VOLLEYBALL

MVP Karle helped Mount Olive make volleyball history

Jane Havsy, @dailyrecordspts

RANDOLPH - Annie Karle has been going to Mount Olive volleyball matches since she was in sixth grade, tagging along after her older sister, Ally. But on Saturday night, the younger Karle surpassed her big sister and helped the Marauders make history.

Mount Olive defeated Randolph, 25-17, 25-17 to capture its first Morris County Tournament volleyball title. It was the first time the Marauders had even reached the MCT final.

Karle led all players on both teams with 15 kills, as well as two blocks, an assist and 17 digs. She was named the MCT Most Valuable Player on Saturday night. 

Mount Olive is the fourth different MCT champion in as many seasons, following West Morris' dominance in the tournament's early years.

Mount Olive players Lauren Miller, Annie Karle and Catarina Debeux celebrate during the Morris County Tournament volleyball final.

After the final, Mount Olive coach Lee Clowers suggested Annie Karle text Ally, a senior at Elon (N.C.) University, to thank her for inspiring her love of volleyball. He recalled Annie Karle, still in middle school, playing pick-up games with anyone who would fire the volleyball back at her after Mount Olive matches.

Not much changed in the MCT final, as Karle had three of Mount Olive's last five points in the first game and three of the first seven in the second. But Karle also was flinging her body onto the court to try to keep the ball in play, surpassing even Marauders sophomore libero Catarina Dubeux with 17 digs.

"She had big shoes to fill, but now her shoes are bigger than her sister's shoes," Clowers said. "I didn't know it was going to happen this soon, but she's really that good. She can do anything, and people know that."

Karle was a focus of the top-seeded Rams' defense on Saturday night, which allowed junior Britney Rivera to shine as well.

Rivera had eight kills, a dig and an assist for the second-seeded Marauders, who also avenged a regular-season loss to Randolph. Rivera put down three consecutive kills in the second game, and four of six, as the Marauders went from tied at 9-9 to a four-point edge they would not relinquish.

"She's my go-to person," Mount Olive setter Isabella Soriano said of Karle. "She's really reliable, so I can set her and I know she'll make the play. She's good on the court. When we're down, she'll tell us what to do to make us better. We all have a really good connection."

Staff writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/