a woman, you've probably heard of them. Hot flashes are very common issues associated with menopause and manifest as intense, sudden feelings of heat across the upper body. Some last a few seconds while others last many minutes, making them uncomfortable and inconvenient at all times. A few common symptoms of hot flashes include:
Usually, a lack of estrogen causes hot flashes in menopausal women. Low levels of estrogen negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, or the part of the brain that regulates appetite and body temperature. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to assume incorrectly that the body is too hot. When it does, it dilates a woman's blood vessels to boost blood flow.
Fortunately, most women don't have to settle for the intense, unwanted feelings they endure with hot flashes. HRT pellet treatment from Juventee helps to stabilize hormones which may lessen the effects that hot flashes cause.
Staying healthy and fit is a challenge for anybody living in modern America. For women with hormonal imbalances, however, it's even harder. Weight gain is a concerning issue during menopause, but it can be manageable with a physician-led diet, exercise, and HRT treatments from Juventee.
HRT patients at Juventee benefit from health plans that keep hormones in check, making weight loss a real possibility. But which hormones need to be regulated to help avoid weight gain?
Millions of adults around the U.S. suffer from low sex drive, but that doesn't make it any more embarrassing to talk about. For many women going through pre-menopause and menopause, it's an unfortunate side effect of unbalanced hormones. Thankfully, HRT may help women maintain a healthy libido, even after 50. But what causes lowered sexual desire in women as they age?
The hormones responsible for low libido in females are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, resulting in lowered libido in some women. Lower progesterone production can also cause weight gain, exhaustion, and other symptoms common during menopause. Reduced estrogen levels during menopause may lead to vaginal dryness and even loss of muscle tension.
Testosterone is referred to as a male hormone, but it contributes to important health functionality in women as well. Female testosterone heightens sexual responses and intensifies orgasms. When the ovaries can't produce sufficient levels of testosterone, low sex drive can happen.
The inside of a woman's bones is broken down and rebuilt by bone cells in an ongoing process called remodeling. This process is crucial for maintaining bone strength and health.
However, due to the loss of estrogen during menopause, this important process becomes unbalanced. Less bone is formed, and more bone is broken down. This advanced state of bone loss can be worrying for women, especially if they had an early menopause. With time, women may develop osteoporosis and a greater chance of breaking bones as they age.
Fortunately, HRT for women can actually mimic estrogen and progesterone, which may help prevent bone loss and lower chances of osteoporosis in women. That's huge news for women around the U.S., many of whom are battling early bone loss due to a lack calcium, vitamin D, and other nutrients crucial to bone health.
If you are considering HRT treatments for women in Bogota, NJ, you need a team of hormone replacement experts by your side. At Juventee, our knowledgeable HRT doctors are ready to help. Our team will answer your initial questions, conduct necessary testing, and craft a customized program designed to alleviate the challenges you're facing as a woman going through menopause.
With a healthy diet, exercise, positive life choices, and hormone replacement therapy, unveiling the new "you" is easier than you might think. Contact our office today to get started on your journey to optimal health and well-being.
It took some time, but eventually, Bogota/Ridgefield Park’s Theresa Zeppetelli was able to appreciate the magnitude of her finishing runner-up in the state at 107 last year.It was, of course, disappointing. But it also gave her a glimpse into what was possible at a new weight — 100 pounds — where she feels lighter, quicker and better able to get to her attacks.Her path to finishing first this year is still well on its way as she punched her ticket to the finals in Atlantic City with pins in both the quarter an...
It took some time, but eventually, Bogota/Ridgefield Park’s Theresa Zeppetelli was able to appreciate the magnitude of her finishing runner-up in the state at 107 last year.
It was, of course, disappointing. But it also gave her a glimpse into what was possible at a new weight — 100 pounds — where she feels lighter, quicker and better able to get to her attacks.
Her path to finishing first this year is still well on its way as she punched her ticket to the finals in Atlantic City with pins in both the quarter and semifinals.
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“At first it was very disappointing then I took a minute and realized I came second in the state. I was like ‘oh my god I did it,’ and I was very proud of myself and I still am that I took second,” Zeppetelli said. “Of course I’m disappointed that I lost but I’m proud of myself and motivated me that if I can come second, then I can come first.”
With her move down to 100, she’s looking to put people on notice and make some noise and expected nothing less.
She’s done finishing second and isn’t content with just making finals anymore, though.
“I expected myself to make it here again so I can make it to AC,” Zeppetelli said. “Everything changes now. Now I’m just going to push harder and work through it all over again.”
Coming down from 107, it took Zeppetelli some time to adapt to the new speed of everything, but she picked it up quickly and is working on honing her technique now rather than just being stronger than every opponent.
“I don’t just like to use all my muscle. I like to be very technical and work on every little thing and make sure I hone every detail.”
Zeppetelli’s opponent in the finals, Sparta freshman Paige Weiss, has put together one of the most impressive seasons of any rookie in the state.
She knocked off two state champions — Paramus’ Olivia Klein in the North 1 region semifinals, and twice dispatched Elizabeth’s Isabella Santos, first in the BCWCA Invitational third place bout and again in the 100-pound semifinals.
Weiss pinned Santos in 4:33 in the semis and that familiarity between the two played to Weiss’ advantage.
“I knew that she always goes for throws so I was just trying to shoot before she got a chance to,” she said.
Her coach, Dan Trappe isn’t surprised that Weiss has been so impressive and notched such quality wins in her first year wrestling for the Spartans.
He also knows that Weiss’ performance sets a high bar for everyone else entering the wrestling room behind her.
“We knew what was coming since she came from our youth program so we had high expectations from the start,” Trappe said. “She’s definitely set the bar for the girls that are coming in next year.”
As for how the freshman will handle the spotlight of being in Atlantic City? Trappe isn’t worried. Besides, it’s hist first trip down to Atlantic City, too, as he never made the state tournament as a wrestler for Jefferson.
“We always know she’s the better wrestler out there, it’s just about her finding that confidence that she needed throughout the season,” Trappe said.
The win against Klein was the key she needed to unlock that confidence to perform well on the big stage. Though familiarity with Zeppetelli doesn’t hurt either.
The two wrestled in the finals of the North 1 region tournament Zeppetelli got the pin in 1:24, so Weiss knows what to expect, and how to counter it.
“I know she had a good rush in to a single and I know she likes grabbing wrists so I’m just trying to get to her legs by using a single and getting to her wrists,” Weiss said. “Last time she was able to pancake me and pin me from there so I need to work on finishing the single.”
Even if Weiss knows what’s coming, though, Zeppetelli is confident she’ll have the upperhand again,
“For me, it’s honestly if I can master one move, no one’s stopping it,” Zeppetelli said. “If I can master something, no one’s stopping it.”
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Jake Aferiat covers the SEC, Skyland and UCC. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Aferiat.
State championship volleyball matches are not supposed to be non-competitive coronations, most especially in Group 1.But a loaded team from Bogota did not get that memo on Sunday.Shaking off a sluggish start in the first set, Bogota – No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20 – steamrolled to a straight sets sweep of Delaware Valley, 25-14, 25-6, to capture the NJSIAA/JAG-ONE Physical Therapy Group 1 championship at Franklin High School.The Bucs closed out a fabul...
State championship volleyball matches are not supposed to be non-competitive coronations, most especially in Group 1.
But a loaded team from Bogota did not get that memo on Sunday.
Shaking off a sluggish start in the first set, Bogota – No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20 – steamrolled to a straight sets sweep of Delaware Valley, 25-14, 25-6, to capture the NJSIAA/JAG-ONE Physical Therapy Group 1 championship at Franklin High School.
The Bucs closed out a fabulous 28-2 season with a 21-1 run to close out the second set, and their season, in statement fashion. Delaware Valley – which had a strong season that included a sectional title – finished 18-10.
The state title is the 12th overall for Bogota, which won its fourth straight state title dating to 2018.
“I think there were some nerves there in the first set. I’m not sure because we’ve played in a lot of big matches, but we looked like our normal selves in the second half,” said veteran Bogota coach Brad DiRupo. “To win a state championship is the product of committing yourself in the offseason, and these kids did that.”
The senior duo of Angelina Buhler and Ashanna Caviness was again lethal for the champions in this one, as they both punished Delaware Valley in and around the net all match.
In the 21-1 rampage to close out the match, Buhler and Caviness registered three kills apiece, while teammate Jenelly Jimenez served up two aces as part of a six-point serving run.
Three kills and a block by Caviness set Bogota out to an 8-3 lead early in the first set, but a pair of blocks by Abbey Bivona brought the Terriers to within 8-6.
Shortly after, Skylee Ohler served up a six-point run that gave the Terriers a shocking 13-11 lead midway through the set.
“It’s a wonderful achievement to get back into a state championship game,” said Delaware Valley coach Erin Flemington. “Bogota is obviously a powerhouse, and if they are playing well there isn’t much you can do.”
Buhler would rattle off seven points with the serve, including an ace, to immidiately bring Bogota back ahead 19-13. A kill by Del Val’s Adriana Rosato would briefly interrupt the Bogota wave, but Gianna Estevez of the Bucs promptly went on a five-point run to seal the opening stanza.
For Buhler and Caviness, a pair of seniors who have experienced great success at Bogota, the road ended with a state champinship, but no Tournament of Champions to go for.”
“It would have been nice to have a chance to play for a Tournament of Champions, and it’s a bummer we won’t,” Buhler said. “But finishing up playing high school volleyball with a state championship is not bad either.”
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OLD TAPPAN — Brookelyn Talmadge, Kahlia Content and “LaFawnduh” were front and center at the Bergen County girls volleyball final.The former two keyed the Immaculate Heart front-row attack, which helped the tournament's top seed stave off No. 2 Bogota, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, Sunday in Northern Valley/Old Tappan’s South Gym.The latter is a rubber chicken, named after a Napoleon Dynamite character and clad in pink plastic pearls, which resided on the Blue Eagles' bench.“I...
OLD TAPPAN — Brookelyn Talmadge, Kahlia Content and “LaFawnduh” were front and center at the Bergen County girls volleyball final.
The former two keyed the Immaculate Heart front-row attack, which helped the tournament's top seed stave off No. 2 Bogota, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, Sunday in Northern Valley/Old Tappan’s South Gym.
The latter is a rubber chicken, named after a Napoleon Dynamite character and clad in pink plastic pearls, which resided on the Blue Eagles' bench.
“It was here way before I got here,” IHA setter Kalena Stavish explained. “We had it throughout states one year, and we won. And ever since, it’s been like a mascot for our team, in a way.”
She added with a chuckle, “This year, our team’s really trying to promote LaFawnduh.”
Talmadge, meanwhile, needs little introduction. The 6-foot senior is a returning All-North Jersey player and committed to Division I Bryant University, and she had a pair of kills during the Blue Eagles’ match-ending 6-0 run.
Content transferred to IHA as a sophomore but truly started making an impact on the rotation this season. The senior made a career-high six blocks, including two in the decisive set.
“Kahlia’s also so good at blocking, and she brings so much energy to the team,” Stavish said. “Our whole team consists of such strong hitters… it’s just so great how we always have someone we can rely on every single time.”
Now with eight Bergen County titles, Immaculate Heart (25-1) ranks third all-time in that category. Only Paramus (11) and Demarest (nine) have more, but IHA has the most of any school over the past 15 years with seven.
Bogota (20-2) was playing in its first county final since 2012, when it became the smallest school ever to take home the trophy.
Student population seemed irrelevant Sunday. Besides both having vocal rooting sections, these were clearly Bergen’s top two teams – the Bucs’ only two losses are to IHA, and the Blue Eagles’ lone loss came against one of the top teams in Pennsylvania.
Game 1 was close until Stavish and opposite Julia Sobilo teamed up to spark a string of five consecutive points that gave Immaculate Heart breathing room at 20-13.
The Blue Eagles tried to rally from a 17-11 deficit in Game 2 but never got the lead, as Bogota junior Angelina Buhler fueled an 8-2 run. Senior Seniah Burrell recorded set point with a block.
Game 3 was tied 7-7 when Talmadge reentered the game – libero Abby Romero (17 digs) covers her spot in the back row – and got back-to-back kills to send IHA on a 7-1 run.
? Talmadge led the Blue Eagles with 12 kills, and she combined with Content to make 10 of the team’s 14 blocks.
? Stavish spread the ball around well and even made a few sets on the run. The junior from Upper Saddle River ended with 28 assists and a pair of clever push-kills.
? Returning All-North Jersey OH Ashanna Caviness paced Bogota with 22 kills, while Buhler turned in a double-double (14 kills, 12 digs).
“We know that Bogota always fights back really well. They’re very strong, they’ve very competitive, and they never give up. So, we definitely knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game for us.” —Stavish, who notched her 1,000th career assist in an Oct. 4 match at Bogota
“It was hard coaching, but it was a very good match. … I’m happy, and I love playing in this county final, because it helps prepare you for the state tournament.” —IHA coach Maria Nolan, whose 1,000th career win came in the 2018 Bergen final
‘This Is Why’ has debuted at number 1 in both the UK and Australian album charts.Two decades into their incredible career, their 6th studio album ‘This Is Why’ has stormed the charts debuting at number 1 in both the UK and Australia, their third number 1 in each country. It also received number 1 spots on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, Billboar...
‘This Is Why’ has debuted at number 1 in both the UK and Australian album charts.
Two decades into their incredible career, their 6th studio album ‘This Is Why’ has stormed the charts debuting at number 1 in both the UK and Australia, their third number 1 in each country. It also received number 1 spots on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, Billboard’s Vinyl Album Chart, Billboard’s Alternative Album chart, Billboard’s Rock Album chart, Billboard’s digital album chart and landed at number 1 in the Billboard top 200.
The album’s title track – released in September – recently earned the band their first number 1 at Alternative Radio and was voted ‘Hottest Record Of The Year‘ by BBC Radio 1 listeners in the UK. Last week they released the video for new single ‘Running Out Of Time.’
Watch ‘Running Out Of Time’ below
Paramore is now gearing up to join Taylor Swift on the opening nights of her Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona on March 17th and 18th before embarking on a sold-out global arena tour, kicking off in South America in March, followed by a UK run in April, and a North American run starting in May. Support comes from Bloc Party, Foals, The Linda Lindas and Genesis Owusu.
For the band’s largest headline arena shows in more than a decade they’ll make stops at some of the most iconic venues including two nights at London’s O2 Arena, two nights at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Austin’s Moody Center, two nights at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena and more before wrapping up in St. Paul, MN at Xcel Energy Center on August 2nd. The band are donating a portion of their ticket sales to organizations working in areas of essential community support, including Support & Feed and REVERB.
Thu March 2 – Lima District, Peru – Estadio UNMSM
Sun March 5 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
Tue March 7 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Arena Movistar
Thu March 9 – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – Qualistage
Sat March 11 – São Paulo, Brazil – Centro Esportivo Tiete
Sun March 12 – São Paulo, Brazil – Centro Esportivo Tiete
Tue March 14 – Bogotá, Colombia – Movistar Arena
Fri March 17 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium=
Sat March 18 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium=
Thu April 13 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Sat April 15 – Cardiff, United Kingdom – International Arena
Mon April 17 – Glasgow, United Kingdom – OVO Hydro
Tue April 18 – Manchester, United Kingdom – AO Arena
Thu April 20 – London, United Kingdom – O2 Arena
Sat April 22 – Birmingham, United Kingdom – Utilita Arena
Sun April 23 – London, United Kingdom – O2 Arena
Tue May 23 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center*~
Thu May 25 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena*~
Sat May 27 – Atlantic City, NJ – Adjacent Festival+
Sun May 28 – Boston, MA – Boston Calling +
Tue May 30 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*~
Wed May 31 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden*~
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Fri June 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena*~
Sun Jun 04 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse*~
Mon Jun 05 – Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse*~
Wed Jun 07 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena*~
Thu Jun 08 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*~
Sat Jun 10 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center*~
Sun Jun 11 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paint Arena*~
Tue Jun 13 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center*~
Wed Jun 14 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live*~
Sun Jun 18 – Nashville, TN – Bonnaroo +
Thu Jul 06 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center^!
Sat Jul 08 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena^!
Sun Jul 09 – Austin, TX – Moody Center^!
Tue Jul 11 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center^!
Thu Jul 13 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena^!
Sun Jul 16 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena^
Wed Jul 19 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum^
Wed Jul 20 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum^
Sat Jul 22 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center^
Mon Jul 24 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena^!
Tue Jul 25 – Portland, OR – Veterans Memorial Coliseum^!
Thu Jul 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena^!
Sat Jul 29 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center^!
Sun Jul 30 – St Louis, MO – Enterprise Center^!
Wed Aug 02 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center^!
*With Support Bloc Party
^With Support from Foals
!With Support from The Linda Lindas
~With Support from Genesis Owusu
+Festival Performance
=Supporting Taylor Swift
Sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls volleyball tournament took place Thursday and Friday. Here is a look at every North Jersey squad that advanced in their respective brackets.The finals will be played on Tuesday at the higher-seeded team.Bogota, CresskillNorth 1, Group 1While the top-seeded Bucs (25-2) remain in pursuit of their 13th consecutive championship, No. 3 Cresskill (19-5) will try to win its first since the NJSIAA began awarding sectional trophies in 2010. The Coug...
Sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls volleyball tournament took place Thursday and Friday. Here is a look at every North Jersey squad that advanced in their respective brackets.
The finals will be played on Tuesday at the higher-seeded team.
North 1, Group 1
While the top-seeded Bucs (25-2) remain in pursuit of their 13th consecutive championship, No. 3 Cresskill (19-5) will try to win its first since the NJSIAA began awarding sectional trophies in 2010. The Cougars' last state title came in 2003, when they went back-to-back in Group 1.
Both teams have different coaches than they did a year ago. In Bogota's case, Brad DiRupo returns for his 23rd season after taking 2021 off due to health reasons. Cresskill's Laura Germano is entirely new to varsity volleyball and stepped in at the last minute prior to the season, and her squad has responded with its highest win total since 2009.
The Cougars finished a game behind Emerson in the NJIC Patriot Division, but they prevailed when the teams squared off for a third time in Thursday's semifinals. Junior Erin Fahy tied a season high with 13 kills and added seven blocks in a 25-21, 25-21 victory over the No. 2 Cavos.
In addition to leading the team in both categories, Fahy ranks No. 1 in aces (31), just ahead of senior setter Amber Dangelico (29), who heads into the sectional final with 408 assists.
Bogota setter Mia Pimentel, meanwhile, raised her season assist total to 542 with 26 in a 25-7, 25-13 win against No. 4 Saddle Brook. The Bucs completed a sweep of their new rivals in the NJIC Liberty – they had been in the Patriot Division until this year – and have not lost a divisional game since the conference was formed in 2010.
Senior Angelina Buhler notched a career-best 16 kills for Bogota, and with her complementing fellow outside hitter Ashanna Caviness (340 kills this season), the defending champs will be a tough out.
North 1, Group 2
The No. 1 seed Hawks (21-2) are in the final for a second straight year, and this time, they will face No. 2 Sparta. The Spartans (22-1) knocked out defending champ Old Tappan, which took a wild match against River Dell to win the Fall 2021 title.
Junior Reese Petersen (eight kills) and senior Alicia Idiculla (seven) led the offense and defense in a 25-17, 25-17 semifinal win over No. 5 Pascack Valley, as they were two of four different Hawks with at least seven digs. Idiculla also served five aces, pulling within two of senior setter Emma Evancho for the team lead at 47.
Sparta libero Haley Maher impressed defensively as well, recording 25 digs in her team's 25-16, 25-21 sweep of Old Tappan. The Spartans won this bracket in Spring 2021, after the pandemic forced the season to be pushed back from the fall.
North 1, Group 3
The No. 1 seed Tigers (19-2) will try to win this bracket for their second time in three seasons when they host No. 2 Paramus (17-8). The Spartans won their Group 3 sectional in 2015 – when only the trophies indicated if you were "Section A" or "Section B" – before bowing to Old Tappan in the state final.
Isabella Bido is one of the big reasons Paramus has reached its highest win total since the '15 season. The senior setter has tallied 395 assists and 109 digs, including 14 in semifinal win over Morris Knolls, while sophomores Tiana Holeviczki (188 kills) and Klea Karanxha (334 digs) have contributed as well.
Tenafly's trio of top hitters – seniors Sofia Bell (169 kills) and Rylie Theuerkauf (155) and junior Sofia Tapia (142) – have the Tigers on the verge of their first 20-win season since 2019, after they secured a division title in the demanding Big North National. Their semifinal victory came against Passaic County runner-up Wayne Valley (16-10).
North 1, Group 4
The Knights' historic season continues as they prepare to host their first sectional final. Having already set a program record for wins at 25-2, they earned a meeting with No. 2 Livingston (24-2) by knocking off defending champ Ridgewood.
Serving has given Bergen Tech a big boost in the tournament. After a first-round bye, the top seed in the bracket totaled 27 aces in two playoff matches, with seniors Bryanna Purisima (45 this season), Riley Sobel (43) and Alana Baginski (42) and junior Kaitlyn Acevedo (43) leading the way.
No. 4 Ridgewood ended the year at 15-9, and senior setter Cammi Quirk accomplished an unprecedented feat by leading the Maroons in four different statistical categories: Assists (330), digs (244), kills (135) and aces (65). Livingston took its semifinal against No. 3 Fair Lawn, which finished 19-7.
North 2, Group 1
The Bulldogs became division mates with Secaucus in the new NJIC National this season, and the two tied for second place behind St. Mary. Rutherford (19-8) took the rubber match Thursday in the volleyball equivalent of "double overtime": 29-27, 27-25, as the winners surpassed the regulation 25 points in both sets.
Senior Hannah Tobin and freshman Cate Finan combined for 14 assists in propelling the No. 2 seed into the final against No. 1 Verona (21-5), which outlasted the Bulldogs in three sets for last year's crown. The Hillbillies handled Hasbrouck Heights in the semis, 25-9, 25-13.
Rutherford has reached the 20-win mark in each of its last six full seasons (aside from the Spring 2021 COVID campaign). No. 3 Secaucus finished 16-9 under second-year coach Dylan Caruso, extending a string of 41 consecutive winning records.