On the New Jersey girl’s high school volleyball landscape, few names resonate as strongly as Julia Sobilo’s. A senior at Immaculate Heart Academy, Julia has already made a significant impact on her team and the sport she loves. Known for her powerful kills and strategic plays, she has become a cornerstone of the Blue Eagles success. As Immaculate Heart Academy continues to dominate the volleyball scene, Julia’s contributions cannot be overstated. Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with this remarkable athlete to learn more about her journey, her inspirations, and her future aspirations.
Throughout her high school career, Julia has amassed an impressive list of achievements. Most notably, she played a pivotal role in leading Immaculate Heart Academy to their 17th state title. Her performance in key matches showcases her skill and determination. During the season so far this year, she posted a career high 16 kills against Passaic Tech in September while also showing her versatility by adding 15 assists in the same match. Julia’s ability to perform under pressure and her consistent excellence on the court have earned her recognition and respect from teammates and opponents alike.
As Julia looks to the future, her goals extend beyond high school volleyball. She aspires to be a civil engineer and make her mark on the business world. Julia is also passionate about giving back to the community and inspiring younger athletes to pursue their dreams. With her talent, work ethic, and determination, there is no doubt that Julia Sobilo will continue to make waves in the volleyball world. We are excited to see what the future holds for this exceptional athlete.
Here is our interview with Ms. Sobilo,,,
Hi Julia… Throughout your high school career, you have played with some stellar role models such as Grace Coughlin, Deanna Whelpley, Brooklyn Talmadge, Kalena Stavish, Maddie Sandt, and Eve Roman. How have they influenced you as a player and as an individual?
These fantastic girls have influenced me in many aspects of my life. I love the memories I share with them and even more being able to play with them. I always looked up to the older girls who mentored me and shaped my volleyball mentality. I am happy to share my high school volleyball journey with Eve, who pushes me to play my best daily.
Can you tell us a bit about how you got started with volleyball and what drew you to the sport?
I started learning volleyball from my mother at a young age. My mom used to play collegiate volleyball in Poland and was determined to teach me from a young age. We spent afternoons peppering in the backyard, where I learned the basics of passing, setting, and hitting. In middle school, I played on the school team. As all my friends joined club teams, so did I, and my love for the sport grew from there.
What has been the most memorable moment of your volleyball career so far?
I always reminisce about my sophomore year’s state final. My sophomore season was the most memorable, and I feel like I grew so much in the sport that year. That state final was a very close three-set game, which made the win and our state title even more memorable.
How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your commitment to volleyball?
As a student-athlete, I have to be organized and disciplined to ensure that I stay on top of my academics. I prioritize academics over athletics, but I strive to be organized and maintain my grades to participate in sports. Staying organized helps me focus during my study sessions, and the discipline I learn on the court also translates to my academic work.
What professional field do you want to enter after college?
I would like to pursue a career in engineering, specifically civil engineering.
Which opposing player were you most impressed with this season?
I have played some amazing players this season and can not wait to play other great girls. Some players that stick out to me have to be the liberos from Wayne Valley (Reese Antonio) and PCTI, which had some great digs against IHA. Some pins that were exciting to play against were from PV (Jillian Feely) and Governor Livingston (Abby Kim), who are both very smart and great outside hitters. I can not wait to play against other great girls from Morristown, Sparta, and hopefully Paul IV.
Who has been your biggest inspiration or mentor in your volleyball journey?
I have had many people help and mentor me in my volleyball career, but my most significant mentor is Coach Eddie Rossiter, the assistant coach in my sophomore year at IHA. We worked a lot on positional aspects of the opposite, especially blocking. I like to think he taught me many of the things that make me the player I am today.
Which team do you expect to be the toughest in your road to another Non-Public Group title?
Getting the Non-Public A Group title we face many great teams and even better players. I would assume that Union Catholic and Paul XI are our biggest competition. Through the grapevine I hear that Paul XI has some great returning players and I would like to see them hopefully in the state final. I would say they are our biggest competition in getting consecutive back to back state championship titles.
Do you prefer the 5 set or 3 set matches?
IHA has yet to play a 5-set game, but individually I prefer 3-set games because of the pace and duration of the game. In 3 set games, teams have to start off stronger, and I feel like it’s a faster pace game because there is no room for significant errors. I believe that 5 set games show which team has more stamina. Being a high school student-athlete, 5 set games can last a while, and with school work and commuting, too much time out of my day would be spent playing volleyball.
Tell us about your teammates and some of the individuals who will contribute to the Blue Eagles’ success in 2024.
Our team has a large group of seniors this year, but a few underclassmen have definitely made their mark on the court. Of course, Eve Roman is a great player and a powerhouse in terms of defense and hitting. Our libero, Maggie Polchin, has really stepped up and embraced her vital role as a lib and dominates our defense. Rachel Paton, our middle, is a very smart player and carries the energy on our team with a smile on her face. Alessandra Nazor is an amazing setter and hitter that I am happy to run a 6-2 with. Lilith Roman, Lauren Henneberry, and Adrielle Crump have really stepped up on the court and have greatly influenced our team dynamic.
Tell us about your volleyball club experience at Side Out Sports?
I loved it! I made some lifelong friends and memories, and am happy that I got the opportunity to play on such a great team. Playing under Coach Justin we really focused on my setting and I gave a lot of my setting success to him. Playing with such great girls on the team that pushed me made me a well-rounded player.
IHA takes on Princeton on October 5th and the entire state will be watching in what could be a classic #1 vs #2 battle. What are your expectations for the match?
I am very excited about this game and know it will be a great match. Princeton is a fantastic team, and playing against a challenging team is a great opportunity. Both teams have great players who can give outstanding performances. Some standout and strategic plays will make this game a nail-biter.
