Week 5 continues to bring clarity to many teams potential across the state of New Jersey. The season is moving fast and believe it or not we have our first county grid to share for Morris County. First, let’s get to some accolades…
Brick Memorial Dragon Emily Fitzgerald slammed her 400th career kills this week against Pinelands. Emily is also just one ace away from 100 for her career. Congrats #15!
Holmdel senior Jessica Donnelly has achieved her 300th career kill to go along with many other milestones in her 4 years having passed 300 career digs and well over 100 aces. Nice Jess!
Genevieve Millett of St. John Vianney is now the school’s all-time leader in kills. Millett has 512 and growing to go along with her 469 career digs and 141 career aces. Fantastic career Gen! With high hopes for a non-public A title as a senior.
31 new faces added to the NJP Faces of NJ Volleyball page today… you there yet?
How about some recaps from tonight matches…
In what can only be described as a Shore Conference thriller, Pinelands stayed perfect on the season with a dramatic five–set win over powerhouse Southern, improving to 15-0. The Wildcats leaned on the dominance of Madison Wilbert, who delivered a match-high 21 kills and added 4 aces to ignite the offense. Chloe Tucker was outstanding as the team’s engine, racking up 42 assists and 5 digs to keep the attack balanced, while Jayda Quigley and Cali Peterka combined for 28 kills to provide crucial depth at the net. Libero Jayla Kline turned in a gritty performance with 30 digs and 2 aces, while Heidi Cyphert contributed 5 kills and 4 blocks to help seal the deciding set. After dropping the second and third sets, Pinelands showed championship-level resolve by battling back to win the fourth 25-22 and closing the fifth 15-11 in front of a charged atmosphere. Southern, now 12-5, proved why they are among the most respected programs in the state, pushing the unbeaten Wildcats to the very limit. Kayden Bulger was spectacular, piling up 19 kills, 21 digs, and 6 aces in a true leader’s performance. Setter Lauren Ambar was equally brilliant, handing out 47 assists while contributing 23 digs to keep the Rams in every rally. Heather Henderson was a force at the net with 11 kills and a match-high 7 blocks, and Gianna Manochio was relentless on defense with 31 digs. The Rams also received timely contributions from Grace Thurber (11 kills) and Natalie Fischer (13 digs, 5 aces). Southern out-blocked (21-9) and out-aced (18-10) Pinelands, showcasing the balance and firepower that makes them so dangerous. Though Southern came up just short, their all-around effort against an undefeated rival showcased the talent, heart, and competitive fire that makes this one of New Jersey’s premier matchups.
Orange earned an impressive road sweep over Newark Central, improving to 7-3 on the season and assume control of the SEC-Freedom. The Tornadoes were led by Stephanie Nicole Interiano, who powered the offense with 8 kills, 6 digs, and 2 aces. Setter Vanessa Pantaleon kept the attack flowing with 13 assists, while Stefanie Hernandez turned in a stellar all-around effort with 6 kills, 5 digs, and a match-high 5 aces. Samantha Pean was strong at the net with 2 blocks and 2 kills, while libero Emily Remache Calle anchored the defense with 15 digs. With steady serving that produced 9 total aces, Orange controlled both sets, taking them 25-12 and 25-13. Newark Central, now 9-2, struggled to find rhythm against the balanced and aggressive play of Orange. The Blue Devils entered the match with momentum but were unable to match the Tornadoes’ serving pressure and net play. Despite the setback, Newark Central remains off to one of its best starts in recent years and will look to bounce back quickly as they continue SEC Freedom division play.
Mendham (6-4) defeated Mount Olive (8-4) in a hard-fought, three-set match, with set scores of 25-23, 13-25, and 25-20. The victory for Mendham was led by Caroline Brubaker, who tallied a team-high 12 kills and contributed 2 blocks. Setter Jasmin Amin ran the offense effectively, recording 14 assists and Brenna Riley added 13. Mendham‘s win was secured by a collective effort, as Jane Klosowsky added 8 kills and 9 digs, while Alena Pfersch contributed 4 kills and 11 digs along with 6 big aces. Mendham controlled the service line with 10 total aces compared to the Marauders 3. Despite the loss, Mount Olive‘s Izabella Osoria dominated the match with a massive 19 kills and 9 digs. Additionally, Kaitlyn Tungmun provided 30 assists for Mount Olive, but the team could not hold their momentum after winning the second set.
Immaculate Heart (6-2) secured a straight-set victory over Morristown (2-7) in a non-division matchup, winning with scores of 25-12 and 25-21. The Immaculate Heart offense was powered by Adrielle Crump, who led all players with 10 kills and added 6 digs, and Sophia Mahon who tallied 5 kills, 1 block, and 2 aces. Setter Kristen Lee efficiently ran the offense, recording a match-high 18 assists. The team’s aggressive serving resulted in 9 total aces, including 4 from Lilith Roman and 3 from Adrielle Crump. This cohesive effort was too much for Morristown to overcome, as the team extended its overall record to 6-2.
Atlantic Tech (8-3) cruised to a 25-10, 25-19 victory over Salem Tech (4-3) in cross-conference action. Jadyn Clinkscale, the BYU-bound junior, led the Blue Devils with 7 kills while Tyler Myronowsky distributed with 12 assists in the straight-set win. The serving differential proved decisive, as Atlantic Tech recorded 13 aces. Angelina Previti sparked the attack with 6 aces from the service line, while Myronowsky added 7 more to create constant pressure. Aubrie Strickland contributed 5 kills and Genesis Lopez provided 5 digs to support the balanced effort that totaled 17 kills.
Union City continued its impressive season with a straight-set win over rival Memorial, improving to 10-1. The Soaring Eagles controlled both sets with efficient play, highlighted by Dayna Orefice, who led the way with 6 kills. Setter Nicole Ayala was excellent in orchestrating the offense, tallying 9 assists, 13 digs, and 3 aces in a well-rounded performance. Annabelle Ceballos added 5 kills and 7 digs, while libero Valerie Minaya anchored the back row with 13 digs and an ace. With strong serving and contributions from across the roster, Union City closed out the match 25-18, 25-16 in convincing fashion. Memorial, now 10-3, put up a fight behind Jaelyn Vergara, who finished with 7 kills and 5 digs. Setter Belen Santos kept the attack moving with 11 assists and added 6 digs, while Melanie Gonzalez chipped in 2 kills and a team-high 3 aces. Defensive specialist Edanna Franco worked hard in the back row with 8 digs, and Nicole Guerrero Saba contributed 4 kills and an ace. Although Memorial came up short in this Hudson County showdown, the team’s grit and balanced play show they remain a strong contender as divisional play continues.
McNair (10-2) secured a straight-set victory over divisional opponent Hoboken (6-6), winning decisively with scores of 25-19 and 25-15. The McNair offense was potent, led by Jakiya Carter who recorded a match-high 8 kills and added 7 digs. Setter Nadia Hernandez guided the attack with 10 assists, while also tallying 2 kills and 4 digs. At the net, Aizah Khalid contributed 2 blocks, and the team’s serving produced 9 aces, including 2 each from Jakiya Carter and Iris Verdibello. This cohesive performance kept Hoboken from gaining any offensive momentum throughout the two sets. Union City 8-1 stays ahead of both McNair and Memorial at 7-2 in the HCIAL – American.
Roselle Catholic rolled to a straight-set victory over Gateway Academy, improving to 7-4 on the season. The Lions dominated with strong serving and balanced contributions, led by Denisse Cintra, who tallied 4 kills, 2 digs, and 3 aces. Setter Jamilla Smallwood was the key playmaker, recording 7 assists and an incredible 11 aces to fuel the offense. Yamilette Castro added 5 digs and a team-high 7 aces, while Cydney Eaddy chipped in 3 kills, 7 digs, and 2 aces to round out a complete team effort. With 28 total aces on the night, Roselle Catholic kept Gateway Academy under pressure from the service line in both sets, winning 25-1 and 25-10. Gateway Academy, now 0-4, had difficulty handling the aggressive serving and fast pace of Roselle Catholic but gained valuable experience competing against a strong Union County opponent. While the scoreboard was lopsided, the match offered growth opportunities for the young program as they continue to build and develop their chemistry on the court.
Mother Seton (11-2) secured a dominant victory over South River (6-10) in straight sets, winning 25-8 and 25-19. The offense was overwhelmingly led by Faith Forenza, who recorded a match-high 12 kills and 3 digs, followed by Addyson Anderson with 8 kills. Setter Madison Porter efficiently directed the attack, tallying an impressive 29 assists and contributing 4 aces. Mother Seton‘s defense saw contributions from Isabella Matias with 21 digs and Annabelle Burns with 13 digs, leading the team in defensive effort. South River‘s box score showed no individual statistics, as they struggled against Mother Seton‘s superior attack power and serving game throughout the two sets.
St. Mary’s (Ruth) puts their undefeated record on the line when they travel to Washington Township to play IHA on Thursday and the Morris County tournament starts up with first round action.