9-3-25
TOMS RIVER, N.J. The Toms River South High School girls volleyball team opened their 2025 season in dramatic fashion Wednesday evening, rallying from an early set deficit to defeat Donovan Catholic 2-1 in a match dominated by exceptional serving from both teams.
The contest featured an remarkable 25 total aces between both squads, with Donovan Catholic recording 13 aces and Toms River South contributing 12. This extraordinary serving display created momentum swings throughout all three sets and proved to be the defining characteristic of the season opener.
The Indians (1-0) found themselves trailing after dropping the opening set 25-20 to the visiting Griffins (1-1). However, Toms River South responded with authority, taking the second set 25-21 before sealing the victory with a 25-21 win in the decisive third set.
Pinales Powers the Indians
Senior Melanie Pinales (#10) emerged as the catalyst for Toms River South’s comeback victory, recording seven kills while anchoring the defense with six blocks. Her versatility on both sides of the net proved crucial as the Indians found their rhythm after the opening set loss.
Toms River South’s serving attack was spearheaded by Grace Hewitt’s four aces despite limited playing time, while Giana Denino added four aces of her own. Payton Weed and Cora Olcott each contributed three aces, with Peyton Pompilio adding one ace to give the Indians their 12-ace total that helped fuel the comeback.
Griffins Lead Serving Battle
Donovan Catholic actually outpaced their opponents in the serving category with 13 total aces. Taylor Leary led the Griffins with four aces while adding three kills, and Sofia D’arcangelo contributed three aces and was stellar defensively with 19 total digs. Amelia Kaleda added two aces to go with her match-high 10 kills, while Maddy Ayres contributed one ace along with her team-leading 12 assists. Emaleigh Alborn provided strong net presence with four blocks.
The combined 25 aces between both teams represents an exceptionally high total that showcased the serving prowess of both programs. This aggressive serving disrupted offensive rhythms throughout the match and created the momentum swings that made for compelling volleyball. Both teams used their serving to apply pressure and force errors, turning what could have been a routine season opener into a thrilling contest.
Senior setter Payton Weed orchestrated Toms River South’s balanced attack with seven assists while contributing her three aces and three kills. The Indians’ defensive effort included 10 total blocks compared to Donovan Catholic’s seven, with Pinales leading the way at the net.
Both teams demonstrated why Shore Conference volleyball remains among New Jersey’s most competitive, with the exceptional serving display setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting 2025 season. TRS came in ranked #38 in the state in the NJP preseason ranking and Donovan Catholic was #30. The win establishes the Indians as one of the teams to beat in the Shore Conference.