10/2/25
Week 5 starting to wind down as we look forward to Friday and Saturday matches on the schedule. Can’t believe how fast the season has progressed. Cherish these moments as the end is already in sight. Many senior night’s occurring already. Congrats to all players who are finishing up their high school careers.
75+ more faces added tonight to our “Faces of NJ Volleyball” page… check them out to see if you are there yet…
Williamstown earned #4 in the USA Today Region 2 ranking. Congrats to another special team put together by Coach Sheppard. Check out the article HERE as we make our case for more NJ teams to be added.
We have opened up the NJP Action Photo Contest today… make your submission by 10/12. More on the contest HERE.
Some Accolades:
Congrats to Pinelands for taking Division regular season Shore A – South title for 2025 at 10-0, 15-0 overall thus far. What a season!!! Go Wildcats!!!
Make sure to support these NJ HS volleyball team fundraisers for great causes…
Rather light Thursday night schedule due to the Holiday. Let’s get to some recaps:
Immaculate Heart showcased its firepower in a four-set victory over previously unbeaten St. Mary (Ruth.), improving to 7-2 on the season. The Blue Eagles were led by an outstanding performance from Adrielle Crump, who dominated with 24 kills, 11 digs, and 1 ace in a commanding effort at the net. Setter Kristen Lee was spectacular in running the offense, handing out 51 assists while adding 12 digs and an ace. Sophia Mahon provided a strong presence in the middle with 11 kills, 3 blocks, and 2 aces, while Lily Hryniw chipped in 12 kills and 6 digs. Libero Lilith Roman anchored the defense with 27 digs, helping Immaculate Heart stay steady in long rallies. With balance across the roster, the Blue Eagles sealed the win by taking the fourth set 25-20. St. Mary (Ruth.), now 11-1, showed resilience by rallying to take the third set 25-21 and pushing the fourth into a close battle. The Gaels showed grit against one of New Jersey’s premier programs. Despite the loss, their undefeated start to the season highlights the strength of the team, and their ability to challenge Immaculate Heart will serve as motivation moving forward. This matchup not only showcased two of the state’s top private school squads, but also provided a playoff-level atmosphere early in the season. IHA is getting hotter as the season progresses and are likely to re-emerge as a top 10 squad in this weekends NJP ranking #3.
Verona continued its stellar season with a dominant straight-set win over Mount St. Dominic, improving to 14-1 overall. The Hillbillies were unstoppable at the net, led by Brynn Mack, who delivered a commanding 20 kills along with 9 digs and an ace in just two sets of play. Setter Samantha Heimall was outstanding in running the offense, handing out 25 assists to go along with 3 digs and an ace. Mary Jane Finn chipped in with 3 kills and 3 blocks, while Abigail Romanyshyn provided steady support with 2 kills, 6 digs, and a team-high 5 aces. With aggressive serving and overwhelming offense, Verona cruised to 25-12 and 25-16 set wins. Mount St. Dominic, now 6-5, fought hard but struggled to contain the relentless attack of Verona. While the Lions had flashes of strong play, the combination of Mack’s dominance and the Hillbillies’ deep supporting cast proved too much. Despite the loss, Mount St. Dominic continues to be competitive in the SEC American and will look to regroup quickly as they move deeper into their schedule.
Passaic Valley put together one of its sharpest outings of the season, sweeping Passaic Charter in straight sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-22. The Hornets were led by Alina Ferguson, who was outstanding on both sides of the ball with 7 kills, 10 digs, and 3 aces to energize her team. Setter Patty Tiseo ran a smooth offense with 13 assists, ensuring her hitters found good opportunities, while Kamila Wszolkowski added 6 digs, 2 kills, and an ace to make her presence felt in multiple phases of the game. Leiah Pica also chipped in with 3 kills and an ace, providing timely points in both sets. For Passaic Charter, the match was a tight battle that showcased their fight, particularly in the second set where they pushed the Hornets deep before falling 25-22. Despite the loss, their effort kept the momentum from swinging too heavily in Valley’s favor. Ultimately, Passaic Valley’s consistency in serving and steady play in the back row carried them through, After snapping an 8 game losing streak, PV has put together 2 straight wins and are showing their potential to compete with confidence moving forward.
Trinity Hall held strong in two tight sets to defeat Brick Memorial 25-22, 25-23, improving to 11-6 on the season. The Monarchs were powered by Helen Taylor, who led the way with 7 kills and 6 digs to pace the offense. Setter Molly Fennessy was steady in distribution, handing out 11 assists while also collecting 5 digs and an ace. Madeline Rigney anchored the back row with 8 digs and added a kill and an ace, while Reese Keady chipped in 2 kills, 5 digs, and an ace to provide balance. At the net, Audrey Lafferty added 2 blocks and a kill to help close out key points late. Brick Memorial, now 4-8, showed resilience throughout the match, keeping both sets within striking distance and pushing Trinity Hall to play sharp in the closing moments. The Mustangs battled to extend rallies and made the Monarchs earn each point, especially in the second set where they nearly forced a third. Despite the loss, their fight against a strong Shore B North opponent was evident, and the effort will serve them well as they continue to push through the heart of their season.
Harrison earned a strong straight-set victory over St. Dominic, winning 25-18, 25-22 to move to 9-5 on the season. The Blue Tide were led by Ranya Ayatallah, who paced the attack with 8 kills and 4 digs. Setter Genesis Samayoa was excellent in controlling the offense, dishing out 18 assists while adding 5 digs and 3 aces. Julia Brandao Soares added 6 kills and 5 digs to provide balance at the net, while Hanna Medina chipped in with 2 kills, 11 digs, and 3 aces to give the team a lift on both ends. With 12 total aces, Harrison’s aggressive serving made a difference in both sets. St. Dominic, now 6-6, battled hard and made the second set especially competitive, but they couldn’t quite break through against Harrison’s steady serving and balanced offense. The Blue Devils showed grit in rallies and kept the match close late in the second, but ultimately the depth and efficiency of Harrison carried the day. The effort from St. Dominic reflects a team capable of pushing strong opponents, and they will look to regroup quickly as division play continues.
Friday’s schedule has Millburn hosting West Essex, Cranford visiting Union Catholic, Hanover Park at Mount Olive, Livingston at MKA, Ocean City at Our Lady of Mercy, Ramapo hosts Northern Highlands, and Pascack Hills visits Ramsey. Premium matchups are as follows- Bogota at Secaucus, Moorestown at Paul VI, Old Bridge at Monroe, and Washington Township at Williamstown. Good luck to all teams.
Some very interesting weekend matchups for Saturday including Bishop Eustace at Williamstown, Paul VI at Notre Dame, Immaculata at Stuart Day, and a Quad between Hunterdon Central, Governor Livingston, Millburn, and Morristown.
Good Night…