October 15, 2023
Another week of NJ Girl’s high school volleyball in the books. Here are the latest observations and learnings through games played today…
Here is the latest ranking in top 30 mini format…
Sparta has the slightest of edge over IHA and with their big win over the #1 Blue Eagles, the top 5 have all edged closer in the rating system. With County tournaments edging down toward conclusion, we should see some really competitive matches in semi and championship finals.
Bergen County is a great example. The top 4 teams in NJP’s ranking reached the final 4 in the BCT. This week, #2 IHA will face #6 Demarest in the first semi and #10 Old Tappan will get the easier ride as they take on #22 Northern Highlands. Can IHA fully rebound after their tough defeat from Sparta? We think so and despite NJP’s highest rated player in the state at Demarest, Taylor Miller, we think IHA will survive. We also think OT will prevail over NH leaving a IHA vs OT championship match. We give the edge again to IHA but it’s going to take a complete effort to raise the trophy.
#13 Morristown will take on #14 Morris Knolls in the MCT final on Saturday, 10/21. The surprise of the tourney was Mount Olive’s upset over Roxbury in the quarter-final. But again the NJP top two ranked teams in Morris County end up in the final. The algorithm has Motown with the lightest of edges. Knolls has an unimpressive set win %, but they have stepped up in some big matches this season. Their schedule strength is higher than Morristown but the Colonials have a much higher margin of victory.
The Essex County tournament is down to the final 8. NJP’s top 2 teams are Livingston and Verona and we expect to see them match up in the finals.
The GMC is just getting through play-in and first round games. NJP has Monroe as the top ranked team with Old Bridge a tight #2. The seeds in this tourney are reversed with OB holding the #1 seed and the Falcons at #2. So Monroe may end up with the tougher semi against East Brunswick. The Knights and Falcons have been battling for the top spot all season and OB took the division title. We see Monroe returning the favor here in 3 sets of course.
We are down to the final 8 in Union County. Westfield has the top seed, followed by Union Catholic, and Governor Livingston. These are the top 3 teams in NJP’s ranking but we have UC on top based on there current six game win streak and Westfield’s recent 3 losses over the past couple of weeks to top ranked teams. UC and Westfield have split this season with Westfield taking a 3 set win on opening night of the season and then UC winning in straight sets mid-season. Governor Livingston is a top 30 team and could uprise but we expect a UC/Westfield final with a slight edge in 3 sets to UC.
Somerset County is still in preliminary rounds. Hillsborough gets the top seed and #1 NJP ranking coming in. Watchung Hills has been a big surprise this season, running the table up until a tough 3 set loss to ranked Westfield. This will make for a really interesting finale if these two teams can survive the gauntlet.
The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament is still in preliminaries. NJP sees this a two team battle. #1 Sparta appears to have a destined season and it will be hard to see them losing this tournament and a getting a trophy to go with the rest of their season hardware.
Congrats to Wayne Valley for winning the Passaic County Tournament yesterday against PCTI. Valentina Palen and Rilee Crank led the attack for the Indians in the three set thriller. Reese Antonio with 25 big digs putting her over 500 for her career.
