1. Immaculate Heart (38-5)
2. NV/Old Tappan (24-1)
3. Ramapo (23-3)
4. River Dell (26-1)
5. Bogota (28-3)
6. NV/Demarest (18-6)
7. Wayne Valley (24-6)
8. Clifton (19-5)
9. Tenafly (23-7)
10. Paramus (15-8)
11. Fair Lawn (20-11)
12. Ridgewood (12-9)
13. Pascack Hills (20-5)
14. Rutherford (20-8)
15. Leonia (23-2)
16. Dwight-Englewood (20-5)
17. Kinnelon (23-5)
18. Wood-Ridge (22-3)
19. Northern Highlands (14-14)
20. Harrison (15-11)
(Records from 2016 season)
Around the divisions
Colonial Division
Sophomore Molly Boonstra is the top hitter for Eastern Christian (4-17). Senior MB Tiffany Martin will help keep the Eagles consistent as they work in two freshman setters.
After winning the inaugural NJIC Tournament, Elmwood Park (17-7) returns five senior starters for 10th-year coach Elke Voigt. Setter Taqwa Ali (367 assists), hitters Nicole Tofil (96 kills, 46 aces) and Alyssa Barrios and middles Charelle (31 blocks) and Chantel Charles lead the way.
Garfield (19-11) has 35 girls in the program to help it reload after reaching the NJIC Tournament final. Middles Paulina Ziarno, Mirza Gomez and Dominique Wiktorowski look to pick up the offensive slack for coach Jason Jones, who is three wins away from 200.
Glen Rock (21-5) shared last season’s Colonial title with Rutherford and advanced to the Group 1 semifinals by defeating their division rival. This year, the Panthers turn to captains Elvira Makk Frid, Alex Long and Jen Szawluk to lead the reloading effort.
Hawthorne (15-9) graduated “go-to” player Hannah Frascella and must work as a team to produce offense, per coach Laura Mazzacca. Senior DS Emily Adair (team-high 71 aces) leads the defense and serving.
Alumna Paula Redmon is the new coach at Mary Help (2-17) and hopes to surprise some teams with six returning seniors. Briana San Diego (L), Gabriela Almanzar (S/OH) and Emma Manzella (S) are the captains.
Athleticism is a key strength for Rutherford, particularly with the return of sophomore Jenna Rogers (OH), the Group 2 high jump champ. Fourth-year starting setter Anna DeCesare (402 assists in 2016) will distribute the ball to Rogers, Catherine Laza and a host of other hitters.
Manchester (5-12) and Lodi (4-12) comprise the rest of the division.
Meadowlands Division
Becton (6-18) faces a rebuilding year, as only two senior regulars return. Yaren Ummak (OH/S) and Justina Cabezas (MB) will help a young team to mature.
In its fourth varsity season, Hasbrouck Heights (14-11) is coming off back-to-back winning campaigns. Senior OH Kassie Ketcho and opposite Catherine Castellanos were 2016 all-division selections.
Second-year coach Joe Cioffi and North Arlington (10-18) will rely on seven seniors, including All-Meadowlands second-teamer Julia Lukaszewicz (OH/MB).
At Saddle Brook, Sandra Frazier succeeds coach Orleans Sarmiento for a second time (the first was for the 2011 season). Graduation took much of last year’s 22-5 team, and seniors Kelly Conroy (MB), Taralyn Taylor (S) and Alexis Lobue (Opp.) will try to help the Falcons regroup.
St. Mary (11-13) has enough returning to climb above .500 and make a run at the state tournament. New setter Megan Walsh will work with senior hitters Tiffany Fasano (6-foot-3 middle) and Emilee Ferreira (O/M), among others.
Wood-Ridge shared the division title a year ago and could win it outright this season. Among the six returning players, Madylin Marino and Ashley Gareffa are key hitters, and Casey Schulz (OH/S) and Ciilez DaCosta (MB) bring hitting and blocking to the table. Lauren Asedillo (L) leads the defense.
Immaculate Conception (14-10) and Wallington (9-15) will battle to stay in the top half of the division. Weehawken (4-20) and Paterson Charter (0-19) aim to improve.
Liberty Division
Bergen Charter must go back to the drawing board after an 0-19 campaign.
Dwight-Englewood looks to challenge for the division title thanks to the presence of the Leak sisters, Autumn (junior) and Audrey (sophomore), at OH. Jayna Waldman (S), Rose Feng (Opp.) and Linda Chen (L) are the other returning starters.
Harrison appears to be primed for a breakthrough after consecutive 15-11 seasons. Aside from graduated top hitter Maria Barreto, the entire Blue Tide lineup is back, including S Madison Lucas (263 assists), OH Chelsea Ramos (84 kills), opposite Kierrah Lucas (83 kills) and L Alyssa DaSilveira (179 digs).
Although Leonia may have trouble matching last season’s 23 wins, the 2016 Liberty champs remain competitive. Among those returning are OH Leah Higgins (80 kills), S Michelle Barosso and opposite Sabrina Yi, all seniors, and junior DS Yumi Higuchi (126 digs).
Lyndhurst (11-13) graduated 13 seniors and has two returning members of the Class of 2018. Melis Akman hits on the outside and Giovanna Pollicino is in the middle.
New Milford (11-15) has one returning starter, senior middle Kristen Bevacqua, and three others with varsity experience: OH Liz Akbulut, middle Allie Schmertz and setter Sam Speights.
Ridgefield (8-12) looks to get back to .500 with senior MB Jackie Lara (85 kills, 44 aces) and junior DS Ali Baric (160 digs, 22 aces).
Secaucus (16-11) is a perennial division and state contender and should be right in the hunt again thanks to some talented juniors. S Amanda Ulrich (273 assists), MB Gabby Pimentel (104 blocks), hitters Payton Intindola (122 kills) and Alex Ianuale (93 kills) and DS Jessie Gohde (98 digs) all return.
Patriot Division
Bogota, winner of six of the past seven Group 1 titles, will have a more diversified offense following the graduation of Record Player of the Year Samantha Gioiosa. Senior L Lisbeth Suarez (296 digs) is the Bucs’ on-court leader alongside classmates Anna Granquist (DS), Jaelyn Grullon (MB) and Alexa Siri (DS).
Cresskill (14-8) finished third in the division a year ago, and senior S Jenna Alvarez gives the offense an experienced distributor.
Third-year coach Victoria Corso must find a new setter at Emerson (10-11). The good news for the Cavos is that four-year starters Julia Botvinov (MB), Samantha DeStefano (OH) and Raquel Guevarra (OH) are back.
Nicole Tienken is the new coach for Hawthorne Christian (4-16). She inherits a large senior class featuring Adriana Bayron, Maria Klimik, Mikeala Hamlet, Hannah Hagedorn and Lauren Sorrentino.
Midland Park (17-9) welcomes its fourth coach in five seasons. Jason Becker, last year’s JV coach, and the Panthers will contention for the division title led by returnees Hannah Douma (S), Sophia Hansen (MB), Caity Ullmer (OH), and Gillian Luberoff (MB).
Park Ridge will try to move up from fourth in the division behind junior L Madison Kelly (433 digs, 96 aces) and junior OH/MB Ashley Ziltz (190 kills), who played a strong second half in 2016 after transferring from IHA.
Waldwick (6-17), Saddle River Day (3-14) and Palisades Park (0-19) seek to emerge from rebuilding mode and progress as the season goes along.
