Millburn, the top seed and three-time defending champion, Livington, Verona and Newark Academy advanced to the semifinals of the High School girls’ varsity tennis Essex County Tournament.

Verona, the No. 6 seed, upset third-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy in the quarterfinals.

2016 ECT GIRLS’ TENNIS

Sept. 21

at the Althea Gibson Center in Branch Brook Park, Newark

PRELIMINARY ROUND

(17) Golda Och Academy defeated (16) Cedar Grove, 4-1

(15) Belleville defeated (18) Irvington, 5-0

FIRST ROUND, seeds in parentheses

(1) Millburn defeated (17) Golda Och Academy, 5-0

(9) Columbia defeated (8) Mount St. Dominic Academy, 3-2

(5) West Essex defeated (12) Caldwell, 5-0

(4) Livingston defeated (13) Bloomfield, 5-0

(3) Montclair Kimberley Academy defeated (14) West Orange, 5-0

(6) Verona defeated (11) Nutley, 5-0

(7) Glen Ridge defeated (10) Montclair, 4-1

(2) Newark Academy defeated (15) Belleville, 5-0

QUARTERFINALS

(1) Millburn defeated (9) Columbia, 5-0

(4) Livingston defeated (5) West Essex, 4-1

(6) Verona defeated (3) MKA, 3-2

(2) Newark Academy defeated (7) Glen Ridge, 5-0

SEMIFINALS, Sept. 24, at Althea Gibson Center, 10:30 a.m.

(4) Livingston vs. (1) Millburn

(6) Verona vs. (2) Newark Academy

Semifinals winners to meet in the final later in the day on Sept. 24, at 2:30 p.m.

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS, Sept. 21

Mount St.  Dominic defeated Cedar Grove, 5-0

Caldwell defeated Bloomfield, 3-2

Nutley defeated West Orange, 3-2

Montclair defeated Irvington, 5-0

CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS, Sept. 24, at Althea Gibbs Center

Mount St. Dominic vs. Caldwell

Nutley vs. Montclair

CONSOLATION FINAL, Sept. 24, at Althea Gibbs Center

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School girls’ varsity volleyball team had a 7-2 record through Sept. 22.

After a 6-0 start, the Bucs lost for the first time this season, falling to rival Nutley in a three-set thriller. The Bucs won the first set, 25-23. Nutley won the second set, 25-16. In the decisive third set, Nutley won, 28-26.

The Bucs defeated Rutherford the next day at home and lost to Montclair Kimberley on Sept. 22 at home.

Loss, Nutley, 23-25, 25-26, 28-26, Sept. 20

BHS stats

Gianna Benacquista: 10 kills, 5 digs.

Kiara Collazo: 15 digs.

Giselle Luna: 24 digs.

Natasha Sanchez: 20 assists, 6 digs.

Kara Sica: 10 digs.

Clarisse Abanilla: 9 kills, 3 digs.

Won, Rutherford, 25-13, 25-21, Sept. 21

Gianna Benacquista: 8 kills

Victoria Bruno: 8 kills

Kiara Collazo: 6 kills, 10 digs

Giselle Luna: 10 digs

Natasha Sanchez: 21 assists

Kara Sica: 6 digs

Loss, Montclair Kimberley Academy, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, Sept. 22

Kiara Collazo: 23 digs, 8 kills.

Gianna Benacquista: 11 kills, 4 digs.

Victoria Bruno: 6 digs.

Natasha Sanchez: 22 assists, 10 digs.

Kara Sica: 6 digs.

Justine Areola: 7 digs.

Giselle Luna: 15 digs.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School varsity football team improved to a 3-1 record with a 39-12 win over winless Newark East Side on Friday, Sept. 23, at BHS Municipal Stadium/Doc Ellis Field.

Quarterback Kyle Walsh passed for three touchdowns, all to Eric Rivera, and ran for another score to spark the Bucs, who won their second straight. It’s the first time in recent memory that the Bucs are 3-1.

The Bucs opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Gustavo Viana. Anthony Coppiano kicked the point-after.

Walsh hit Rivera on a 15-yard TD pass to make it 13-0 later in the quarter. The extra-point kick was missed.

In the second quarter, Walsh threw a 30-yard TD pass to Rivera and Coppiano added the extra point for a 20-0 lead.

East Side scored a TD to make it 20-6 at the half.

In the third quarter, Walsh connected with Rivera on a 35-yard TD pass and Anthony Valez scored on a 30-yard run.

Walsh scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.

East Side fell to 0-3 and has lost 45 straight games dating to 2011.

The Bucs will look to make it three in a row when they visit Snyder in Jersey City on Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. Snyder is 1-2.

NUTLEY, NJ – The Nutley High School boys’ varsity soccer team defeated Belleville, 5-0, Saturday morning, Sept. 24, in Belleville to improve to a 4-3 record.

The first goal came from junior Iyla Udalov’s header off a throw-in from junior Dan Caraballo. The second came from senior captain CJ Haddock off a feed from Udalov. The half ended 2-0.

Sophmore Austin Sweeney scored from the penalty spot in the beginning of the second half. The fourth goal came from a header from junior Matthew Scorsone off a corner kick taken by Udalov.

The final goal came from sophmore Garrett Groeling assisted by Haddock.

Nutley outshot Belleville, 14-3. Senior goalkeeper David Sanchez and sophmore Brandon Syto combined for three saves in the match for the Raiders.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School boys’ varsity soccer team defeated North 13th St. Tech, 7-0, Sept. 27, in Newark to improve to a 2-5 record.

BHS stats

Kenneth Real: 2 goals, 1 assist.

Kevin Manjarrez, Adriel Abreu, Josh Sanchez: 1 goal, 1 assist apiece.

Brandon Basantes, Daren Davis: 1 goal apiece.

Alex Luna, Angel Ramos: 1 assist apiece.

Fernando Pesantez: 5 saves.

Arnold Castillo: 1 save.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated METS Charter and Columbia to improve to a 9-2 record.

BHS notable stats

Won, METS Charter, 25-9, 25-14, Sept. 23, home

Clarisse Abanilla: 4 kills
Gianna Benacquista: 6 kills.
Victoria Bruno: 5 kills.
Kiara Collazo: 5 digs.
Giselle Luna: 5 digs.
Natasha Sanchez: 14 assists, 6 digs.
Kara Sica: 3 digs.

Won, Columbia, 26-24, 25-17, Sept. 27, home

Clarisse Anabilla: 8 kills
Gianna Benacquista: 5 kills, 4 digs.
Victoria Bruno: 8 kills.
Kiara Collazo: 5 kills.
Giselle Luna: 14 digs.
Natasha Sanchez: 22 assists, 10 digs.
Kara Sica: 5 digs.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School boys’ varsity soccer team won their second straight game with a 2-0 home win over Golda Och Academy on Sept. 29.

Kenith Real had a goal and assisted on Emilio Padilla’s goal. Kevin Manjarrez had an assist and Fernando Pesantez had 10 saves for the Bucs, who improved to a 3-5 record.

The Bucs defeated North 13th St. Tech, 7-0, in their previous game on Sept. 27 in Newark.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School varsity football team hopes to regroup after losing to Snyder, 26-0, in Jersey City last Saturday, Oct. 1.

The loss ended the Bucs’ two-game winning streak and moved their record to 3-2. Snyder improved to 2-2.

The Bucs will travel to Little Falls to take on Passaic Valley HS this Saturday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. Passaic Valley defeated Orange HS, 20-12, at Orange on Sept.30 to improve to 2-2.

The Bucs will return home on Oct. 14 to face Roselle at 7 p.m.

Belleville (3-2)

Sept. 2, Won, at West Side, 15-6

Sept. 9, Loss, Fort Lee, 29-7

Sept. 16, Won, at Kearny, 28-0

Sept. 23, Won, Newark East Side, 39-12

Oct. 1, Loss, at Snyder, 26-0

Oct. 8, at Passaic Valley, 2 p.m.

Oct. 14, Roselle, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21, Irvington, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28, at Millburn, 7 p.m.

NUTLEY, NJ – The Nutley High School girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated rival Belleville and Golda Och Academy on back-to-back days to improve to a 9-2 overall record and 7-1 in the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division.

The Raiders went 2-0 each against Belleville and Golda Och this season.

Won, Belleville, 25-16, 25-22, Oct. 5, at Belleville

Nutley notable stats
Melanie Chasmar, 7 kills.
Samantha Eccheveria, 7 digs.
Jovanna Guzzi, 7 assists, 4 digs.
Emily Luberto, 6 assists, 6 digs.
Sara McEnery, 7 kills, 7 digs.
Jessica Robinson, 7 kills, 11 digs.

Belleville notable stats
Justine Areola, 7 digs.
Gianna Benacquista, 6 kills, 4 digs.
Kiara Collazo, 10 kills, 18 digs.
Giselle Luna, 13 digs.
Natasha Sanchez, 19 assists, 11 digs.
Kara Sica, 4 digs.

Won, Golda Och Academy, 25-12, 25-20, Oct. 6, at Golda Och Academy in West Orange.

NHS notable stats
Melanie Chasmar, 4 kills.
Samantha Eccheveria, 5 digs.
Jovanna Guzzi, 7 assists, 7 digs.
Emily Luberto, 11 assists, 3 digs.
Sara McEnery, 11 kills, 9 digs.
Jessica Robinson, 7 kills, 5 digs.

Belleville lost to Millburn, 20-25, 17-25, Oct. 6, in Millburn in a divisional match for its third straight defeat to fall to 11-5 overall and 6-4 in the SEC-Liberty.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School varsity football team will host Roselle on Friday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., hoping to hand Roselle its first loss of the season.

The Bucs are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. They lost to Passaic Valley, 43-7, Saturday, Oct. 8, in Little Falls to move to a 3-3 record.

The Bucs scored their touchdown in the fourth quarter as Matt Latorre hit Alcides Dos Reis on an 18-yard scoring pass.

Passaic Valley improved to 3-2.

Roselle is 5-0.

Belleville (3-3)

Sept. 2, Won, at West Side, 15-6

Sept. 9, Loss, Fort Lee, 29-7

Sept. 16, Won, at Kearny, 28-0

Sept. 23, Won, Newark East Side, 39-12

Oct. 1, Loss, at Snyder, 26-0

Oct. 8, Loss, at Passaic Valley, 43-7

Oct. 14, Roselle, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21, Irvington, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28, at Millburn, 7 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VARSITY SOCCER

ESSEX COUNTY TOURNAMENT

Top four seeds
(1) Livingston
(2) Nutley
(3) Montclair
(4) Columbia

Preliminary round No. 1
on or by Oct. 13

(21) North 13th St. Tech at (20) Orange

Preliminary round No. 2
on or by Oct. 15
Game 1: (16) Millburn at (9) Millburn
Game 2: (17) Science Park at (8) Glen Ridge
Game 3: winner of Orange-North 13th St. Tech at (5) Newark Academy
Game 4: (13) Bloomfield at (12) Mount St. Dominic Academy
Game 5: (15) East Side at (10) West Orange
Game 6: (18) Cedar Grove at (7) Montclair Kimberley Academy
Game 7: (19) Bloomfield Tech at (6) Caldwell
Game 8: (14) Verona at (11) West Essex

First round, Oct. 19
Game 9: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Game 10: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Game 11: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Quarterfinals, Oct. 22
Game 9 winner at (1) Livingston
Game 10 winner at (4) Columbia
Game 11 winner at (2) Nutley
Game 12 winner at (3) Montclair

Semifinals, Oct. 26, at Belleville HS, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Final, Oct. 30, at Montclair State University, noon

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VARSITY SOCCER
ESSEX COUNTY TOURNAMENT
Top four seeds
(1) Seton Hall Prep
(2) Newark East Side
(3) West Orange
(4) Montclair

Preliminary round No. 1 (on or by Oct. 13)
(24) North Star at (21) Science
(25) West Caldwell Tech at (20) Orange
(27) Newark Collegiate Academy at (18) Technology
(23) Cedar Grove at (22) Belleville
(26) North 13th St. Tech at (19) Irvington

Preliminary round No. 2 (on or by Oct. 15)

Game 1: (17) Bloomfield at (16) Newark Tech, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.
Game 2: Winner of North Star-Science at (12) Caldwell
Game 3: Winner of West Caldwell Tech-Orange at (13) Columbia
Game 4: Winner of Newark Collegiate Academy-Technology at (15) Newark Academy
Game 5: Winner of Cedar Grove-Belleville at (11) Glen Ridge, Oct. 15, noon
Game 6: Winner of North 13th St. Tech-Irvington at (14) Verona

First round, on or by Oct. 19
Game 7: Game 1 winner at (1) Seton Hall Prep
Game 8: (9) Nutley at (8) West Essex, Oct. 18, 4 p.m.
Game 9: Game 2 winner at (5) Livingston
Game 10: Game 3 winner at (4) Montclair
Game 11: Game 4 winner at (2) Newark East Side
Game 12: (10) East Orange Campus at (7) Montclair Kimberley Academy
Game 13: Game 5 winner at (6) Millburn
Game 14: Game 6 winner at (3) West Orange

Quarterfinals, Oct. 22, at higher-seeded sites
Game 15: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
Game 16: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner
Game 17: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner
Game 18: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner

Semifinals, Oct. 26, at Belleville HS
Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 7 p.m.

Final, Oct. 30, at Montclair State University, 2 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
ESSEX COUNTY TOURNAMENT

Top four seeds
(1) Verona
(2) Livingston
(3) Caldwell
(4) Nutley

First play-in round, on or by Oct. 15, at higher-seeded sites
(31) Newark Collegiate at (18) Columbia
(26) Orange at (23) University
(30) Arts at (19) East Orange Campus
(27) North Star at (22) Science Park
(25) East Side at (24) West Caldwell Tech
(29) Irvington at (20) Lacordaire
(28) Technology at (21) Newark Tech

Second play-in round, on or by Oct. 18, at higher-seeded sites
Match 1: Columbia-Newark Collegiate winner vs. Orange-University winner
Match 2: Arts-East Orange Campus winner vs. North Star-Science Park winner
Match 3: East Side-West Caldwell Tech winner at (17) North 13th St. Tech
Match 4: Irvington-Lacordaire winner vs. Technology-Newark Tech winner

Final play-in round, on or by Oct. 20, at higher-seeded sites
Match 5: Match 1 winner vs. Match 2 winner. The winner will then be re-seeded No. 16.
Match 6: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner. The winner will then be re-seeded No. 15.

First round, on or by Oct. 22
Match 5 winner (16) at (1) Verona
(9) Belleville at (8) Millburn
(12) Cedar Grove at (5) Montclair Kimberley Academy
(13) West Orange at (4) Nutley
Match 6 winner (15) at (2) Livingston
(10) West Essex at (7) Bloomfield
(11) Montclair at (6) Mount St. Dominic Academy
(14) Newark Academy at (3) Caldwell

Quarterfinals, on or by Oct. 25, at higher-seeded sites
Match 7: Winner of (16) team-(1) Verona vs. winner of (9) Belleville-(8) Millburn
Match 8: Winner of (12) Cedar Grove-(5) MKA vs. winner of (13) West Orange-(4) Nutley
Match 9: Winner of (15) team-(2) Livingston vs. winner of (10) West Essex-(2) Bloomfield
Match 10: Winner of (11) Montclair-(6) Mount St. Dominic vs. winner of (14) Newark Academy-(3) Caldwell

Semifinals, Oct. 27, at West Essex
Match 11: Winner of Match 9 vs. Winner of Match 10, 5 p.m.
Match 12: Winner of Match 7 vs. winner of Match 8, 30 minutes after first semifinal

Final, Oct. 29, at Livingston, 1 p.m.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – Brandon Basantes scored both goals, including the game-winner in double overtime, to lift the 22nd-seeded Belleville High School boys’ varsity soccer team to a 2-1 win over No. 23 Cedar Grove in the first preliminary round of the Essex County Tournament at Clearman Field on Oct. 13.

Josh Sanchez had both assists and Fernando Pesantez recorded 14 saves for the Bucs, who snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to a 5-8 record.

The Bucs will visit 11th-seeded Glen Ridge HS in the second preliminary round on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Watsessing Park at noon. The winner will visit sixth-seeded Millburn in the first round on or by Oct. 19.

Click to view slideshow.

BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Essex County high school cheerleading teams participated in the 10th Annual “Cheer for the Cure” at Foley Field in Bloomfield on Oct. 6.

UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ – These have not been glory days for sportsmanship. In front of a global audience, last summer’s Rio Olympics at times became a showcase for bad behavior and bad sports. And on many youth, high school, college and professional playing fields across America recently, there has been a growing number of unsportsmanlike incidents.

Is sportsmanship declining, or even dying?  Can it be taught in our win-at-all costs sports mentality? A highly accomplished panel of professional athletes, former and current, will share their insights in “Why Sportsmanship Matters” on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, the latest in a town hall program series presented by the Museum and Parabolic Performance & Rehab.

The series, which was launched in August with “Building a Championship Culture,” is ideal for student-athletes, parents, coaches and athletic directors, with each program designed to educate and empower sports stakeholders at every level.

Sports parenting guru Rick Wolff, host of WFAN’s popular call-in show “Sports Edge,” will moderate a panel discussion that includes: Bryce Salvador, a former 14-year NHL veteran and captain of the New Jersey Devils; Devon Kennard, linebacker for the New York Giants; and Christie Welsh, a former women’s U.S. National Team player and current girls coach at Montclair Kimberley Academy.

Each athlete will also answer questions from the audience.  Tickets are $15 per adult, $10 for students.             To RSVP visit www.yogiberramuseum.org or call (973) 655-2378.

About Parabolic Performance & Rehab:   Parabolic Performance & Rehab is a provider of high quality sports physical therapy and performance training with multiple locations in the Northern New Jersey area.   The company is also the premiere NFL Pre Draft training provider.

About The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center: The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is a nonprofit sports education organization on the campus of Montclair State (NJ) University. Its mission is to preserve and promote the values of respect, sportsmanship and excellence through culturally diverse, inclusive sports-based programming. Museum programs foster a better understanding of the historic and contemporary role of sports in society.

UPPER MONTCLAIR – The Jerry Winick Sports Drawing Workshop will be held at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the campus of Montclair State University on Sunday, Oct. 23, from noon to 2:30 p.m.

This sports drawing class for beginning artists ages 6-13 is being conducted by Jerry Winick, an award-winning artist, of Pencilworks Studio in Little Falls.

Drawing materials will be provided.

To sign up, call 973-655-2378. The class is free with regular museum admission.

About The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center: The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is a nonprofit sports education organization on the campus of Montclair State (NJ) University. Its mission is to preserve and promote the values of respect, sportsmanship and excellence through culturally diverse, inclusive sports-based programming. Museum programs foster a better understanding of the historic and contemporary role of sports in society.

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The ninth-seeded Belleville High School girls’ varsity volleyball team defeated eighth-seeded Millburn in a three-set thriller in the Essex County Tournament first round on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Millburn.

The Bucs won the first set, 25-18. Millburn came back to win the second set, 25-21. Belleville won the decisive third set, 25-21.

The Bucs, who won their third straight match to improve to a 14-8 record, will visit top-seeded Verona in the quarterfinals on or by Oct. 25.

Belleville stats vs. Millburn:

Clarisse Abanilla: 6 service points (2 aces), 2 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs.

Justine Areola: 4 digs.

Susan Asali: 13 service points (3 aces), 1 kill, 1 block, 2 digs.

Gianna Benacquista: 4 service points, 14 kills, 4 blocks.

Kiara Collazo: 4 service points, 13 kills, 8 digs.

Giselle Luna: 3 service points, 17 digs.

Natalia Peralta: 2 kills, 4 blocks.

Natasha Sanchez: 6 service points (1 ace), 3 kills, 28 assists, 5 digs.

ORANGE, NJ – The Orange High School boys’ varsity soccer team received the No. 3 seed and will host 14th-seeded Belleville, while Irvington is seeded No. 5 and will host No. 12 seed Cranford in the first round of the  state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament.

The winner of Orange-Belleville will face the winner of Chatham-Middletown North, while the winner of Irvington-Cranford will face the winner of Red Bank Regional-West Windsor Plainsboro North in the quarterfinals.

First round

(16) Rahway at (1) Hopewell Valley
(9) Somerville at (8) West Morris
(12) Cranford at (5) Irvington
(13) Red Bank Regional at (4) West Windsor Plainsboro North
(14) Belleville at (3) Orange
(11) Chatham at (6) Middletown North
(10) Iselin Kennedy at (7) Summit
(15) Ferris at (2) Mendham

Quarterfinals, Nov. 3

Semifinals, Nov. 7

Final, Nov. 10

BELLEVILLE – The Belleville High School girls’ varsity volleyball team, seeded 22nd, will visit 11th-seeded Colonia in the first round of the state Group 3 tournament on Nov. 2. The winner will face either No. 27 seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood or No. 6 seed Paramus in the second round on Nov. 4.

The Bucs lost at top-seeded Verona, 12-25, 7-25, in the quarterfinals of the Essex County Tournament on Oct. 25. Giselle Luna had six digs; Justine Areola had four digs and Gianna Benacquista had three kills.

The next day, the Bucs lost at West Essex in three sets, 8-25, 25-20, 18-25, to move to a 15-10 record. Kiara Collazzo had nine assists and five digs; Susan Asali had 13 service points with five aces; Luna had seven digs and Benacquista had six service points with three aces and six kills.