By, Josh Wilets
Throughout the 2025 fall girls volleyball season, we witnessed many moments of greatness and history. 1,000 kills and 1,000 assists were achieved by many. Also, first time county and conference champions were crowned, in addition to first time state sectional and group champions. Below are the individuals that stood above the rest!
Burlington County Scholastic League
Player of the Year
Naomi Lygas, Princeton
Naomi Lygas capped off her career with another group 3 title, completing the 3-peat after defeating Millburn in straight sets. The senior mashed 435 kills, raising her career total to 1,287 and continually served teams off the court thanks in part to 57 aces. Lygas tallied a double-double against Millburn with 25 kills and 10 digs, which was her sixth double-double of the season.
Coach of the Year
Patty Manhart, Princeton
Coach Manhart led the Princeton girls volleyball team to their third straight state title this past fall. Princeton finished with a record of 27-5 overall and finished with a record of 11-0 in the BCSL – CVC division. The team started out 16-0 and was in the top 10 in the state for the whole season. Princeton also won the BCSL championship, taking down Notre Dame in straight sets.
Big North Conference
Player of the Year
Adrielle Crump, Immaculate Heart
Adrielle Crump finished her sophomore campaign with 429 kills, amongst the best in the state. Crump was also an excellent blocker, knocking down 28 blocks. The sophomore tallied 30 kills against Demarest in the Bergen County Tournament, a season high for her.
Coach of the Year
Alberto Rosa, Passaic Tech
Coach Rosa led Passaic Tech through the best season in program history. Finishing at 25-4 (10-0 Big North – Liberty), the Bulldogs wrote a new chapter in the Passaic County Tournament history books. PCTI won the county title for the first time ever and advanced to the sectional title game for the first time in history, ultimately falling in five sets to Livingston. With a majority of the team returning, look for PCTI to make another run next season.
Cape Atlantic League
Player of the Year
Bradee Boyd, Ocean City
Bradee Boyd crushed 311 kills and dropped in 121 aces this season, both led the Cape Atlantic League. Boyd recorded a triple-double on October 28, and five double-doubles the rest of the season. The outside hitter reached 30 kills in a match two times and double-digits in aces four times. Bradee Boyd will be a fun player to watch in 2026 as a senior.
Coach of the Year
Jillian Garza, Ocean City
Jillian Garza led Ocean City to a 26-2 record, including 12-0 in the CAL – National division. Ocean City won as many as 23 matches in a row this season, dropping only six sets in that stretch. Garza’s team won the Cape Atlantic League championship and her team will definitely be back next season, with only one senior graduating.
Greater Middlesex Conference
Player of the Year
Ashley Markle, Old Bridge
Ashley Markle cranked 405 kills and 98 aces to lead the conference in both statistics. Markle tallied at least 10 kills 18 times this past fall, capping the season off with 29 kills in the group 4 championship win over Westfield. The outside hitter also floated in 12 aces two separate times and will look to replicate more of the same success next campaign.
Coach of the Year
Tom Moran, Mother Seton
Tom Moran led Mother Seton to their first ever Non-Public B championship this past season. The Setters finished 26-3 overall, including 12-0 in the GMC – White division. Mother Seton advanced to the GMC finals and also ran roughshod through the Non-Public B bracket.
Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League
Player of the Year
Jakiya Carter, McNair
Jakiya Carter led the HCIAL in kills with 281 and also recorded 220 digs last fall. Carter recorded double-digits in kills 14 times, including 23 in the final match of her career against Rutherford. The senior notched six double-doubles, and that production will be very tough to replace as McNair will have big shoes to fill in 2026.
Coach of the Year
Naveed Khawaja, Union City
Naveed Khawaja led Union City to a 19-5 record overall, 12-2 in the HCIAL – American division. The team started out 12-1 and advanced to the sectional finals before falling to Westfield. Khawaja has coached Union City to consecutive 19+ win seasons, after winning just 11 games in the his first season in 2023.
Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Player of the Year
Klara Hindson, Randolph
Klara Hindson made everyone on the Randolph roster better—case and point. The junior amassed 579 assists, putting her over the 1,000 mark and making her the only Randolph setter to accomplish this feat. Hindson dished out 53 assists two times, both in wins over Hackettstown and Northern Highlands. The setter had the task of finding her other five hitters wherever they were on the court and was a huge reason as to why Randolph saw so much success this season.
Coach of the Year
Sheri Data, Randolph
Coach Data led Randolph to the best season ever, finally adding years to the banner. First, the Rams took down Morris Hills in the Morris County Tournament for the first time in team history. Next, Data drove the team to the NJAC – National division crown. Randolph was ranked as high as 7th in the state and won their first 12 matches to begin the dream season for the Rams.
North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
Player of the Year
Mackenzie Vellis, Rutherford
Mackenzie Vellis dominated the NJIC this season. The senior tallied 412 kills to lead the conference, and also added 214 digs and 64 aces. Vellis recorded double-digits in kills in all but four matches all season. The outside hitter also passed the 1,000-kill mark this past fall and stands amongst some of the all-time greats at Rutherford.
Coach of the Year
Nick Esposito, Saddle River Day
Nick Esposito was tasked with turning around a struggling Saddle River Day girls volleyball program. 16 wins this season is a single-season high for SRD and Esposito has clearly gotten his players to buy in and trust the process. Saddle River Day won the NJIC – Liberty division, winning 15 matches in the league. The Non-Public B North semifinals appearance this past fall is the farthest that the team has ever advanced in states.
Olympic Conference
Player of the Year
Maggie Carcillo, Paul VI
Maggie Carillo is one of the most versatile players in the Olympic Conference. The senior recorded 110 kills, 389 assists and 75 aces while running the 6-2 offense at Paul VI. Carcillo tallied double-digits in assists in every match except for the first match of the season. Maggie Carcillo notched a triple-double against Padua (DE) on October 7, recording 10 kills, 11 digs and 19 assists. St. John’s is getting an extremely well-rounded player in 2026!
Coach of the Year
Dan Chung, Paul VI
Dan Chung continues to run the best program in the Olympic Conference. Paul VI finished 25-1 overall, 10-0 in the Olympic – Patriot division while cruising to the divisional title. His program won their first 25 games before being taken down by the eventual Non-Public A champs in the St. John Vianney Lancers. Paul VI dropped just eight sets all season and has been a mainstay atop the Olympic Conference over the past number of seasons.
Super Essex Conference
Player of the Year
Brynn Mack, Verona
Brynn Mack led the Super Essex Conference with 412 kills this past fall. Add on the 224 digs and 65 aces, and that gives you the SEC player of the year. Only a sophomore, Mack tallied a career high 30 kills during her final match of the season, along with 23 digs against Secaucus. The outside hitter recorded five double-doubles and was a force to be reckoned with in 2025.
Coach of the Year
Dan Kim, Livingston
Dan Kim led the Livingston Lancers to an Essex County crown and a sectional title in 2025. The N1G4 title came after Livingston trailed 2-0 to PCTI and reverse-swept the Bulldogs to win the section. Livingston finished 22-6 this past fall and will look to get over the hump and win a group title after the success that the program saw this season.
Shore Conference
Player of the Year
Ayana Warren, St. John Vianney
Ayana Warren helped St. John Vianney’s offense flow like a well-oiled machine this season—well, pretty much her whole career, which has another year left. Her 698 assists led the Shore Conference, while her 34 kills, 26 blocks, 166 digs and 69 aces were all career-highs for a season in addition to the career-high 698 assists. Warren dished out at least 12 assists in all but one match and topped out at 53 assists in the Shore Conference finals win over Pinelands.
Coach of the Year
Jessica and Brian Gadaleta, St. John Vianney
The dynamic duo that is Jessica and Brian Gadaleta got the St. John Vianney Lancers over the hump this season. The Lancers won their first ever Non-Public A title, and couple that with a Shore Conference crown—there you have one of the best teams in South Jersey. SJV won their final 22 matches in a row and are looking to replicate similar success in 2026.
Skyland Conference
Player of the Year
Ava Marvuglio, Bridgewater-Raritan
Ava Marvuglio finished third in the Skyland Conference in kills (283) and digs (457). The outside hitter recorded nine double-doubles, including a 20-20 stat-line against Delaware Valley. Her 30 digs against Mount St. Mary were a season high and Marvuglio was a large reason why Bridgewater-Raritan won the Somerset County title.
Coach of the Year
Josh Everett, Bridgewater-Raritan
Speaking of Bridgewater-Raritan, head coach Josh Everett led the Panthers to the aforementioned Somerset County crown, and saw lots of success this season. Bridgewater-Raritan won 20 consecutive matches this season and improved on their win total from a season ago by 10 wins.
Tri-County Conference
Player of the Year
Stella Eberly, Williamstown
Stella Eberly amassed 249 kills and 267 digs this past fall for Williamstown. The senior recorded nine double-doubles, including an 18 kill/12 dig match in a 2-1 victory over the eventual group 1 champs in Secaucus on September 19.
Coach of the Year
Chris Sheppard, Williamstown
Chris Sheppard runs one of the best programs in all of New Jersey down at Williamstown. The Braves started out 31-0 before being defeated by the eventual group 4 champs in Old Bridge in the semifinals. Williamstown won the Tri-County conference tournament, again, and finished 31-1 overall (8-0 Tri-County Royal division). Some signature wins over St. John Vianney, Secaucus, Westfield, Princeton and Old Bridge show why Williamstown can never be taken lightly. Look for Williamstown to be a force in 2026, as they have been a lock to go deep in the state playoffs every season in recent memory.
Union County Conference
Player of the Year
Ava Gaspard, Westfield
Ava Gaspard finished with 338 kills on the season, second in the conference. Gaspard topped out at 31 kills in the Westfield loss to Old Bridge in the state finals, but put together a 30 kill/20 dig stat-line. The senior recorded seven double-doubles, including four in a row to end the season. Binghamton University is getting a fantastic player who can dominate any competition standing in her way.
Coach of the Year
Beverly ‘Bev’ Torok, Westfield
There are very few things Bev Torok has not accomplished as a coach. Following a 21-11 season in 2024, the Blue Devils finished 24-6 (11-1 UCC – Watchung division) in 2025. Westfield took the Union County title and advanced all the way to the group 4 finals, until they ran into the juggernaut known as Old Bridge.
Overall NJ
Player of the Year
Naomi Lygas, Princeton
Naomi Lygas was flat-out dominant this season. The outside hitter can hit the ball as well as any, and can play elite defense as a six-rotation outside. Lygas drew not just Princeton fans, but volleyball fans, in general. The senior finished her career with 1,287 kills – 7th most all-time in NJ girls volleyball history. The three-time state champion also finished her career with 720 digs and 195 aces. Her 36 kills and 28 digs equals one of the best stat-lines ever in the state and her legacy will live in the history of the sport in New Jersey forever. Tulane beach volleyball is certainly going to love this amazing player in 2026!
Coach of the Year
Andrew Hopman, Old Bridge
Andrew Hopman can now say he leads the No. 1 team in the state, with Old Bridge’s 5-set win over Westfield in the group 4 state finals. Old Bridge started the season 16-0 and finished with a 17-0 winning streak, following their lone loss to Williamstown in a tri-match. Old Bridge ran roughshod through the Greater Middlesex conference, throttling every team in sight. The Knights finished 33-1 (12-0 GMC – Red division) and plowed through the group 4 state tournament, on their way to winning the finals for the first time in program history.
