Millburn girls volleyball beat West Essex 2-1 on Senior Night, Sept. 30. The Millers now carry a three-year sectional championship streak into the NJSIAA state tournament, with seeding set for Oct. 27.
Emma Krupkin led the offense with nine kills. Ava Chen added seven kills and two aces, and captain Avika Vijayraghavan chipped in six kills and an ace. Elizabeth Lipkin ran the offense with 30 assists. Yashvi Sinha anchored the back row with 17 digs, and Aleena Jaffar paced the serving game with 15 service points.
Millburn took the first set 25-19 and closed out the match 25-10 in the third.
The Millers stand at 10-11 heading into the postseason. That record masks three straight sectional titles. Under coach Bill Rentiers, Millburn won the North 2, Group 3 sectional championship in 2023, 2024 and 2025, according to NJ.com. Last season the Millers went 23-7 and reached the Group 3 state championship.
Senior Night honored the upperclassmen who built that run. Vijayraghavan, reflecting on her four years in the program, said she learned to "communicate effectively, support my teammates, and stay composed under pressure," The Miller reported. She said she now focuses on helping teammates grow and creating a supportive environment.
Underclassmen showed the program's depth, too. Isha Tripathy contributed 12 service points, Kimaya Pandit and Meera Pandit each added two blocks, and Riley Breen recorded seven digs and an ace.
The NJSIAA tournament entry deadline was Oct. 15. Group 3 first-round matches are scheduled for Nov. 2 at the higher seed. Sectional finals follow Nov. 11, and the Group 3 state final is Nov. 14 at Franklin High School. Millburn will be chasing a fourth straight North 2, Group 3 sectional crown.
