9/26/25
Friday night lights!!! So many matches, so little time to update them all. So many key note matches tonight. Upsets and undefeated teams dropping. This is a perfect snapshot evening for NJ high school volleyball…
Accolades:
Jefferson records are dropping like flies… Single match records broken for assists (44) by Kailey Strauch and Aces (12) by Kylie Plunkett. Congrats to these Falcons!!!
Congrats to senior Julia Pars from Parsippany Hills as she picks up her 500th career dig in the Vikings big win over Mount Olive on Thursday
Park Ridge setter Ella McDermott surpassed 1,000 assists in their match against Cresskill this week. Nice job Ella!!
A massive Friday night schedule has some premium games to highlight with some great matches between top ranked teams… let’s jump in:
Randolph swept West Morris Central tonight to stay undefeated… here is their photo after the win… Congrats to all the Rams players and Coaches.
Cherry Hill East (8-1) edged Cherokee (7-3) in a thrilling three-set Olympic American Division showdown, 25-27, 26-24, 25-18, that featured dramatic momentum swings and clutch execution from both sides. The Cougars had suffered their first loss of the season but bounced back impressively to capture the final two sets after Cherokee appeared poised to pull off the upset following their opening-set victory.
Sixth-ranked Secaucus (10-2) handed 11th-ranked Rutherford (11-1) their first loss of the season with a convincing 25-16, 25-18 sweep in a clash between two NJIC powerhouses from different divisions. The Patriots demonstrated their elite status by ending Rutherford’s remarkable 11-match winning streak to open the campaign. Sofia Guzman proved unstoppable for Secaucus with 10 kills, overwhelming Rutherford’s defense throughout both sets. Sarah Veloz controlled the tempo with 24 assists, creating opportunities for a balanced attack that accumulated 20 kills against the previously dominant Bulldogs. Elizabeth Aquino added 3 kills and 2 blocks to help Secaucus establish control at the net. Rutherford struggled to find their usual rhythm, with Mackenzie Vellis managing 7 kills and Cate Finan contributing 12 assists, but the Bulldogs collected only 16 kills total. Juliette Sing provided 3 blocks in the losing effort as Rutherford absorbs their first setback of what had been a dominant season. The upset establishes Secaucus as a legitimate threat heading into the postseason while proving that even the state’s elite programs remain vulnerable in cross-conference competition.
Millburn (7-2) captured a hard-fought 26-24, 25-23 victory over Livingston (7-2) to strengthen their position at 4-1 in SEC American Division play while handing their rivals a setback that drops them to 2-2 in conference standings. Avika Vijayraghaven dominated for the Millers with 7 kills and an impressive 4 blocks, controlling the net throughout both tightly contested sets. Franna Hawksworth kept Millburn’s offense flowing with 16 assists while Sydney Grani added 7 kills to support the balanced attack that produced 17 kills overall. The serving battle proved decisive as Millburn recorded 4 aces with key contributions from Ava Chen and Lily Philipov helping create crucial momentum shifts in both sets. Both sets featured extended rallies and momentum swings, but the Millers executed better in the closing moments to secure the sweep. Livingston falls behind in the competitive conference race as Millburn positions themselves among the division’s top contenders heading into the final stretch of regular season play.
Eighth-ranked St. John Vianney (9-1) defeated 31st-ranked Holmdel (11-1) with a 25-18, 25-23 sweep in cross-conference Shore action, handing the Hornets just their first loss of the season. Ayana Warren orchestrated the victory with an outstanding 26 assists, creating opportunities for a balanced Lancers attack that accumulated 29 kills in the straight-set triumph. Amelia Moro led the offensive charge with 8 kills and 2 blocks, while Genevieve Millett contributed 8 kills and Giavanna Sergi added 9 digs to support the comprehensive team effort. St. John Vianney controlled the serving battle with 7 aces, with Sergi contributing three. The victory maintains St. John Vianney’s excellent 9-1 record as the higher-ranked team performed as expected against quality opposition.
Moorestown (10-1) pulled off a dramatic 30-28, 27-25 win over previously undefeated Bishop Eustace (8-1) in cross-conference Olympic action, surviving a fierce challenge that featured exceptional individual performances from both sides. Despite being outgunned statistically by Hailey Mack’s outstanding 15 kills for Bishop Eustace, Moorestown found ways to win the crucial points in both extended sets. Lindsay Bonavita kept Moorestown competitive with 19 assists while Kendall Ward contributed 6 kills and 2 blocks. Samantha Costello facilitated brilliantly for Bishop Eustace with 14 assists and 2 blocks, creating numerous opportunities for Mack to showcase her attacking prowess. Moorestown demonstrated championship-level composure in closing out both marathon sets against a Bishop Eustace squad that pushed them to their absolute limit. The loss represents a rare setback for Bishop Eustace after an excellent start to their campaign, while Moorestown improves to 10-1 with their most impressive victory of the season.
Third-ranked Princeton (12-0) maintained their perfect season with a 25-11, 25-10 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro North (5-6) to extend their BCSL CVC Division record to 8-0. The Tigers controlled both sets as Charlotte Woods led with 10 kills and Kaelin Bobetich distributed with 14 assists in the straight-set win. Naomi Lygas added 9 kills while Princeton accumulated 22 kills overall while Camila Barbosa had an outstanding night lifting 17 digs. The serving battle favored Princeton with 8 aces, led by Lygas with 3, while they maintained steady pressure throughout both sets.
Toms River South (6-4) completed the season sweep of their cross-town rivals with a 25-14, 19-25, 25-16 victory over Toms River East (4-5) to improve to 5-3 in Shore B South Division play. The Indians bounced back from their second-set stumble to control the decisive third frame and claim the local bragging rights in this divisional matchup. After Toms River East fought back to even the match by taking the second set, Toms River South regrouped to dominate the final frame and secure the victory. The win helps Toms River South gain ground in the competitive Shore B South standings while Toms River East drops to 4-3 in conference play.
What started as a showcase for Southern’s depth turned into a statement victory, as 22nd-ranked Southern (10-3) swept Brick Memorial (3-6) across four sets, 25-9, 25-20, 25-17, while giving their entire roster meaningful playing time in Shore A South Division action. Coach Maxwell’s decision to rotate liberally paid dividends as 17 different players saw action for Southern, with Kayden Bulger leading the way with 15 kills despite the extended rotation. Lauren Ambar kept the offense flowing with 18 assists while Catherine Dalon contributed 4 kills and 2 blocks. The serving attack was particularly effective, with Natalie Fischer delivering 9 aces and Gianna Manochio adding 2 more as Southern totaled 15 aces. Heather Henderson’s had 12 kills and Brooke Sutter posted 14 digs, demonstrating the program’s impressive depth. The victory improves Southern to 7-1 in Shore A South Division standings, positioning them well for the playoffs with both their starters and reserves gaining valuable experience.
Memorial (8-2) seized control of the HCIAL American Division race by sweeping McNair (8-2) in a pivotal 25-22, 25-18 victory that creates separation atop the conference standings. The Tigers move to 6-1 in divisional play while dropping McNair to 5-2 in what proved to be the most significant game of the HCIAL season to date. Nicole Guerrero Saba controlled both ends of the court with 6 kills and 3 blocks, anchoring Memorial’s attack while shutting down McNair’s offensive attempts. Belen Santos facilitated with 9 assists and contributed 5 aces, while Jaelyn Vergara provided 6 kills and 6 digs to round out the balanced effort.
Park Ridge (2-8) pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Cresskill (5-5) by scores of 16-25, 25-11, 25-12 in cross-divisional NJIC action, earning just their second victory of the season in dramatic fashion. After dropping the opening set convincingly, the Owls completely flipped the script to dominate the final two frames. Ella McDermott orchestrated the turnaround with 25 assists (and surpassing 1,000 assists for her career), creating opportunities for Hailey Browne who exploded for 9 kills in the comeback effort. Serena Wagner provided 12 kills and 2 blocks while Allie Graham contributed 13 digs as Park Ridge accumulated 18 kills after their slow start. The serving battle proved decisive in the reversal, with Park Ridge recording 16 aces. McDermott delivered 4 aces, Browne added 6, and Wagner contributed 3 more as the Owls found their rhythm from the service line to completely change the match’s complexion. Cresskill couldn’t sustain their opening-set dominance after being unable to counter Park Ridge’s second and third-set surge. The victory represents a breakthrough moment for Park Ridge as they captured their most impressive win of the season.
Our Lady of Mercy (9-2) strengthened their grip on the CAL American Division lead with a 25-20, 25-20 sweep over Cedar Creek (8-5) that moves them to 5-1 in conference play while dropping their opponents to 5-2 in the tight divisional race. Kaitlyn Rambo sparked the Villagers with 8 kills, supported by Juliet Felicetti’s 17 assists that kept the offense in rhythm throughout both competitive sets. The serving differential created the margin of victory, as Our Lady of Mercy collected 6 aces while holding Cedar Creek without any service points. Emma Eddis contributed 12 digs and 2 aces alongside her solid all-around play, while Rambo had three aces. Khalia Lewis provided 7 kills and D’Ottavio added 6 kills as the Villagers totaled 16 kills. The victory puts Our Lady of Mercy in excellent position to capture the CAL American Division title, while Cedar Creek faces an uphill climb to catch the leaders in the standings with this head-to-head loss.
The Livingston Invitational Tournament is tomorrow, 9/27 at Livingston High School. This is always a great event with many matches in the main gym where viewing is excellent. These games don’t count in the standings, but it’s always a great way to see many top NJ squads in action. Some teams include Livingston (obviously), Immaculate Heart, and many more.
Ferris is hosting a tournament tomorrow as well with Ferris, MKA, Newark Vocational, and Hackensack.
Bayonne (6-3) moved into a strong position in the HCIAL American Division race with a convincing 25-13, 25-21 sweep of Hoboken (5-5) to improve to 4-2 in conference play. Lilah Gomez paced the Bees with 8 kills while Fran San Roque orchestrated the attack with 15 assists, creating opportunities for a balanced offense that totaled 19 kills. The decisive factor was Bayonne’s serving dominance, as they accumulated 15 aces throughout the match while completely neutralizing Hoboken’s service game. Avery Johnson led the way with 8 aces from the line, supported by San Roque with 3 aces and Lilah Gomez with 8 digs to anchor the back row defense. Kayla Santopietro contributed 3 kills and 2 blocks at the net as Bayonne controlled both the offensive and defensive phases. The victory keeps Bayonne in contention for the conference title while Hoboken slips to 3-4 in HCIAL American Division standings, facing a challenging path forward in the competitive conference race.
Old Bridge continued its perfect run with a dominant sweep over Roxbury, moving to 11-0 on the season. The Knights displayed power and precision throughout, led by Ashley Markle, who hammered down 14 kills and added 5 aces to fuel the offense. Setter Maya Lupinski controlled the pace with 26 assists and 5 digs, while Weronika Malinowski chipped in 12 kills and 8 digs to provide a strong one-two punch at the net. Tetiana Kontsohrada and Tatum Jones added valuable support with a combined 13 kills, and Oliva Grubb made her presence felt at the net with 2 blocks. With steady serving and contributions from across the roster, Old Bridge showed why they remain one of the top teams in the state. For Roxbury, now 4-5, it was a tough matchup against one of New Jersey’s best. Despite the setback, the Gaels battled throughout, forcing Old Bridge to earn every point. The match provided valuable experience for Roxbury as they look to regroup and push forward in the heart of their schedule. Facing a team as balanced and deep as Old Bridge will serve as a measuring stick, and Roxbury’s resilience ensures they will remain competitive moving ahead.
Gill St. Bernard’s continued its strong season with a two–set to one victory over Newark Academy, improving to 9-1 overall. The Knights were led by Sierra Salko, who posted a team-high 7 kills along with 4 digs and 2 aces to spark the offense. Setter Ariana Tellalian had an excellent all-around match, dishing out 17 assists while adding 8 digs and 4 aces to keep the pressure on. Samantha Kalinak provided key contributions at the net with 3 kills and a block, while libero Piper Macak steadied the back row with 16 digs. With balanced contributions from multiple players, Gill St. Bernard’s used aggressive serving and consistent defense to close out the match in the deciding third set. Newark Academy, now 4-6, showed fight by responding with a strong second set win before ultimately falling short. Despite the loss, the Minutemen played with energy and pushed Gill St. Bernard’s in extended rallies, proving they can hang with some of the state’s better programs. The effort against a top opponent will serve Newark Academy well as they continue their season, and their ability to battle back in the second set highlights the team’s resilience and growth.
More to come… stay tuned for more updates through 2AM