NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Sectional Finals Preview

This season has been full of incredible team performances, come-from-behind wins and some outstanding coaching tactics on full display. Finally, we have reached the sectional finals and all these teams have their sights set on advancing to the NJSIAA State Finals this coming weekend.

Please feel free to check out the sectional final previews below!

Big State Sports will be Airing the North 3 and South 2 Sectional Finals as well as all SIX Group Finals LIVE and for FREE.

NORTH 1

1-Verona will host 2-Bogota in a classic Group 1 rivalry, especially in recent years. Both teams have faced each other in each of the last five seasons, with some matches taking place in the state tournament.

Verona has won nine straight matches, including their Essex County title win over West Essex. Brynn Mack has mashed 460 kills and leads her team in both kills and aces. In her first year as a full-time setter, senior Ylliona Hoxhaj has dished out 642 assists and has been a big reason why her team has so many high-quality scoring chances.

Bogota has won eight matches in a row, and has been paced by hitters Angelina Grod and Miranda Villamil. The Bucs run a 6-2 offense with setters Nikole Alvarez and Allene Jimenez. This team has so many players that do their jobs well and do not try to do too much.

Prediction: Verona 3-1

NORTH 2

1-River Dell will host 2-Demarest in a battle between two of the premier teams in Bergen County. Each of these two teams have a dominant hitter that can be relied on to put the ball down when their team needs it the most, and this match may have Bergen County Player of the Year implications. River Dell defeated Demarest at the end of September by the score of 2-1.

River Dell spreads the ball out really well, with four hitters owning kill totals over 100 each. The Hawks run a 6-2 and one of their setters, Kailyn Murray-McCormick, also plays right-side. When River Dell needs a kill, you will probably see Marissa Petrocelli get the ball. Petrocelli leads her team in kills and is also tied for the team lead in digs.

Demarest has their sights set on claiming their second Group 2 title in as many seasons. The Norsemen are coming off a Bergen County title and are winners of their last 14 matches. Demarest runs a 6-2 with Maya Snir and Bergen County Player of the Year candidate Deana Finkelstein. Remember, Finkelstein can hit too—she has crushed 250 kills in addition to handing out 200 assists this season.

Prediction: Demarest 3-1

NORTH 3

2-Mount Olive will host 5-North Hunterdon in a clash of two teams that run completely different offenses. Both teams have won their respective county tournaments, setting up a fantastic sectional final.

Mount Olive runs a 6-2 with two outside hitters setting. Olivia Drucks (405 kills and 323 assists) and Bella Osoria (364 kills and 326 assists) are without question the most electric duo in North Jersey, and possibly the state. Both of those players have combined for 124 aces and have the ability to serve a team off the court in a hurry. Unsung hero Ava Diaz has been in the right position constantly and has the ability to set in out-of-system scenarios. The Marauders hold the longest active winning streak in the state at 25 matches.

North Hunterdon has won 12 consecutive matches, and Laine Molchan has been a big reason why. Molchan has cranked 231 kills, recorded 193 digs and dropped in 51 aces. Outside of Laine Molchan, two other hitters have recorded at least 119 kills each. The Lions also run a 6-2, but with two true setters. As a team, North Hunterdon has amassed 273 aces and that may influence the game in a big way.

Prediction: Mount Olive 3-2

NORTH 4

1-Westfield hosts 3-Passaic Tech in a clash of a blue-blood facing a team that is in the midst of the golden age of their program.

Westfield won the Union County finals over Union Catholic and has continued to dominate their opponents. The Blue Devils have only lost one match—to Old Bridge. Other than that, they have won 27 matches. Do you want to talk about a balanced attack? Three of the Westfield hitters have at least 160 kills, and none more than 200. This is one of the most well-rounded teams in the state and is going to be tough to defeat, especially at home where they have not lost all season.

Passaic Tech has had a fantastic season, and is looking to take the next step and advance to the state finals. The Bulldogs have won 26 matches and only dropped three, all to top 20 teams. Gia Stipo and Alyse Stuber have led the charge with over 250 kills apiece, and setters Petya D’Agostino and Bryanna Castellano-Melendez have done a great job finding their big hitters. Speaking of D’Agostino, she leads the team with 70 aces and is dangerous from wherever the is on the court.

Prediction: Westfield 3-0

NORTH NON-PUBLIC A

1-Immaculate Heart hosts 2-Mount St. Dominic in a battle of squads with impressive setters in 5-1 systems.

Immaculate Heart has five hitters with over 110 kills, and look no further than Adrielle Crump and Sophia Mahon. Those two juniors are among the best in the state at their respective positions. Three players have at least 210 digs, and that defense has paid off throughout their tough schedule. Kristen Lee has 815 assists this year and has been arguably the best setter in the state.

Mount St. Dominic has been paced by Alexci Greene who has crushed 243 kills and recorded 98 blocks. This team collectively can hit and block with the best of them. Skylar Dang has been a steady quarterback at setter, dishing out 628 assists and dropping in 62 aces. The Lions have an incredible opportunity for a signature win and a chance to punch their ticket to the state finals for the first time in a long time.

Prediction: Immaculate Heart 3-1

NORTH NON-PUBLIC B

3-DePaul hosts 4-Eastern Christian in a battle of two Passaic County teams duking it out. Neither team has faced each other yet this season.

DePaul is led by senior outside hitter Alexis Guia with he 272 kills, 195 digs and 41 aces. If you need a kill in a big moment, setters Ava Skinner and Kaelyn Brown know to find Guia wherever she is on the floor. The Spartans defend really well, with five players owning over 130 digs each.

Eastern Christian also runs a 6-2, and many of those assists come by way of kills from Amelia Pringle or Rachel Anokye. Pringle and Audrey Heerema have recorded over 225 digs each, and the team tallied 1,054 digs as a unit. Amelia Pringle has been the most valuable piece to this team. Aside from her hitting and defense, she has added 72 aces to her ledger and is dangerous when standing behind the service line.

Prediction: DePaul 3-1

SOUTH 1

1-Delaware Valley hosts 2-Raritan in a rematch of the South Group 1 quarterfinal round from a season ago.

Delaware Valley has three hitters that have each reached at least 135 kills. Abbie Simpson and Ellie Fisher run the 6-2 offense and have been really good at doing so. Speaking of Simpson, she owns 82 of her team’s 253 aces on the season.

Raritan can really block, with Brielle Brosonski and Sophia Oddo accounting for 86 blocks as a duo. Sophie Papagiannakis has been strong defensively and can really serve the ball well. Lila Houlihan leads the charge offensively with 163 kills and will is a force to be reckoned with.

Prediction: Delaware Valley 3-1

SOUTH 2

1-Ocean City will host 6-Governor Livingston in a clash of teams that distribute the volleyball very differently.

Ocean City is looking to reach the state finals for the first time in program history. Bradee Boyd and her sister Rylee have been the keys to the Red Raider offense. Bradee, a candidate for NJ Girls Volleyball Player of the Year has cranked 467 kills and dropped in 97 aces, while Rylee has racked up 557 assists and added 50 aces of her own. Ocean City averages over 11.5 aces per match and takes advantage of many free-balls returned.

Governor Livingston is looking to advance to the Group 2 finals for the 4th time in the past five seasons. Mya Joseph and Claire Sanchez account for most of the Highlander kills, while Kaylee Thayer and Olivia Ho have done their job by racking up 57 blocks between the two of them.

Prediction: Ocean City 3-1

SOUTH 3

2-Toms River South will host the Cinderella story of the year in 13-Shawnee. Neither team has been to the Group 3 finals ever. Shawnee won their section in the COVID-shortened season in the fall Spring of 2021, when they defeated…Toms River South.

Toms River South has four players with over 100 kills each, led by Cora Olcott with 200. The Indians serve, block and defend very well and are a very solid team from the Shore Conference. They run a 6-2 offense, with Grace Hewitt and Ava Colon facilitating the attack. Toms River South averages almost 52 digs per match and that defense will be important as the games grow in importance.

Shawnee has taken down 4-Camden Tech, 5-Montgomery and 1-Princeton en route to the South Group 3 finals. Roxanne Beckwith and Leyna Somer had strong performances in their 5-set thriller against top-seeded Princeton. Audrey Beckwith has been impressive both with her setting ability and her capability of serving teams out of system. If Shawnee is going to win this match, it will come down to serving and passing efficiency.

Prediction: Toms River South 3-0

SOUTH 4

1-Old Bridge will host 2-Williamstown in what has become a fun rivalry. Williamstown has won 3 of the last five meetings against Old Bridge, but the Knights have been the victors in the two most recent matches. Old Bridge swept Williamstown 3-0 earlier this season and these two teams have seen each other, which could be an advantage to either side.

Old Bridge has only lost three matches all season, in succession, in late September. The Knights have won 18 straight matches coming into this one, and the tandem of Ashley Markle and Tatum Jones has been a fun duo to watch. The Group 4 champs from a season ago returned lots of talent, including perennial NJ Girls Volleyball Player of the Year, Ashley Markle. Markle has led the way with 303 kills and 63 aces, but her team has benefited from Tatum Jones, Olivia Grubb, Jannah Khalil and Maya Lupinski all returning this season. Lupinski has run the Old Bridge offense for the last three seasons and has amassed 705 assists in her senior campaign, pushing her over 2,000 for her career.

Williamstown has played many of the top teams in the state, which has helped prepare them for this matchup against a familiar foe. The Braves have won 16 matches in a row and have largely been paced by Peyton Wright and Elizabeth Yeddis. Yeddis has tallied 248 kills and 52 blocks, while Wright has racked up 353 kills, 22 blocks, 287 digs and 26 aces. Williamstown averages over 7 aces per match and have been led in that area by Nessy Eberly and Khloe Lynch. The Braves are among the best of the best in all of New Jersey and will be looking for revenge over Old Bridge after losing to the Knights this season and in the Group 4 semifinals both by way of a sweep.

Prediction: Old Bridge 3-2

SOUTH NON-PUBLIC A

1-Paul VI will host 2-St. John Vianney in a rematch of the South Non-Public A championship match from a season ago. In fact, this season is the third straight season in which these two teams are facing off in the sectional final.

Paul VI has lost just three matches, two to top-20 teams in NJ and a strong team from Delaware. Khloe Greene-Gordon has crushed 224 kills, while Sioni Adeniran and Haley Plunkett have been forces as well. The two middle hitters for Paul VI have combined for 86 blocks and this team collectively can serve and defend with the best of them. Lyla Rossi will look to find her big hitters in one of the biggest games of the season for Paul VI.

St. John Vianney is the premier team of the Shore Conference and has only lost one match to a strong Donovan Catholic team. Daria Shnarevich has accounted for 249 kills, while Brielle Orendorff and Brooke Soflikanich have each tallied at least 100. Ayana Warren is among the best setters in the state, and has lots of fantastic options to set the ball to throughout this match. The Lancers are another team that serves and defends very well, and the team that does those the best will likely win this one.

Prediction: St. John Vianney 3-2

SOUTH NON-PUBLIC B

1-Mother Seton will host 3-Rutgers Prep in a rematch of the South Non-Public B championship match from last season. This is the third time that these two teams will face-off in the sectional final, and the sixth time that both teams will clash in the state tournament in as many seasons.

Mother Seton spreads the ball out very well, with three hitters owning over 100 kills. Faith Forenza has been very impressive, cranking 260 kills and recording 202 digs this season. Her sister, Eve, has been running the offense at the setter position and has done an exceptional job doing so. Madison Porter is one of the most underappreciated liberos in the state, and averages almost 23 digs per match.

Rutgers Prep is a well-rounded team and ready for the spotlight. Aubrey Franz leads her team in kills (352), digs (175) and aces (49) and she will likely have to have a big game if her team is going to win this one. Saanvi Chigurupati and Tobalashe Ajiboro have been very impressive compliments to Franz. Rebecca Panacek has had an incredible sophomore year, racking up 597 assists and 42 aces.

Prediction: Mother Seton 3-2

When it comes down to it, volleyball is a serve-and-pass game and whichever of these teams does that the best in their respective matchups will have a very good shot at coming away with a sectional crown. New Jersey has tons of talented athletes and strong coaches who have prepared their teams for the big moment. Best of luck to all of the remaining teams and congratulations on reaching the sectional finals.