Movers and Shakers
#20 Morristown mows down #3 IHA in straight sets on the Blue Eagles home floor handing Immaculate Heart their third loss of the season. The Colonials are proving they can compete with any team in NJ and are peaking at the right time with state playoff just around the corner. #3 IHA edged #9 Ramapo on Monday night and Glen Rock knocked of previously undefeated Secaucus to improve to 19-2. Kingsway was no match for Princeton.
Tuesday’s schedule had some major moments. #4 Paul VI rocked Cherry Hill East giving #13 their 2nd loss of the season. Verona and super freshman Brynn Mack are heating up as they enter the semi-finals of the Essex County tournament. Molly Brown was sensational for Union City as they defeated Hoboken is the Hudson County semi-final.
Undefeated Teams
Old Tappan (15-0) remains the only undefeated team in NJ. OT has been waiting for this time of the season and will get to prove their dominance over the next few games. They play a solid Demarest club tomorrow and then will face #9 Ramapo. If they win that game, they will face the winner of IHA/Pascack Valley. If they win out and also capture a Group 2 championship, the algorithm will be hard pressed to honor the undefeated team with a top ranking. Secaucus was the last undefeated team to drop after 20 straight wins, falling to Glen Rock.
Team Competing for the NJP Overall State Championship
As we head down the home stretch of the last few weeks of the season, the math suggests just a few paths for an overall state championship. We use the entire portfolio of games for any given season so moving the needle now is much harder to do. Teams with 4 or more losses at this point will have a tough time with the algorithm as well as teams with a SSF of less than 20. Lots of combinations remain but it appears 4 teams will have the inside track to the number one ranking in NJ at the end of the season. Williamstown, Princeton, Paul VI, and Old Tappan are the most likely finalists with Union Catholic and IHA still with hope. Perennial leaders Old Bridge and Southern may be hard pressed to gain to the top spot even if they achieve a Group IV title. Half of the top 6 are in Non-Public A. The remaining three teams will be heavy favorites for Group titles.
Accolades
Princeton senior Lois Matsukawa continues her fourth year at varsity and is accumulating some amazing records. She surpassed 1,500 career assists, has over 200 career aces, and over 400 digs as the teams playmaker.
Pearl Agel, Princeton’s senior libero, has broken the school record for digs. She currently has over 750 digs in her 4 year varsity career.
Senior Eve Roman of IHA hit a major milestone of 100 career aces on Thursday night.
Mia Izzo of Park Ridge continues to lead the state in kills, despite playing only 40 sets on the season. She remains #1 in the NJP Player Rater algorithm while accumulating 63 blocks and 91 digs this Fall.
Congrats to Bailey Adams from the Southern Rams who is currently leading the state of NJ with over 600 assists for the 2024 season. The senior also has 114 digs for the Rams who are staying in contention to be recognized as the NJP State Champion.
NJP applauds Eiley Schneider of Ramsey. The senior middle blocker has 81 blocks for the 2024 season, leading all players in the state of NJ.
NJP celebrates the following group of middles who have now reached 70 blocks for the Fall season. Senior Bella Kavanaugh of Memorial has 77, junior Sara Canaveral of Dover has 73, and seniors Natasha Clark of Mountain Lakes & Avalon Warmington of West Essex have 70.
Cherry Hill East Cougar senior Aubree Mon has broken the school record for career aces with 158.
Kudos to senior setter Olivia Shertenlieb of Pinelands. Olivia has surpassed 500 assists for the 2024 season and is currently second in the state in assists.
Jessica Smart (Southern) and Rachel Williams (Union Catholic) remain near the top of the state on the attack with 282 and 274 kills respectively, earning 2nd and 3rd place in the state of NJ.
What an initial season for Brynn Mack of Verona. The freshman has notched 227 kills and 143 digs, Fortunately for NJ volleyball fans, we will get to see Brynn for three more HS seasons.
In addition, the following players have recently passed 200 kills for the Fall season… Gab Titus (Williamstown), Naomi Lygas (Princeton), Cassandra Chauhan (Montville), Halee Smentowski (Central Regional), Ashley Torok (Woodbridge), Emma Fowler (Bogota), Pola Wepsiec (Waldwick), Holly Medina (Timothy Christian), Neika Michel (Linden), Abby Kim (Governor Livingston), and MacKenzie Vellis (Rutherford).
NJP wants to recognize three seniors for their superlative seasons on the back row. Izzy Yarenis currently leads all players in NJ with 353 digs and is averaging close to 9 digs per set. Lakewood’s Nathalie Arguedas has lifted 317 digs and has also contributed 90 kills this season. And Emily Brunatti of Southern has passed 300 digs for the season for the Rams.
Morris Knolls senior Bri Finley has reached 500 career digs!
Kudos to senior Delaney Cromen of Brick Memorial got her 100th career ace this week against Red Bank Regional.
Congratulations to senior Mrudulla Pamireddy who achieved her 1,000th assist for West Windsor Plainfield South.
Maggie Simpson of Delaware Valley achieved 300 digs against Phillipsburg on 10/15!
NJP Links
Make sure to check out all of our recent posts with updated team rankings, standings, player rater, group rankings, and player top 50 ranking by class.
