September 13, 2021 – By Josh Wilets

Week 1 in the NJAC featured a lot of close games, including an upset, as we take a look at the landscape of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference girls volleyball scene:

Tues, 9/7

Jefferson def. Pope John 2-0 (25-13, 25-14)

Hackettstown def. St. Elizabeth 2-0 (25-23, 25-23)

Wed, 9/8

Vernon def. Whippany Park 2-0 (25-17, 25-10)

Mount Olive def. Villa Walsh 2-0 (25-10, 25-8)

Thurs, 9/9

No. 14 Sparta def. Mendham 2-1 (25-13, 18-25, 25-22)

Jefferson def. Morris Tech 2-0 (25-15, 25-19)

Morris Catholic def. Dover 2-0 (25-10, 25-14)

Morristown def. Chatham 2-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-22)

St. Elizabeth def. Villa Walsh 2-0 (25-17, 25-20)

Randolph def. Morris Hills 2-0 (25-16, 28-26)

Madison def. Kinnelon 2-0 (25-21, 25-20)

Hackettstown def. High Point 2-0 (25-8, 25-18)

Whippany Park def. Pequannock 2-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-13)

Montville def. Parsippany Hills 2-1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-18)

No. 9 Roxbury def. Mount Olive 2-0 (25-11, 25-23)

West Morris def. Pope John 2-0 (25-19, 25-10)

Mountain Lakes def. Morristown-Beard 2-0

Fri, 9/10

Vernon def. Kinnelon 2-0 (25-17, 25-13)

Morris Knolls def. Montville 2-0 (25-12, 25-19)

Mount Olive def. Pope John 2-0 (25-9, 25-10)

Sat, 9/11

No. 14 Sparta def. No. 9 Roxbury 2-0 (26-24, 25-20)

BIG-TIME Performances:

Montville vs. Par Hills

·       Sofia Fernandez (Montville) 17 kills

·       Michela Voit (Montville) 31 assists

Morris Knolls vs. Montville

·       Lea Mackey (Morris Knolls) 13 kills, 6 digs

Undefeated:

No. 14 Sparta 2-0 (2-0 NJAC, 2-0 NJAC American)

West Morris 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC American)

Hackettstown 2-0 (2-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC Freedom)

Jefferson 2-0 (2-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC Freedom)

Vernon 2-0 (2-0 NJAC, 0-0 NJAC Freedom)

Mountain Lakes 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC Independence)

Madison 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC Liberty)

Morris Catholic 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC Liberty)

Morris Knolls 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC National)

Morristown 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC National)

Randolph 1-0 (1-0 NJAC, 1-0 NJAC National)

Some Teams to Watch (Not limited to these, don’t worry)

Sparta has defeated Mendham AND Roxbury and currently has a lineup of mostly sophomores. The Spartans have come out swinging early on!

Roxbury, yes they lost to Sparta. Yes, they lost at home. However, I would not panic if I was a Gael because the Roxbury team has so much potential and lots of firepower!

Morristown has a strong nucleus, while also featuring the quartette of Atkins’ –Brooke, Brynn, Hailey and Gwen. The Colonials can really defend well and they can set the ball to many reliable hitters.