As a coach, when your team goes to the NJSIAA Group IV championship and finishes as the state runner-up, you know most things went right. When six players – including four starters – from the squad return for the next season, the expectations are high.

Of course, we’re talking about the Southern Regional girls volleyball program. The expectations rarely get down to a mere “above average” level. Excellence has been the standard, after all, since the program’s first Group IV title in 2008.

“We have made great strides the past couple of years and we expect that to continue,” said coach Eric Maxwell, whose…