A first round playoff exit should not over shadow the Bucks Women’s Volleyball team’s recent success in making the playoffs for the first time since entering the NJCAA’s Region XIX.

The team is led by former assistant coach and now head coach of two years, Stephanie Recklau, and assistant coach, Alyson Stark.

When asked what got her team this far Recklau said, “This team is a dedicated group who never once gave up and continued to improve upon their individual skills and their team unity throughout the season.”

“As a young program, we set our sights every year on being better than we were the previous year, as well as making the playoffs with a record of .500.” The girls surpassed those expectations this year.

Some of Coach Recklau’s “Standout Stars” of the season have been her returning sophomores: •Captain Dominique Sovani from Central High School

•Captain Jessica Gwiazdowski from Villa Joseph Marie

•Captain Sarah Alu from Central Bucks South

• Rima Parkhomchuk from Neshaminy High School

“[They] are without a doubt the strongest returning class we have seen at Bucks in the past several years.” said Coach Recklau.

The strong sophomore women have “welcomed the freshman and provided a core of stability for the program that has allowed us to be as successful as we were this season.”

The women left the regular season with a Region record of 11-9 and started their playoff journey on Tuesday Oct. 21 at Bergen Community College.

Recklau stated, “We are the underdog in this game but my expectation is that the team fights for every point, never gives up, plays their game, and above all has fun and enjoys the moment.

Unfortunately the women did not make it past the first round losing to very strong Bergen Community College 3-0.

“It was not a great outcome but it was a great season,” said Recklau.