Shore volleyball 2023 preview: Coaches' pick 99 Players to Watch, Preseason Top 10 teams
It’s hard not to get excited about a girls volleyball team where the talent is young, hungry and will be around for the next few seasons and second-year Howell coach Maggie Preston is fired up about it.
“I kind of knew from when the final whistle blew last year that looking ahead to this season and even next year, we are gonna have great kids and a great program,” Preston said.
And the preseason has gone about as well as can be expected, Preston said.
“Even toward the end of the school year, last year, when we were having our end-of-the-year meeting, getting ready for this season, we were all on the same page,” she said.
Howell is No. 9 in the Shore Volleyball Coaches Association preseason rankings. The Rebels weren’t in the early-season rankings a year ago.
“Our main goal right now is winning the division (Class A North,” Preston said. The last time the program won a title was 2019.
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“We’re really looking forward to pushing ourselves. The girls work hard every single day, and you really can’t ask for much more as a coach. We’re talented all around and we're deep. They buy into what I'm trying to sell them,” she said.
Howell volleyball: Youth being served
Returning program player Gabia Grigaliunas, a sophomore, is one of the team’s young stars; someone who “proved to be a solid player her freshman year….she is a force at the net between her offense and blocking ability,” Preston said of the 5-foot-10 outside hitter.
There are some graduation losses to compensate for, but Grigaliunas said she’s confident she and her teammates will up their games.
“This year we lost a lot of our starting lineup because they were seniors being our setter, libero and one of our outsides. And I think that definitely affected us. But I think that we’re gonna come back stronger this year with the lineup we do have,” Grigaliunas said after Howell defeated Toms River North in a home scrimmage Tuesday.
Howell’s hype hitters
Junior Keira Mullen said she loves the team’s “hype” atmosphere - the outside hitter credited the relationships the players have with each other to the chemistry on the court.
“I love how we always hype each other up. If we get a good hit, we always clap for that…we get a good serve, we’re hyped,” she said.
With last year’s seniors gone, Keira said the newcomers are filling in the spots better than expected.
“I feel like we are a lot more confident as a team. We have been playing well together. I feel like we could go far this year,” Keira said.
NJ girls volleyball: 2023 Players to Watch
(as selected by members of the Shore Coaches Volleyball Association)
Class A North Players to Watch
Colts Neck girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 23-6
Savannah Butz (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 99 Kills, 72 Blocks, 18 Digs
Stacy Mancino (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 289 Digs, 24 Assists, 23 Aces
Brooke Lombardo (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 131 Kills, 17 Blocks, 30 Digs
Freehold Borough girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 13-9
Audrey Sousa (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 176 Kills, 15 Blocks, 104 Digs, 25 Assists, 54 Digs
Julianna Manrique (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 29 Kills, 22 Blocks, 41 Digs, 8 Aces
Breanna Cies (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 35 Kills, 15 Blocks, 4 Digs, 23 Aces
Howell girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 12-9
Gabia Grigaliunas (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 59 Kills, 24 Blocks, 10 Digs, 25 Aces
Kiera Mullen (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 98 Kills, 95 Digs, 18 Aces
CiCi Socha-Soares (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 80 Kills, 10 Blocks, 14 Digs, 24 Aces
Long Branch girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 2-17
Dulce Oliva (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: None
Lynia Dixson (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 14 Kills, 28 Digs, 9 Aces
Josselyn Cantres (Jr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 4 Kills, 21 Digs, 27 Assists, 8 Aces
Marlboro girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 12-11
Cece Marino (Sr. OH/Set)
2022 Season Stats: 61 Kills, 35 Blocks, 143 Digs, 309 Assists, 32 Aces
Sophie Lysyak (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 93 Kills, 31 Digs, 10 Aces
Alana Pytel (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 28 Kills, 4 Blocks, 6 Digs, 5 Aces
Middletown North girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 2-17
Emma Saniscalchi (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 28 Kills, 23 Digs, 13 Aces
Carly Christiani (So. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 59 Kills, 47 Digs, 9 Aces
Adriana Whelan (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 3 Kills, 3 Blocks, 3 Assists
Middletown South girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 8-11
Karolyna Bojko (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 48 Kills, 13 Blocks, 46 Digs, 140 Assists, 18 Aces
Regan Murphy (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 40 Kills, 8 Blocks, 12 Digs
Sophia Loucopoulos (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 7 Kills, 5 Digs, 37 Assists, 15 Aces
Class B North Players to Watch
Holmdel girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 5-21
Maya Houston (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 16 Kills, 10 Blocks
Lola Sparkes (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 54 Kills, 6 Blocks, 128 Digs, 20 Aces
Jessica Donnelly (So. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 21 Kills, 101 Digs, 14 Aces
Raritan girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 13-11
Brianna Daly (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 120 Kills, 30 Blocks, 11 Digs
Julia Del Masto (Jr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 20 Digs, 2 Aces
Alexis Amoedo (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 23 Kills, 137 Digs, 108 Assists, 9 Aces
Red Bank Catholic girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 15-9
Kailie Zebick (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 10 Kills, 109 Digs, 339 Assists, 36 Aces
Madeleine Carpenter (Sr. MB)
2022 Stats: None. 2021 Season Stats: 37 Kills, 20 Blocks, 4 Digs
Katherine Bauman (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 141 Kills, 12 Blocks, 186 Digs, 13 Assists, 54 Aces
Red Bank Regional girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 5-17
Aleena Feliciano (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 80 Kills, 81 Digs, 29 Aces
Kylie Fisher (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 56 Digs, 238 Assists, 20 Aces
Rumson-Fair Haven girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 15-8
Cayla Kuo (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 78 Kills, 221 Digs, 34 Aces
Catherine Caulfield (So. Set)
2022 Season Stats: Not available
Madison Peter (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: Not available
St. John Vianney girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 17-7
Stephanie Buttons (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 107 Kills, 111 Digs, 27 Aces
Taylor Sofilkanich (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 41 Kills, 32 Blocks
Giavanna Sergi (So. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 171 Digs, 21 Assists, 28 Aces
Wall girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 18-6
Ava Grant (Jr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 7 Kills, 63 Digs, 338 Assists, 22 Aces
Gemma Ferris (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 83 Kills, 95 Digs, 34 Aces
Lauren Davenport (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 45 Kills, 5 Blocks, 9 Digs
Class A South Players to Watch
Brick Memorial girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 4-19
Isabella McKelvey (Jr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 43 Kills, 20 Blocks, 65 Digs, 261 Assists, 48 Aces
Isabella Cottrell (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 7 Kills, 107 Digs, 15 Aces
Emily Fitzgerald (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Brick Township girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 17-8
Clare Ashe (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 5 Kills, 2 Blocks, 2 Aces
Abby Anfuso (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 1 Dig, 1 Ace
Marissa Witter (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 41 Digs, 1 Kill, 1 Assist
Central Regional girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 10-11
Nadine Ciltepe (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 13 Kills, 138 Digs, 64 Assists, 35 Aces
Halee Smentkowski (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 60 Kills, 13 Blocks, 9 Digs
Madison Lenox (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 112 Kills, 106 Digs, 5 Assists, 25 Aces
Jackson Memorial
Last Year’s Record: 12-14
Alexis Santos (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 79 Kills, 49 Digs, 26 Aces
Lacey Trautwein (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 45 Kills, 23 Blocks, 13 Digs, 16 Aces
Ava Csatari (Jr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Southern Regional girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 31-1
Jordyn Hamlin (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 283 Kills, 11 Blocks, 206 Digs, 7 Assists, 61 Aces
Molly Regulski (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 20 Kills, 10 Blocks, 87 Digs, 624 Assists, 33 Aces
Toms River East girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 8-11
Ava Casales (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 29 Kills, 11 Blocks, 81 Digs, 274 Assists, 30 Aces
Darlyn Neyra (Jr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Emma Newman (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Toms River North girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 11-6
Riley Budenas (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 14 Kills, 114 Digs, 250 Assists, 19 Aces
Kaila Koretzky (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 144 Digs, 16 Assists, 21 Aces
Toms River South girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 16-9
Jordyn Lynch (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 25 Kills, 106 Digs, 327 Assists, 41 Aces
Morgan Adams (Sr. MB/Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 52 Kills, 24 Blocks, 45 Digs, 14 Aces
Sofia D’arcangelo (So. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 25 Kills, 54 Digs, 25 Aces
Class B South Players to Watch
Barnegat girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 14-7
Isabella Pavan (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 68 Kills, 6 Blocks, 7 Digs
Ashley Berger (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 148 Kills, 69 Digs, 34 Aces
Annabella Fraim (So. Set)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Donovan Catholic girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 21-4
Macayla Lindner (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 182 Kills, 121 Digs, 82 Aces
Shantel Starling (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 199 Kills, 6 Blocks, 171 Digs, 71 Aces
Daniella Tischio (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 12 Kills, 53 Digs, 441 Assists, 33 Aces
Jackson Liberty girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 14-11
Stella Harzold (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 151 Kills, 165 Digs, 41 Aces
Stephanie Ramos (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 19 Kills, 195 Digs, 23 Assists, 36 Aces
Grace Chiafullo (So. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 54 Kills, 17 Blocks
Lacey girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 5-14
Emily Hauptvogel (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 163 Kills, 8 Blocks, 185 Digs, 11 Assists, 40 Aces
Shayla Haemmerle (So. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 146 Digs, 8 Assists, 20 Aces
Ava Lingelbach (So. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 16 Kills, 9 Blocks, 11 Digs, 3 Assists
Lakewood girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 6-18
Nathalie Arguedas (Jr. DS)
2022 Season Stats: 26 Kills, 323 Digs, 8 Assists, 19 Aces
Jackie Conde (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 24 Kills, 28 Blocks, 27 Digs, 17 Aces
Sarah Pratt (Sr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 79 Digs, 115 Assists, 13 Aces
Manchester girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 7-12
Devyn Quigley (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 131 Kills, 4 Blocks, 76 Digs, 36 Aces
Samantha Villanueva (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
Pinelands girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 19-9
Jill Becker (Jr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 113 Kills, 5 Blocks, 45 Digs, 72 Aces
Nicole Tarnacki (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 27 Kills, 5 Blocks, 17 Digs
Olivia Shertenlieb (Jr. Set)
2022 Season Stats: 13 Digs, 163 Kills, 6 Aces
Class B Central Players to Watch
Asbury Park girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 1-14
Braille Paul (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 46 Kills, 28 Aces
Keyport girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 7-12
Allison Ahmed (Sr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 64 Kills, 11 Blocks, 60 Digs, 14 Aces
Abigail Reiber (Sr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 9 Kills, 111 Digs, 35 Aces
Kayla Aumack (Sr. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: 33 Kills, 109 Digs, 32 Aces
Manasquan girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 3-16
Giulianna Ferraro (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 114 Kills, 25 Blocks, 30 Digs, 37 Aces
Nicole Jacobs (So. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 16 Kills, 18 Blocks, 6 Digs, 8 Assists, 6 Aces
Elena Weinseimer (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 26 Kills, 12 Blocks, 59 Digs, 27 Aces
Point Pleasant Beach girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 12-14
Erin Frauenheim (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 62 Kills, 26 Blocks
Alexa Perillo (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 20 Kills, 54 Digs, 8 Aces
Sophia Santoro (So. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: None Listed
St. Rose girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 10-11
Melanie Englehardt (Jr. MB)
2022 Season Stats: 129 Kills, 89 Digs, 32 Aces
Emily Fudge (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 22 Kills, 10 Blocks, 2 Aces
Ali Lubach (Fr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: None
Trinity Hall girls volleyball
Last Year’s Record: 10-5)
Rachel Gardner (Sr. OH)
2022 Season Stats: 52 Kills, 15 Digs, 32 Aces
Caroline Jacobi (Jr. Lib)
2022 Season Stats: 2 Kills, 37 Digs, 12 Aces
Helen Taylor (So. Opp)
2022 Season Stats: Not available
Coaches Poll: Preseason Top 10 girls volleyball rankings
Southern Regional (2022 Record: 33-1)
Donovan Catholic (2022 Record: 21-4)
Saint John Vianney (2022 Record: 17-7)
Colts Neck (2022 Record: 23-6)
Pinelands (2022 Record: 19-9)
Rumson-Fair Haven (2022 Record: 15-8)
Wall (2022 Record: 18-6)
Toms River South (2022 Record: 16-9)
Howell (2022 Record: 12-9)
Jackson Liberty (2022 Record: 14-11)
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ girls volleyball: Players to Watch, Preseason team rankings
