Old Tappan’s dream season is complete: Knights finish undefeated, Group 2 state champs

A coach never expects their team to go undefeated.

In any sport, at any level, it is just too mighty of an ask to demand perfection.

For Old Tappan’s Melissa Landeck, she never once had the desire to see her squad finish with a perfect record. However, this 2024 unit shattered all expectations, kicking down the door with authority as the undoubted powerhouse of Bergen County and Group 2 volleyball.

For the first time since 2017, Old Tappan - ranked No. 4 in the NJ.com Top 20 - is a state champion. The Golden Knights’ 25-20, 25-11 tally over No. 9 Gov. Livingston in the NJSIAA Group 2 state finals on Sunday, Nov. 17 at Franklin High School capped one of the most incredible campaigns in program history, closing out the year with an unblemished 25-0 record.

“I am so proud of this group. There is just a unified belief in one another, which made this season so special,” Old Tappan head coach Melissa Landeck said. “I am beyond proud of them.”

Old Tappan is the first team to finish an undefeated season since Williamstown in 2021, logging their 15th state title in history.

The idea of this convincingly surfacing to fruition did not dawn on Old Tappan until they defeated Immaculate Heart in the Bergen County Tournament championship, which was the team’s 20th win of the fall.

“Once you get through the county tournament and see that you still haven’t lost a match, it sort of takes on a life of its own. It’s been an incredible ride,” Landeck said.

There was no looking back for the Knights after that win. The sky was the limit.

Old Tappan’s senior setter distributed 23 assists in Sunday’s win, surpassing 1,000 for her career. As if nabbing the state crown and finishing undefeated wasn’t memorable enough, Gioffre walks out of Old Tappan as a legend of the program.

“Volleyball has been a huge part of my life for as long as I could remember. These last four years in particular have been the greatest of my career. I love this team and I am just so happy,” said Gioffre, who graduated with 1,011 assists.

Fellow senior Samantha Kranzler, who battled an injury that sidelined her for most of 2023, was undeniable in her closing campaign. Finishing her career with 672, Kranzler dotted a dozen kills and two aces in her final act.

She set the tone early on, ripping Old Tappan’s first three points of the day. To end the first set, she logged four of OT’s last points, all from a kill, including the set-winner.

Junior Julia Whaley has blossomed into stardom over the past month. In the state finals, Whaley was staunch at the net, recording two blocks against a tough Gov. Livingston attack.

She also rallied for seven kills, including the final three points of the season. She pummeled the match-winning point on a spike, sending Old Tappan’s faithful into a frenzy.

“Julia works so hard to have her spot on the team. She’s grown more and more prominent as the season went on, so for her to have her moment in the spotlight makes us really happy,” Landeck said.

Bianca Benasillo and Eva Curko spread the court well, producing kills apiece. It was the same model used all season.

Backed by smart decision-making from Gioffre, Old Tappan has the ability to slam the floor from multiple options.

This all led to 25 consecutive wins.

“It really is crazy to think about this team finishing without a loss. We had different goals throughout the season and we kept checking them off the list. Winning a state championship was the main thing for us, but to go undefeated is something we will also never forget,” Kranzler said.

Desi Malafis and Jamie Kim each sizzled one ace in Sunday’s victory.

Old Tappan’s road to a state championship and a perfect record included postseason victories against Vernon, Pascack Valley, Sparta, Lyndhurst, and Gov. Livingston.