February 26, 2021 – By NJP
COVID has presented some extremely difficult situations for NJ high school volleyball players who also play competitive beach volleyball. With pandemic quarantine rules in place, participation in both programs becomes a logistical nightmare that may not be able to be solved. We are checking in with the major players on the beach scene to determine their current intent for the high school season. Here is what we found out in relation to beach players playing high school:
Mendham Senior Lauren Wilcock will be foregoing her senior year of high school volleyball and is OUT. This is a major blow to the Minutemaids as Lauren was our odds on favorite to take NJ Player of the Year honors.
Hunterdon Central Senior Sydney Eckhardt is IN. She will be playing high school for her senior campaign and will return to her beach tournament commitments after the HS season concludes.
Hailey Benesz from East Brunswick is IN for her junior campaign with the Bears.
Kelle Andwander from Toms River South is IN for her senior year at the high school level and will be playing in beach tourney’s this summer before arriving at D1 NJIT.
Brick Memorial standout junior Kate Stoughton is IN. One of NJ’s most versatile players will be on the floor for the Dragons and will return to her beach volleyball tournament commitments at the conclusion of the high school season.
Mendham sophomore Sara Wilcock will be foregoing her soph year of high school volleyball and is OUT. Another rough one for a very talented Mendham squad that will be missing both star sisters. Mendham still has a ton of firepower despite these losses and will be very competitive.
Senior Veronica Tikhomirova of Barnegat is IN. She will playing local beach tournaments this Spring as well as the high school schedule.
Senior Alexa Mcewan of Toms River South is IN. She will playing local beach tournaments this Spring as well as the high school schedule.
Kyla Sayson from GCIT is IN. The setter will be part of the GCIT high school team for her junior season.
Sophomore Ava Novello of Hunterdon Central is IN. She will be playing high school and getting time on the local sand as much as possible.
More Updates will be added from other top players as soon as received.
