Apparently, an 8-0 lead isn’t safe against the Barnegat girls volleyball team. Pinelands Regional found out the hard way on Sept. 8.

“We were able to pick up the energy and build from there,” said Barnegat senior Ashley Berger, who dropped 10 kills and scored on a block to help lead the Bengals to a 25-23, 25-22 victory over their nearby rivals to open the season. “We have a new coach and a new setter, and it’s a new season, so we had some nerves to overcome a bit.