In previous seasons, Hackettstown High School’s girls volleyball team would have been enjoying lunch while savoring a sweep on Friday afternoon.

Instead, with the NJSIAA’s adoption of a best-of-five format in this year’s playoffs, the Tigers were in a battle to keep their sectional championship dreams alive.

Top-seeded Hackettstown halted the surge of fourth-seeded West Morris Central and prevailed with a 25-20, 25-12, 22-25, 18-25, 15-13 victory in the NJSIAA North 2 Group 2 semifinals .

The Tigers (24-5) will host seventh-seeded Mendham (17-7) in the sectional final Tuesday.

Senior outside hitter Ava Fiedler registered back-to-back kills to push Hackettstown ahead 4-3 in the fifth set. The hosts led the rest of the way.

“It takes so much grit; it takes so much want ... I’m so pr

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