After defeating Wall Township in straight matches earlier last week, the Barnegat High School girls varsity volleyball team had two more hills to climb to capture a NJSIAA Group State Championship.

But the Bengals (20-8) lost last Thursday to Sterling High School in the semifinals, or the sectional finals, in two out of three matches. Sterling won the first and third by respective scores of 25-16 and 25-14, while the Barnegat won the middle contest, 25-22.