2023 Morris/Sussex girls volleyball team-by-team preview capsules
NJAC-Liberty
HANOVER PARK
Coach: Tara Kelly, eighth season
Last season: 10-14
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Kelly Stephen, Jr. M Sarah Diamante, Jr. OH Sara Krajkovich, Jr. O Ashley Pomante, Jr. D Fjolla Qosaj, So. L Ruby Marlin
Outlook: Scrappy Hanover Park hopes to be more competitive.
KINNELON
Coach: Stephanie Finke, 14th season
Last season: 11-14
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Sophie Pongodin, Sr. OH Lindsey Millis
Newcomers: Jr. L Alisa Friedman, So. S Julia Gutkin
Outlook: The Colts hope to win the NJAC-Liberty.
MADISON
Coach: Stephen Fenton, 18th season
Last season: 22-5, 12-0 NJAC-Liberty champion
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Olivia Bruno, Sr. OH Angelina Christoffers, Sr. D Hayley Gajewski, Sr. OH Izzy Hunter, Sr. S Alexa Ruina, Sr. O Alison McGratty
Newcomers: Jr. M Devon Johnson, Jr. O Tessa Finn, Jr. D Casey McCormick, So. S Eva ERrichetti, So. OH Eden O'Connor, So. M Sophia Christofferes, So. M Charlotte Forester
Outlook: Veteran Madison expects to defend its NJAC-Liberty title and make runs into the Morris County and NJSIAA Group 2 Tournaments.
MORRIS CATHOLIC
Coach: Emily Gonzalez, second season
Last season: 19-8, 9-3 NJAC-Liberty
Returning letter-winners: Sr. S/O Alexandra Guzzardo, Sr. L Samantha Coelho, Sr. O/OH Ella Mizeski, Jr. OH Eva Arvelo
Newcomers: Sr. M Rose Gerdes, Sr. D Gabrielle Valencia, Jr. S Arden Acuna, So. OH Ava Valenta
Outlook: Nine players graduated from the squad which reached the NJSIAA Non-Public B final.
MOUNTAIN LAKES
Coach: Linda Petrozelli, sixth season
Last season: 4-16
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Rory Curran, Sr. S Mia Bella Lentz, Sr. O Julia Dippold, Sr. OH Victoria Lizardi; Jr. OH Paulina Dolinsky, Jr. M Natasha Clark, So. L Isabelle Lee
Outlook: Mountain Lakes hopes to finish over .500 in the NJAC-Liberty.
PARSIPPANY HILLS
Coach: Vic Lavin, sixth season
Last season: 13-10
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Olivia Collings, Sr. OH Emily Galante, Jr. M Anaya Bhargava, So. S Abigail Collings
Newcomers: Jr. M Adele Kasper, So. L Julia Pars, Fr. S Apoorva Bhargava
Outlook: The Vikings hope to build on last fall's record.
NJAC-Independence
DOVER
Coach: Kelcey Blank, second season
Last season: 1-19
Returning letter-winners: Sr. L Lyla Lopez, Jr. M Atianna Danzey, Jr. S Brianna Otero, Jr. M Faith Phillips
Newcomers: So. O Kylie Espinoza
Outlook: Dover hopes to improve.
PEQUANNOCK
Coach: Diana Van Orden, sixth season
Last season: 9-12
Returning letter-winners: Sr. S April Czepiel, So. OH/M Ava Shikhman
Newcomers: Fr. L Ali Guardino, Fr. S Fiona Arnold, Fr. M Ella Arnold
Outlook: Pequannock is rebuilding after graduating 11 seniors.
VILLA WALSH
Coach: Anneliese Yombor, 12th season
Last season: 11-14
Returning letter-winners: Sr. L Ava Brancatella, Sr. M Delaney Caughey, Sr. M Meaghan O'Malley, Sr. S Ellie Treacey, Sr. Ellie Treacy, Sr. Annie Connor, Sr. Lily Wendorff, Jr. O Nora Dam, Jr. Amalia Hronides, Jr. Claudia Steinberg
Newcomers: Jr. S Maria Costello, So. M Elodie Cooney
Outlook: Experienced Villa Walsh hopes to win the NJAC-Independence and advance farther in the Morris County, NJISAA and NJSIAA Tournaments.
WHIPPANY PARK
Coach: Heather Olson, second season
Last season: 6-14, 5-4 NJAC-Independence
Returning letter-winners: Sr. L Ellie Williams, Sr. S Emma Guerard, Sr. OH Lily Pecora, Sr. OH Bella Cruz
Outlook: The Wildcats hope to compete in the NJAC-Independence.
NJAC-Freedom
HACKETTSTOWN
Coach: Jeannie Tagliareni, ninth season
Last season: 18-7, 6-2 NJAC-Freedom co-champion
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Lanamarie Howard, Jr. S Jennifer Jacobson
Newcomers: Sr. S Gabby Maney, Sr. M Kyla O'Brien, Jr. L Izzy Rueda, Jr. O Morgan Rucker, So. OH Ava Fiedler
Outlook: Despite graduating five starters, the Tigers hope to defend their Freedom title and qualify for the NJSIAA Tournament.
HIGH POINT
Coach: Kate Niemiera, fifth season
Last season: 1-12
Returning letter-winners: Sr. Mikayla Conklin, Sr. Kerstin Crane, Sr. Emily Morgan, Sr. Rachel Teague, Sr. Lindsey Van Orden, Jr. Ashlyn Ritson
Newcomers: Jr. D Madison Salerno, So. OH Brooke Wagner, So. S Kendall Strehl
Outlook: High Point continues to build.
JEFFERSON
Coach: Gino Rose, sixth season
Last season: 13-13, 6-2 NJAC-Freedom co-champion
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Maggie Gesek, Sr. M Grace Weihmiller, Jr. S Aleah Woelfel, Jr. O Scarlett Melick
Newcomers: Fr. L/OH Peyton Bradley
Outlook: Jefferson hopes to play more than two Morris County and NJSIAA Tournament matches.
MORRIS TECH
Coach: Kathleen Turnbull, fifth season
Last season: 9-13
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Molly Newton, Sr. M Abby Vetter, Sr. O Amanda Pactwa, Sr. O Alisha Sharma, Sr. OH Savannah Williams, Sr. OH Katie Letwink, Jr. S Jordan Plasky, Jr. L Sophie Blebitreu
Outlook: Veteran Morris Tech hopes to win the NJAC-Freedom.
VERNON
Coach: Matt Sorensen, 15th season
Last season: 15-9
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Gabi Sierpinski, Sr. D Madi Andriola, Sr. D/S Shelby Caltabilotta, Jr. OH/M Kaylie Orlando
Newcomers: Sr. M Arianna Frank, Sr. OH Kaitlyn White, Jr. M Abby Sokolowicz, Jr. M Helen Bilomasur, Jr. L Alexa Gentile, Jr. OH Kasey Keating, So. D Elizabeth Peek, So. OH Ella Platt
Outlook: The new-look Vikings hope for a successful season.
NJAC-American
MENDHAM
Coach: Maria Castro-Alvarez, first season
Last season: 7-14
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Kate Bargan, Sr. S Rachel Havey, Sr. M Tessa Kelleher, Sr. O Alyssa Mayhood, Sr. M Gabby Petrucci, Sr. OH Shayna Petrucci, Sr. S Catherine Rudd, Jr. OH/D Avery Koch, So. L Alena Pfersch
Newcomers: Sr. D Kate Byrne, Sr. S Kaitlyn LaPeruta, Jr. L Caterina Pisani, So. O Grace Amara, So. OH Jane Klosowsky, So. M Maia Skjonnemand
Outlook: Mendham is building on fundamentals.
MONTVILLE
Coach: Angelica Maiello, eighth season
Last season: 23-4, 9-1 NJAC-National champion; Morris County Tournament champion; NJSIAA North 2, Group 2 champion
Returning letter-winners: Sr. O/OH Sofia Palavestra, Jr. M Cassandra Chauhan, Jr. L Adrianna Pressimone, Jr. S Lena Unice, Jr. L Kaitlyn Chen, So. OH Maana Parikh
Outlook: The Mustangs want to build on their dream 2022 season.
Champions again: Montville volleyball defeats Madison to win North 2, Group 2 title, fill banner
MORRIS KNOLLS
Coach: Jolyn Curcio, eighth season
Last season: 14-13
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Teresa Manlagit, Sr. S/O Mary Nolan, Sr. S Grace Peters, Sr. M Sophia Vnenchak, Jr. L Bri Finley, Jr. M Laci Merz, So. OH Olga Rostek.
Outlook: Morris Knolls hopes to return to the Morris County Tournament final and make a deep run in the NJSIAA Tournament.
ROXBURY
Coach: Alison Correnti, first season
Last season: 13-12
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Tayla O'Connor, Sr. M Ella Izzi, Jr. M Bianca Jackson
Newcomers: Jr. L Bella Gill, Jr. O Sarah Biczak, Jr. O Jenna Heiser
Outlook: Correnti inherits a young but eager squad from Anthony McMichael, the coach for seven years.
SPARTA
Coach: Caitlin Jozefczyk, third season
Last season: 25-1, 10-0 NJAC-American champion; NJSIAA Group 2 champion
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Payton Simpson, Sr. L Haley Maher, Jr. S/OH Aralyn Saulys, Jr. O Tara Keller, Jr. OH Lea Tsamadias, Jr. M Sylvia Przydzial
Newcomers: Jr. S Giselle Faria, Jr. M Kaitlyn Peterson, Jr. D Maddie Worsley, Jr. D Tessa Goldman, Fr. OH Arielle Gomez
Outlook: Sparta hopes to defend its sectional and Group titles.
Flashback! Sparta dismantles Gov. Livingston to claim Group 2 volleyball title
WEST MORRIS
Coach: Jim Balella, 14th season
Last season: 14-6, 8-2 NJAC-American
Returning letter-winners: Sr. S/O Katelyn Poggi, Sr. L Ella Skirbe, Sr. M/O Abby Soltes, So. S/O Juliana Stingle
Newcomers: Sr. OH Kaitlyn Belen, Sr. M Reese D'Alessandro, Sr. OH Savanna Murata, Sr. M Allyson Schwindt, Sr. D Caitlyn Share; Sr. OH Natalia Wolinski; Sr. O Elizabeth Seman; Jr. OH/M Camryn Garlewicz; So. OH Elizabeth Murphy; Sr. OH/O Kayla Vecchione
Outlook: After graduating 10 seniors, West Morris will be young but competitive.
NJAC-National
CHATHAM
Coach: Steve Santonastaso, first season
Last season: 10-8
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M/O Julia Kleinle, Sr. OH/M/O Bea Tanas, Sr. OH Julia Bardecki, Jr. L Natalie Yacykewych, Jr. S Grace Hilpert
Outlook: Santonastaso is the veteran Cougars' third coach in as many seasons.
MORRIS HILLS
Coach: Christina Hobson, 16th season
Last season: 10-13
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Stephanie Haessig, Sr. O/S Kimberly Relyea
Newcomers: Sr. M Nayeli Alverez Gomez
Outlook: The Scarlet Knights have solid hitters returning.
MORRISTOWN
Coach: Kathy Hormaza, second season
Last season: 13-8
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Sarah Bogert, Sr. M Maya Summerville, Jr. L Ashley Padilla, Jr. S Bella Staphan, Jr. OH Mary Wisloff, Jr. S Gwen Atkins, Jr. OH/L Hailey Atkins
Newcomers: Sr. S Grace Fenton Fletcher; Sr. M Rachel Van Sciver;Jr. OH Jenna Menahan; So. O Isabella Tapkas
Outlook: Veteran Morristown has high expectations.
MOUNT OLIVE
Coach: Tom Reszka, fourth season
Last season: 11-12
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Erin McLachlan, Sr. OH Rose Ceralli, Sr. O/S Sofia Cruz; Sr. M Erin Perrault; Jr. OH Mishka Fernandez, Jr. S Emily Fusiarz; Jr. S/O Amanda Przybyszewski
Newcomers: So. D Genessa Ballazar; So. S Samantha Conti
Outlook: Keep an eye on the Marauders juniors.
POPE JOHN
Coach: Tyler Singh, second season
Last season: 12-12
Returning letter-winners: Sr. OH Lian Vieluf, Sr. M Reagan Healy, Sr. S Lauren Duffy, Sr. O/D Lauren Cordero, Sr. S Olivia Barragan, Jr. L Kasey Dugan, Jr. OH Avery Griffin, Jr. O Reagan Daly, Jr. O Emily Dyer
Outlook: Pope John hopes to step up in the NJAC-NAtional.
RANDOLPH
Coach: Sheri Data, sixth season
Last season: 9-11
Returning letter-winners: Sr. M Olivia Berlin, Sr. L Samantha Einfeldt, Sr. M/OH Megan Guether, Sr. S/O Dora Katsanos, Jr. D Isabella Carreira, Jr. O/S Caitlin Sciubba, So. S/OH Jazmine Holder
Newcomers: Jr. OH Belinda Carcamo, Jr. D/OH Yolanda Sabillon, So. M Regan Galloway, Fr. S/O Viki Katsanos, Fr. S/O Klara Hindson
Outlook: Randolph's young players will make an instant impact
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ volleyball: 2023 Morris/Sussex team-by-team preview capsules
