"We Re-lit a Fire": Women's Volleyball Returns Strong
- Visions
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Written by Cristy Villasante; Images by PCCC photography & Cristal Montes
At the beginning of the fall 2025 semester, the women's volleyball team marked a new beginning for the athlete’s department at Passaic County Community College. After a year without competition, the Panthers returned to the court with energy, determination, and a lot of motivation. Under the direction of head coach Savannah van den Berg and assistant coach Nicholas Fernandez, the team not only rebuilt their program but also gave a strong boost to their coaching careers, demonstrated by starting the season with a solid 3–0 record and ending just one win shy of the playoffs.
The head coach of the women's volleyball team, Van den Berg, reflected on the process the volleyball team went through during the entire season. She noted that every aspect made it worthwhile to keep learning, describing this season as a turning point for the program. “We re-lit a fire that people deserve to notice in years to come,” she said. “Our dedicated, hard-working student-athletes showed the county and the region who they were. Facing hardships taught us lessons that helped us grow and become better teammates and helped make Coach Nick and me better coaches.”
For the women's volleyball assistant coach, Nicholas Fernández, this season was significant and very memorable as it marked the beginning of his career as a coach. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to start my coaching career with,” he shared. “Despite not having a team last year, finishing just one win shy of playoffs is an amazing accomplishment for the program.” He also highlighted how significant it was to go through this journey alongside his athletes, affirming that being able to witness and support their growth on and off the court has been an incredible experience.
Our award-winning coaches also expressed pride and sadness as she said goodbye to two members of the volleyball team who played their final year as athletes this season.
“Both sophomores Melanny Gonzalez and Marlene Rosas will be missed! Thank you for your service(s).” -Nicholas Fernandez, Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach
Together, the coaches summarized this season as an unforgettable and meaningful experience. They emphasized that it was based on building trust, communication, and community. For them, it was not just a season, but it set the stage for something amazing to come. With a solid foundation and a lot of vision ahead, the PCCC women's volleyball team looks forward with enthusiasm to an even stronger season in the future.
