The Bridgewater-Raritan boys volleyball team didn’t make things easy on Southern Regional High School. Nonetheless, the Rams on Tuesday found a way past the Panthers to win a grueling, 25-19, 25-27, 27-25 contest in the NJSIAA tournament semifinals at South Brunswick High School and reach their ninth straight state championship match.

“We just gutted it out,” said head coach Eric Maxwell, whose squad will play Fair Lawn in the title match on Thursday, June 8.