August 25, 2025

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has released the updated group and sectional classifications for high school girls volleyball in 2025, featuring several adjustments across all divisions to maintain competitive balance and accommodate program changes.

New Programs Joining Competition

Several schools are entering or expanding their volleyball programs for 2025:

New Additions:

• Butler joins Group 1 North 1
• Newark School of Data Science enters Group 1 Central
• Empowerment Academy Charter added to Group 1 Central
• Buena Regional joins Group 1 South
• Haddonfield enters Group 2 South
• Lindenwald added to Group 2 South

These additions reflect the continued growth of girls volleyball programs across New Jersey, with new opportunities for student-athletes in both North and South Jersey regions.

Key Classification Changes

Group 1 Adjustments:

• McNair moves from North 2-1 to North 2-2 within Group 1
• Several charter schools were removed from competition: Great Oaks Legacy Charter, Marion P. Thomas Charter, Newark School of Global Studies, and Trenton Stem-To-Civics Charter
• Camden Prep was removed from the South section

Group 2 Notable Move:

• McNair advances from Group 1 North 2-1 to Group 2 North 2-2, representing a classification upgrade
• Shabazz was removed from the Central section

Group 4 Consolidation: The most notable organizational change involves Jackson Township schools:

• Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty will merge into a cooperative program under Jackson Township in Central 4
• This consolidation combines resources while maintaining competitive opportunities

Regional Distribution

Northern New Jersey: The addition of Butler and adjustments to charter school participation provide continued opportunities while maintaining regional balance.

Central New Jersey: The Jackson Township consolidation streamlines competition in Group 4 while the addition of new programs in lower groups maintains participation levels.

Southern New Jersey: Multiple new programs (Buena Regional, Haddonfield, Lindenwald) demonstrate growing volleyball interest in the region.

Group 3 and Non-Public Stability

Group 3 classifications remain largely unchanged, indicating satisfactory competitive balance in this division. Similarly, Non-Public A and B divisions maintain their current structure with only minor name clarifications.

Implementation

These classification updates will take effect for the 2025 volleyball season. The changes reflect the NJSIAA’s ongoing efforts to accommodate evolving school programs while maintaining fair competition across all levels.

Schools affected by these changes will adjust their scheduling and preparation accordingly, with new programs having the opportunity to establish themselves in their respective divisions and existing programs adapting to updated competitive landscapes.