9/22/25

Lots of data continues to stream in from the algorithm after 1,185 games have been played for the three week old New Jersey High School Girls’ volleyball season. A few items before we get into some recaps from tonight….

Has your face appeared yet in our faces of NJ high school volleyball page? https://njpowerranking.com/faces-of-new-jersey-volleyball/

Our recent article on “Best of 5″ vs. Best of 3” discussed both sides of the equation, pro’s and con’s, and insights from feature coaches. Fans, players, and coaches have weighed in and here are the results of the survey after 7 days:

NJP values strength of schedule the most in our math and its been interesting to see what teams have loaded their schedules early as it usually communicates expectations for the season. Our analysis below looks at the top 25 teams top down in schedule strength…

Another factor that strongly effects the algorithm is margin of victory. Many of the best teams are masterful at mixing in their entire rosters when the play teams that are not matched perfectly or of a much less caliber, which is AWESOME. The algorithm weights this so blowouts over 10 points in a set get weighted less in the calculations, so there is NOT a big advantage in the rating score to win 25-3 rather than 25-15. Here are the highest average margin of victory per set for the season thus far…

The new computer ranking is summarized below in the NJP Top 30…

Here is a breakdown of the 1,185 matches played thus far this season:

Matches going 2-0 861 73%

Matches going 2-1 315 26%

Matches going 3-1 7 0%

Matches going 3-2 2 0%

Home team winning 56% of matches vs 44% for away teams

% matches using best 3 of 5 = 9 / 1185 = 0.8%

Monday night recaps…

Southern (8-2) edged Donovan Catholic (6-4) in a captivating three-set thriller, 25-20, 21-25, 26-24, showcasing the resilience and determination both squads brought to this Shore Conference battle. The Rams demonstrated remarkable composure in the decisive third set, overcoming a spirited Donovan Catholic team that refused to surrender after evening the match with a strong second-set performance. Both programs displayed the kind of competitive volleyball that makes rivalry shore matchups so exciting, with momentum shifting throughout the evening as each team made impressive runs.

Toms River South (4-4) stunned previously unbeaten Jackson Township (8-1) with a superb 25-8, 25-12 sweep that handed the Jaguars their first loss of the season in Shore Conference action. The Indians delivered a masterful performance, completely shutting down Jackson Township’s potent offense that had been so solid throughout their perfect start to the campaign. Toms River South controlled every aspect of the match from the opening serve, never allowing the 33rd-ranked Jaguars to establish any rhythm or momentum in what became an increasingly lopsided affair.

Toms River East (3-4) pulled off a thrilling 25-19, 22-25, 25-17 comeback victory over Toms River North (5-2) in a spirited Shore B South Division battle between cross-town rivals. The Raiders bounced back beautifully after dropping the middle set, sparked by Katelyn Bell’s outstanding 12 kills and Alexa Cruz’s stellar distribution with 16 assists and 3 aces in a complete team effort. Toms River East also received valuable contributions from Jenna Amer with 6 kills and 2 blocks, Ruby Haug with 2 kills and 6 digs, and Sam DeLucia with solid defensive play including 9 digs as they accumulated 25 kills while weathering their opponents’ second-set surge. The victory represents a significant boost for Toms River East as they even their Shore B South record at 3-2 and gain momentum with this quality divisional triumph. Toms River North absorbs a tough loss that drops them to 3-2 in conference play, but both teams demonstrated the competitive spirit and determination that makes these local rivalries so compelling for players and fans alike.

Eighth-ranked St. John Vianney (7-1) cruised to a convincing 25-10, 25-17 sweep over Rumson-Fair Haven (5-4) to maintain their perfect 5-0 record in Shore A North Division play. The Lancers showcased their depth and talent with Ayana Warren orchestrating the offense masterfully with 21 assists and 3 aces, while Amelia Moro contributed 6 kills and 3 blocks to anchor a balanced attack that produced 21 kills overall. St. John Vianney also received solid contributions from Genevieve Millett with 6 kills and 3 aces, Giavanna Sergi with 3 assists, and Helen Domashinski with 2 kills as they controlled both sets throughout the match. Rumson-Fair Haven competed admirably behind Ruby Gaun’s 4 kills and Catherine Caulfield’s 8 assists, but managed only 14 kills against St. John Vianney’s disciplined defense. The victory keeps St. John Vianney positioned among the state’s elite programs as they continue their impressive campaign, while Rumson-Fair Haven will look to bounce back from this divisional setback as they work to maintain their competitiveness in Shore Conference play.

Madison (7-0) survived a spirited challenge from Jefferson (5-4) with a hard-fought 20-25, 25-17, 25-22 comeback victory to maintain their unblemished record at 4-0 in NJAC Freedom Division play. Eva Errichetti delivered a commendable performance with 31 assists for Madison, while Sophia Christoffers contributed 13 kills and Emma de Freitas added 5 kills in the three-set triumph that produced 34 kills overall. Jefferson battled valiantly behind Peyton Bradley’s exceptional 17 kills and Kailey Strauch’s superb 26 assists, with the duo combining for outstanding individual efforts that kept the match competitive throughout all three sets. Jefferson also received contributions from Kylie Plunkett with 8 digs and Charlotte Sinisgalli with 3 kills as they accumulated 31 kills while pushing the unbeaten Madison squad to their limit. The loss drops Jefferson to 2-2 in conference standings, but they demonstrated tremendous heart in forcing Madison to earn every point in this quality NJAC Freedom Division encounter.

McNair (7-1) dominated Ferris (4-3) with an emphatic 25-8, 25-6 sweep to stay tied atop the HCIAL American Division standings at 4-1. The Minutemen delivered a complete performance behind Jakiya Carter’s 7 kills, Nadia Hernandez’s 7 assists, and Angela Rodriguez-Lopez’s 7 digs and 3 aces in a well-rounded team effort that generated 13 kills while limiting Ferris to minimal offensive production. McNair also received quality contributions from Iris Verdibello with 6 digs and 5 aces, Laura Bowen with 5 kills, and Yuliana Polishchuk with 3 aces as they maintained complete control throughout both sets. The commanding victory showcases McNair’s HCIAL championship aspirations as they continue building momentum following their earlier upset of previously unbeaten Union City.

Mendham (4-3) earned a solid 25-27, 25-7, 25-16 victory over Chatham (2-5) to improve to 3-2 in NJAC National Division play. Maia Skjonnemand led Mendham with 9 kills, while Emma Hutchison facilitated the offense with 15 assists and Caroline Brubaker anchored the defense with a noteworthy 5 blocks. Mendham also received contributions from Alena Pfersch with 16 digs, Jane Klosowsky with 4 kills, and Luiza Pavan Braidatoo with 3 aces as they totaled 27 kills in the three-set victory.

West Morris (6-2) captured a well-earned 25-22, 27-25 sweep over Sparta (6-4) to maintain their strong 4-1 record in NJAC American Division play. Juliana Stingle orchestrated the victory with an outstanding 25 assists and 5 aces, while Kristina Vlezko contributed 9 kills and 2 blocks to lead a balanced offensive effort that generated 14 kills overall. West Morris also received solid contributions from Elizabeth Murphy with 8 kills, Lauren Miller with 13 digs and 6 aces, and Kayla Vecchione with 5 kills as they prevailed in two closely contested sets.

Sparta battled hard behind Arielle Gomez’s 8 kills and Hannah Dodson’s 10 assists, with Avery Munier adding 3 kills and 2 blocks in the competitive effort that produced 18 kills. The loss drops Sparta to 4-1 in conference standings as they were unable to close out either set against West Morris’s persistent attack and strong serving. Both teams demonstrated the competitive nature that makes NJAC American Division play so compelling throughout the season.

Rutgers Prep (7-2) swept North Hunterdon (4-5) with a decisive 25-20, 25-18, 25-20 victory in cross-divisional Skyland action to improve to 4-0 in Skyland Raritan Division play. Aubrey Franz powered the Argonauts with 12 kills and 3 aces, while Rebecca Panacek distributed effectively with 21 assists to orchestrate the balanced offensive attack that produced 24 kills overall. Rutgers Prep also received valuable contributions from Anushka Gubbala with 3 kills and 3 aces, Laela Domanski with 16 digs, Aria Hao with 6 kills, and Peilin Xu with 16 digs as they controlled all three sets throughout the match. North Hunterdon‘s attack was unable to generate production against Rutgers Prep’s consistent pressure. The Argonauts continue their strong conference campaign with another quality victory.

29th-ranked Northern Highlands (7-1) rallied from a set deficit to defeat Midland Park (6-2) with a 25-10, 24-26, 25-7 comeback victory in cross-conference action. Ava Gagliano sparked the comeback with 12 kills and 2 blocks, while Allie Reilly facilitated brilliantly with 20 assists and added 9 digs in an exceptional all-around performance that helped generate 34 kills overall. Northern Highlands also received valuable contributions from Alija Schulmann with 14 digs, Lily Piccinich with 8 kills and 9 digs, Georgia Cacciabaudo with 9 kills, and Myla Fosshage with 5 digs as they regrouped after dropping the second set to dominate the decisive third frame. Midland Park fell to 6-2 overall as the visitors bounced back with authority to improve to 3-1 in Big North Freedom Division play following this quality non-conference victory.

Shore (7-3) secured a convincing 25-16, 25-17 sweep over Middletown North (6-4) to improve to 4-2 in Shore C North Division play. Charlotte Haynes led Shore with 7 kills, while Astri Martin distributed with 8 assists and Addison White contributed 3 blocks and 3 kills in the balanced team effort that produced 16 kills overall. Shore also received contributions from Caroline Oliveros with 2 kills and 3 aces, Skylar Himich with 5 digs, and Lelia Smock with 2 aces as they controlled both sets throughout the match. Middletown North was led by Carly Christiani with 3 kills and Bella Irizzary with 8 assists, but managed only 13 kills against Shore’s steady defense. The loss drops Middletown North to 5-1 in conference standings as Shore gains ground in the competitive Shore C North Division race with this quality divisional victory.

After dropping the opening set, Barnegat (5-4) stormed back to claim a 22-25, 25-18, 25-18 victory over Brick Memorial (3-5) in Shore A South Division action. Annabella Fraim was exceptional for the victorious squad, racking up 23 assists and 3 aces to guide Barnegat’s resurgence after their slow start. The home team accumulated 36 kills led by Allison Haggerty’s 9 and received crucial support from Brooke Degrazio with 17 digs and Sophia Dellova with 6 kills. Despite Sofia Kriso’s impressive 10 kills and Lavery Cromen’s 17 assists, Brick Memorial couldn’t sustain their early momentum. Addison Thompson provided 5 kills and Shaylan McDonald anchored the defense with 27 digs, but the visitors managed only 20 kills compared to Barnegat’s offensive explosion. Both teams now sit at 2-4 in divisional play, with Barnegat earning valuable conference points in this evenly matched Shore A South encounter.

Mother Seton (8-1) rolled to a dominant 25-11, 25-18 victory over South Brunswick (3-5), extending their perfect 8-0 record in GMC White Division play. Madison Porter orchestrated the attack with a superb 27 assists, while Annabelle Burns delivered 14 kills to pace the offensive surge that totaled 16 kills for the match. Isabella Matias added 7 digs and Kiera Duffy contributed 5 digs as Mother Seton controlled the tempo from start to finish. The 23rd-ranked squad showcased their depth with Faith Forenza recording 9 digs, Addyson Anderson chipping in 2 kills and 5 aces, and Porter adding 3 aces to complement her exceptional distribution. South Brunswick struggled offensively against Mother Seton’s balanced attack, falling to 3-4 in conference standings. The victory reinforces Mother Seton’s status as the clear frontrunner in GMC White Division play as they continue their outstanding campaign with another emphatic conference triumph.

Parsippany Hills (6-2) edged Morris Hills (7-2) in a tightly contested 25-20, 21-25, 25-20 decision that elevated the Vikings to 4-1 in NJAC National Division standings. The visitors weathered a spirited middle-set comeback by Morris Hills to claim victory in the decisive third frame and hand the 66th-ranked squad their second conference loss of the season.

West Essex (7-2) stunned 18th-ranked Verona (6-1) with a remarkable 17-25, 25-21, 25-22 comeback victory to even their SEC American Division record at 2-2. Despite trailing after a dominant opening set by Verona, West Essex regrouped behind Natalia Baca’s 9 kills and Emily Greczek’s 5 kills to mount an inspiring rally that produced 33 kills overall. Verona received an outstanding individual performance from Brynn Mack, who hammered 19 kills and contributed 14 digs, while Samantha Heimall delivered a commendable 31 assists to orchestrate the attack that generated 35 kills. Julie Maglifiore added 7 kills and Abigail Romanyshyn anchored the defense with 17 digs, but Verona couldn’t maintain their early dominance. The upset drops Verona to 3-1 in conference play and hands them their first loss since opening the season, while West Essex celebrates a signature victory that could provide momentum for their remaining SEC American Division contests.

Bloomfield (7-1) maintained their perfect SEC Colonial Division record with a 26-24, 25-20 sweep over Caldwell (2-3) to improve to 5-0 in conference play. River Estrada paced Bloomfield with 8 kills, while Grace Belmonte distributed with 12 assists as the visitors accumulated 20 kills in the straight-set victory. The serving battle proved decisive, with Bloomfield recording 9 aces compared to Caldwell’s 4, providing crucial momentum swings throughout both sets. Teagan Weber contributed 3 aces and Linda Aravello added 3 more to give Bloomfield a significant edge from the service line. Caldwell fought valiantly behind Olivia DePiro’s 7 kills and Gianna Bravette’s 15 assists, managing 14 kills overall, but couldn’t overcome Bloomfield’s serving advantage. Sara Lopes delivered 4 aces for Caldwell in the losing effort, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from dropping to 2-3 in SEC Colonial Division standings. The victory keeps Bloomfield in control of the conference race as they continue their impressive season with another quality divisional triumph.

West Orange (6-4) captured a thrilling 25-27, 25-19, 25-15 comeback victory over East Orange (4-3) to remain perfect at 5-0 in SEC Liberty Division play. Nola Duncan delivered an exceptional performance with 18 kills to power West Orange’s resurgence after dropping a hard-fought opening set, while Nayeli Rodriguez orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 25 assists and added 8 digs. West Orange dominated from the service line with 15 aces. Rodriguez contributed 3 aces, Brianna Bailey added 4, and Olivia Raines delivered 6 aces to fuel the comeback effort. West Orange also received valuable contributions from Maelat Kidane with 5 digs and Reese Rembert with 3 kills as they totaled 25 kills. The victory keeps West Orange in control of the SEC Liberty Division race as they continue their perfect conference campaign.

Moorestown (8-1) secured a convincing 25-19, 25-19 sweep over West Windsor-Plainsboro North (4-5) in cross-conference action to improve to 3-1 in Olympic Patriot Division play. Lindsay Bonavita orchestrated the balanced attack with 16 assists, while Kendall Ward contributed 6 kills and 2 blocks to lead Moorestown’s effort that produced 20 kills overall. The serving advantage proved crucial for Moorestown, as they recorded 9 aces with Bonavita delivering 2 aces and several other players contributing from the service line to maintain consistent pressure throughout both sets. West Windsor-Plainsboro North drops to 2-3 in BCSL CVC Division play after Moorestown controlled the match from start to finish with their balanced offensive attack and strong serving performance.

Washington Township (4-4) delivered a stunning 25-8, 25-11 sweep over Timber Creek (6-2) to improve to 2-1 in Tri-County Royal Division play. Vienna Mascieri led the dominant performance with 6 kills, while Juliana Bush distributed with 7 assists and Campbell Basu contributed 5 kills to help Washington Township accumulate 20 kills in the lopsided victory. Washington Township recorded 17 aces with multiple players contributing from the service line including Campbell Basu with 5 aces and Dianeliz Bravo with 3 aces to create constant pressure and disruption. Timber Creek drops to 2-0 in Tri-County Liberty Division play after being unable to establish any offensive rhythm against Washington Township’s relentless serving attack and balanced offense in this cross-divisional upset.

Middle Township (6-2) cruised to a 25-23, 25-13 sweep over Pleasantville (4-6) to improve to 4-2 in CAL National Division play. Sophia Banach powered the attack with 9 kills and 2 blocks, while Addison Campbell facilitated brilliantly with 16 assists as Middle Township accumulated 18 kills in the straight-set victory. Middle Township recorded 15 aces with Campbell contributing 6 aces and Chrismarielie Suazo adding 4 more to create constant disruption and momentum shifts throughout both sets. Pleasantville drops to 2-3 in conference standings as they were unable to counter Middle Township’s balanced offensive attack and overwhelming serving advantage that controlled the tempo from start to finish.

J.P. Stevens (7-3) swept Edison (3-6) with a 25-17, 26-24 victory in cross-divisional GMC action to improve to 4-3 in GMC Red Division play. Gladys Diaz De la Rosa dominated with 9 kills to lead J.P. Stevens’ attack, while Tina Sehrawat distributed with 12 assists and added 5 digs in the balanced effort that produced 21 kills overall. The defensive battle featured Edison’s Izari Gaspard recording a noteworthy 3 blocks to anchor their front line, but J.P. Stevens maintained consistent pressure throughout both sets with their superior offensive execution. Edison drops to 3-4 in GMC White Division standings as Kathlyn Antony’s 3 kills and Nalini Parketh’s 9 assists weren’t enough to counter J.P. Stevens’ depth and experience in this competitive inter-divisional matchup.

Some nice matchup’s on Tuesday’s schedule in week 4 with Monroe visiting Union Catholic, Paul VI at Southern, and just 30 other matches on a light holiday schedule.

Good night!