10/16/2025

Voting for the NJP Action Photo Contest continues through Saturday night at Midnight. We have a very close race thus far and it should go down to the wire. Make sure to cast your vote at https://njpowerranking.com/photo-contest/

Accolades:

Interesting note that 22 matches went to three sets in best of three formats tonight. Lots of tightly contested battles…

Recaps for Thursday night…

Paul VI survives a thriller at Washington Township. Story at https://njpowerranking.com/2025/10/17/paul-vi-survives-road-scare-at-washington-township-to-stay-perfect/

Southern Regional continued its late-season surge with a clean sweep over Marlboro, winning 25-23, 25-19, 25-23. The Rams improved to 14-6 overall, while the Mustangs fell to 13-8. Kayden Bulger was outstanding once again for Southern, leading all players with 19 kills and 14 digs. Setter Lauren Ambar efficiently guided the Rams’ offense, collecting 24 assists and adding six digs. At the net, Heather Henderson made her presence felt with five blocks and four kills, while Gianna Manochio anchored the defense with 25 digs and chipped in five aces. Brooke Sutter and Natalie Fischer combined for seven aces, keeping Marlboro under pressure from the service line. Despite the straight-set result, Marlboro battled closely in each frame, challenging Southern deep into the first and third sets. The Rams’ balance and resilience late in rallies ultimately proved the difference, as Southern closed out its second straight victory after dropping heartbreaking 5 set losses to both Pineland and Princeton, and continued its strong push toward postseason play.

Kingsway extended its impressive season with a commanding straight-set victory over Timber Creek, winning 25-11, 25-15 in a non-division matchup. The Dragons improved to 14-3 overall, continuing their strong form near the top of the Tri-County Royal standings, while the Chargers dropped to 10-6, though they remain one of the leading teams in the Tri-County Liberty division. The tone was set early by Sofia Oravetz, who led Kingsway with 12 kills and six digs, providing both consistency and power on the outside. Setter Sophie Park orchestrated the attack masterfully, recording 20 assists and two aces, while Ava Patterson added eight kills and four aces from the service line. The Dragons’ front line, anchored by Reese Patterson and Mackenzie Agness, contributed timely blocks and kept Timber Creek’s offense off balance throughout the match. Defensively, Addison Green was key for Kingsway, tallying seven digs to help neutralize any momentum from the Chargers. The Dragons’ serve receive and transition play were clean and efficient, allowing them to control the tempo and maintain long scoring runs in both sets. Their ability to capitalize on unforced errors from Timber Creek and execute in-system plays proved decisive. For Timber Creek, standout performances came from Devonne Ridgeway, who notched three kills, and Vanessa Geist, who added 16 digs and a block. Setter Elise Reed chipped in three assists and two aces, but the Chargers struggled to sustain rhythm against Kingsway’s balanced attack and precise serving. With the win, Kingsway not only picked up its 14th victory but also showed the depth and poise of a team built for postseason competition. Their combination of power hitting, disciplined defense, and steady setting once again positioned the Dragons as one of South Jersey’s complete squads heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

J.P. Stevens improved to 14-6 on the season with a clean 2-0 sweep over Roselle Catholic on Thursday afternoon. The Hawks were sharp from start to finish, taking control early and maintaining steady pressure throughout the match to post set wins of 25-16 and 25-18. The victory added another solid non-conference result for J.P. Stevens as they continue to build momentum entering late October play. Leading the way for the Hawks was Laavanya Bahal, who registered six kills and six digs while serving three aces. Setter Tina Sehrawat directed a balanced attack with 23 assists, helping three different teammates reach at least five kills. Gladys Diaz De la Rosa contributed both offensively and defensively with five kills, one block, and five aces, while Victoria Bogutskyy chipped in six kills of her own. For Roselle Catholic, Cydney Eaddy had another strong performance, leading the Lions with five kills and 15 digs. Setter Jamilla Smallwood added nine assists, while Alanah Mitchell anchored the net with four blocks. Despite the loss, Roselle Catholic showed fight late in the second set but could not overcome the Hawks’ consistency and well-rounded play. With the win, J.P. Stevens continues its push in the GMC Red Division, looking to fine-tune its offense and serving game ahead of tournament season. Roselle Catholic, now 10-6, remains a competitive contender within the UCC Valley Division, with several strong defensive showings to build upon going forward.

Tournament Updates

The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex County Tournament has reached its final four, and the semifinals are shaping up to be some of the best volleyball of the fall. After a dominant showing in the quarterfinals, Sparta, Hackettstown, Hunterdon Central, and North Hunterdon all advanced in straight sets, setting up a powerhouse semifinal round filled with familiar rivals and balanced rosters. #44 Sparta continued its strong form with a convincing 2-0 win over Warren Hills, improving to 13-6 behind their well-rounded attack and steady serve receive. They’ll now face #67 Hackettstown, who cruised past Voorhees to move to 17-4, one of the top records in the region. The Tigers’ blend of offensive depth and defensive stability makes them a dangerous opponent for any team left in the bracket. On the other side of the draw, #28 Hunterdon Central and #31 North Hunterdon both swept their matches, defeating Phillipsburg and Vernon, respectively. The Red Devils’ precision and experience will be tested by a North Hunterdon team that seems to be peaking at the right time. With four programs steeped in county tradition and all playing their best volleyball of the season, the stage is set for a thrilling finish to the HWS Tournament. Both the semi-finals and Finals will be played on Saturday, October 18th at Hackettstown.

The Shore Conference Tournament bracket for 2025 features a strong mix of power programs and emerging challengers. The top four seeds — Pinelands, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, and Southern — all earned first-round byes and will enter play in the quarterfinals on Friday, October 24. Each of those teams has been among the Shore’s most consistent throughout the season, with Pinelands and Southern leading the way in the A South division, while Holmdel and St. John Vianney continue to dominate B North and A North competition, respectively. The first round, scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, includes several intriguing matchups that could shake up the bracket. No. 8 Trinity Hall hosts No. 9 Brick Township, while No. 5 Donovan Catholic takes on No. 12 Toms River South. On the bottom half, No. 6 Jackson Township faces No. 11 Raritan, and No. 7 Marlboro welcomes No. 10 Barnegat. Winners from those matches will move on to face the top seeds, setting up potential quarterfinal showdowns like Pinelands vs. Trinity Hall/Brick and Southern vs. Donovan Catholic/Toms River South. The semifinals are set for Tuesday, October 28, followed by the championship match on Thursday, October 30 at Georgian Court University. With four division leaders and several programs capable of pulling an upset, the 2025 Shore Conference bracket offers a deep field that should deliver plenty of tight sets and high-level volleyball as the postseason intensifies.

The Shore Conference tournament field has shrunk since the introduction of the Kim Cole Cup. The Kim Cole Cup, a new addition to the Shore Conference volleyball postseason, has officially set its tournament grid for 2025. Designed to give mid-tier programs a competitive championship opportunity alongside the main Shore Conference Tournament, the event includes 22 teams seeded based on divisional results and overall performance. The top seeds — Lacey, Rumson-Fair Haven, Toms River North, Shore, Howell, Colts Neck, Manasquan, and Toms River East — all earned first-round byes and open play in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, October 22. The preliminary round on Monday, October 20 will feature several compelling matchups, including Red Bank Catholic (17) vs. Middletown South (16), Red Bank Regional (21) vs. Lakewood (12), Central Regional (13) vs. Point Pleasant Beach (20), Freehold Borough (19) vs. Keyport (14), Manchester Township (11) vs. Long Branch (22), and St. Rose (15) vs. Wall (18). Winners from those contests will move on to face higher seeds like Lacey, Toms River North, and Rumson-Fair Haven in the first round. Quarterfinals will be played on Friday, October 24, followed by the semifinals on Tuesday, October 28, and the championship match on Thursday, October 30 at Georgian Court University. The balance of established programs and rising teams makes the Kim Cole Cup a fresh and exciting postseason platform, honoring the legacy of longtime Shore Conference coach Kim Cole while providing more athletes a meaningful shot at tournament hardware.

Honoring Kim DeGraw-Cole-The Kim Cole Cup is named in honor of Kim DeGraw-Cole, one of the most influential athletic leaders in New Jersey history. A former multi-sport athlete at Dover High School and Rutgers University, DeGraw-Cole’s career spanned five decades of trailblazing work for female athletes. After joining Southern Regional High School in 1976 as a teacher and coach, she became the first woman athletic director in Shore Conference history in 1984, during a time when female athletic administrators were rare across the state. At Southern, she led major expansions in girls’ athletics, helping programs like volleyball gain competitive traction along the Shore. Her influence extended statewide through extensive committee service with the NJSIAA, including work on eligibility, finance, and program review. In 2010, she joined the NJSIAA staff and ultimately became its first Chief Compliance Officer before retiring in 2022. She oversaw sports such as field hockey, basketball, softball, volleyball, and lacrosse, and played a central role in advancing girls wrestling to varsity status. DeGraw-Cole’s leadership was marked by fairness, innovation, and advocacy. She modernized eligibility processes and created a COVID-era waiver system to help student-athletes return to play safely. Her efforts earned her the 2024 NJSIAA Hall of Fame induction, capping a legacy that bridged generations of opportunity for New Jersey athletes. The naming of the Kim Cole Cup stands as a fitting tribute, honoring not only her historic tenure at Southern Regional but also her enduring commitment to equity, access, and the continued evolution of girls’ sports throughout New Jersey.

The 2025 Union County Tournament features a competitive 19-team field, headlined by top-seeded Westfield and No. 2 Union Catholic, two perennial county powerhouses. Both received first-round byes and enter the bracket as strong favorites after impressive regular seasons in the UCC Watchung Division. The preliminary round will determine which lower seeds advance to face the top contenders, with early action including Linden vs. Roselle Catholic, Hillside vs. Roselle Park, and Plainfield vs. Johnson. Higher seeds such as Cranford (4), Gov. Livingston (3), Kent Place (5), and Summit (7) also earned byes into the first round, setting up a balanced and deep middle of the bracket. The first-round matchups on October 22 include potential standouts such as New Providence vs. Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Elizabeth vs. Oak Knoll. Quarterfinals are scheduled for October 24, followed by semifinals at Johnson High School on October 28. The championship match will take place on October 30 at Kean University, where the county’s best will battle for one of New Jersey’s most respected postseason titles.

The 2025 Essex County Tournament brings together a talented mix of programs from across the region, led by top-seeded #10 Verona, which enters as the favorite after another strong regular season. #17 Millburn, #18 Livingston, and Mount St. Dominic follow as the second through fourth seeds, rounding out a competitive top tier of contenders who all received first-round byes. Early-round play begins Saturday, October 18, with several local matchups determining who advances to face the top seeds. Among them are Payne Tech vs. Science Park, Glen Ridge vs. Technology, and Bloomfield vs. Orange, while Caldwell, Nutley, and Columbia also open at home. The preliminary results will shape an exciting first round on October 22, when traditional Essex powers like #64 West Essex, West Orange, and Montclair join the bracket. Quarterfinal action follows on Friday, October 24, setting up the path to the semifinals hosted at Mount St. Dominic on October 27. The championship will be held on Wednesday, October 29 at Livingston High School, where county bragging rights and postseason momentum will be on the line. With experienced programs such as Verona and Millburn matched against rising teams from across the county, this year’s Essex County Tournament promises one of the most balanced and competitive brackets in recent memory.

The 2025 Somerset County Tournament field is headlined by top-seeded #25 Bridgewater-Raritan, which earned a first-round bye after a dominant season and remains the favorite to defend its county crown. #24 Mount St. Mary, #55 Rutgers Prep, and Hillsborough round out the top four seeds, each also positioned as potential title contenders entering the late October stretch. Opening-round play featured several competitive matchups, highlighted by Ridge’s 3–2 win over Montgomery and Hillsborough’s 3–0 sweep of Bernards to move into the quarterfinals. Gill St. Bernard’s also advanced past Pingry, while Bound Brook faced Watchung Hills in another key pairing. With traditional powers like Bridgewater-Raritan and Rutgers Prep awaiting their challengers, the quarterfinal round promises tight competition across the bracket. The semifinals are slated for mid-October, leading to the championship on Thursday, October 23, where one of Somerset County’s perennial powerhouses will look to secure the title. With a balance of veteran leadership and breakout talent across the field, this year’s tournament once again showcases why Somerset County remains one of the strongest volleyball regions in New Jersey.

The 2025-26 Morris County Tournament has lived up to its reputation for competitive depth and high-level volleyball. Top-seeded #14 Randolph and sixth-seeded #59 Morris Hills both navigated challenging semifinal matches to secure their spots in the championship, setting up an exciting title clash at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison on Saturday, October 18. In the early rounds, the county’s top teams showed their strength. Randolph rolled past Chatham and Roxbury before being tested by a determined #27 West Morris squad in the semifinals. The Rams pulled through with a 3–2 victory to remain unbeaten in county play and continue their impressive season. On the other side of the bracket, Morris Hills battled through a tough path, sweeping Kinnelon, edging Mount Olive, and then delivering a thrilling five-set upset over second-seeded #39 Madison to earn its place in the final. Other standouts included West Morris, which advanced to the semifinals after defeating Parsippany Hills, and Madison, which maintained strong form until its narrow semifinal loss. Teams like #70 Roxbury, #65 Mendham, and #36 Mount Olive also showcased depth across the region, contributing to one of the most balanced county brackets in recent years.The final at FDU Madison will feature two programs that have built momentum at the right time. Randolph, the defending power, aims to solidify its position as Morris County’s elite, while Morris Hills looks to complete its underdog run with a statement win and claim the 2025 county crown.

Good Night…