Final 2018 Group 1 rankings
1-Bogota (24-6)
2-Verona (26-4)
3-Cresskill (18-8)
4-Leonia (15-9)
5-New Providence (22-6)
6-Delaware Valley (17-5)
7-Kinnelon (15-11)
8-Secaucus (20-9)
9-Wood-Ridge (20-4)
10-Midland Park (14-8)
FAVORITE TO WIN IN 2019
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
Bogota celebrates a point in the 2018 Group 1 final.
Bogota (Last year: 24-6)
Aside from a rough 4-4 stretch in early October, Bogota was able to roll to a Group 1 title last fall. Despite losing some key pieces in Alyssa Vazquez, Brianna Lozano and Leila Ksiyer, the Buccaneers still have all the pieces to repeat as Group 1 champs.
Nylene Mateo led the team in kills a year ago with 294 and will do so once again in 2019. A new wrinkle coach Brad DiRupo will toss in this season is transitioning Julianne Corniel from an outside hitter to a libero. That’ll open a spot on the outside for Kiara Polanco, who had 42 kills in her sophomore season. Corniel will help lead a very strong defensive group, especially in the back row.
This team has a subtle mix of veterans and youth, but nearly every player – minus the incoming freshmen – have played in very meaningful November games in their career, which will help down the road.
CONTENDERS
Kinnelon (Last year: 15-11)
The Colts seemingly flipped a switch after a six-game losing skid from late September to early October. After starting 5-9, the team went 10-2 down the stretch before bowing out to Bogota in the Group 1 semis, 25-12, 25-21.
This year’s squad returns 10 seniors, seven of which are starters. Allison Sienicki had a breakout year in 2018 and will once again be the team’s go-to hitter and sister Ashley Sienicki will be the team’s other outside.
Emma Yetman and Sydney Agnello form a terrific duo of middles and combined for 230 kills and 53 blocks a year ago. With the experience, leadership and skill this team possesses, a lengthy run in the state playoffs would not be a surprise.
Verona (Last year: 26-4)
Verona reached the Group 1 final for the third consecutive season but dropped a heartbreaker to Bogota 25-13, 25-20.
The Hillbillies lost a lot of big pieces to graduation, including Hunter Coppola, Brooke Cooney and Nicolette Marino. A very young group will slot in to try and keep the run of consecutive appearances in the Group final intact.
Kelly Waterman will run the offense once again, which should help the new faces find their game. The senior setter notched 499 assists last season. Jessie Loudon will take on the full-time libero role after gaining valuable experience last season.
Wood-Ridge (Last year: 24-4)
Wood-Ridge enters the season with quite a chip on its shoulder after getting knocked out by New Providence in the second round of the state tournament last fall as a No. 4 seed.
The team did lose setter Ashley Gareffa and DS Bella Nieves between then and now but their go-to player in Madylin Marino is back. Marino notched 200 kills as a junior and should be able to meet and surpass that.
Most of the rest of the group will feature seniors that played on a JV team that went undefeated last season.
The defense will be the key for this team along with getting the newer girls up to speed early to help build confidence.
Leonia (Last year: 15-9)
Leonia jumped out to a 6-6 record in the 2018 season but went 9-3 the rest of the way, ultimately losing to New Providence in the Group 1 quarterfinals in three sets.
This year’s group returns its co-leader in kills, Grace Kim, who had 116 in 2018. The Lions do lose Jenna Khansa but Ashley Anderson should slide in nicely after a 62-kill, 33-ace junior season. Chantel Turbi is also back to fortify the middle spot after picking up 33 kills and 22 blocks last fall.
The defense has been a heavy focus in preseason so far, which will help down the road in late October and November but this is a team that will no doubt be competitive at the conference and state levels.
Brian Bobal may be reached at bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Brian on Twitter @BrianBobalHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.
Final 2018 Group 2 rankings
1-Demarest (21-5)
2-River Dell (17-5)
3-Rutherford (29-2)
4-Pinelands (27-3)
5-Pascack Hills (18-6)
6-Ramsey (16-7)
7-Madison (20-6)
8-Wall (18-10)
9-Mahwah (13-12)
10-Hackettstown (20-8)
FAVORITE IN 2019
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
Rutherford’s Jenna Rogers hits the ball in 2018.
Rutherford (Last year: 29-2)
The Group 2 runner up from a season ago is another team looking for payback once it hits the court. The Bulldogs won their first 22 games in 2018 before dropping a three-setter to Dwight-Englewood.
That loss in the Group 2 final, the team’s first-ever trip there, came against Demarest in a heartbreaking 25-13, 25-9 match.
Jenna Rogers was the driving force behind the team last season and it will be the same story once again. Her 428 kills led the state and she failed to reach double-digit kills in just five of 31 matches. She’s one of the most electric hitters in the state and can win a game on her own if needed.
Erin Augusterfer will supply some added offensive punch and setter Mia Capobianco will get them the ball every chance she gets
Final 2018 Non-Public rankings
1-Immaculate Heart (39-1)
2-Dwight-Englewood (23-3)
3-Union Catholic (26-4)
4-Hudson Catholic (27-3)
5-Donovan Catholic (21-4)
6-Mount St. Dominic (25-7)
7-Mother Seton (21-3)
8-Holy Angels (16-9)
9-Pope John (20-6)
10-St. John Vianney (16-10)
FAVORITE IN 2019
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
Immaculate Heart’s Anna Morris (18) celebrates a point scored during a game against Union Catholic on Nov. 10, 2018, in the NJSIAA Non-Public final at William Patterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
Immaculate Heart (Last year: 39-1)
It’s tough to go against the two-time reigning Tournament of Champions winners. The Blue Eagles have won an unheard-of 67 consecutive matches against New Jersey opponents and they will be the favorites until that streak comes to an end.
The 2018 Player of the Year Anna Morris is back and has a very solid chance at repeating that honor. Morris was second in the state in kills with 381 and could very well have pushed over 450 if needed but she shared a lot of the load with Sydney Taylor and Elizabeth Patterson.
Morris is also dynamic at the net with 110 blocks and excelled as a six-rotation player last fall.
Patterson is a lock as a breakout candidate and should blow past 200 kills. Junior Alyssa Lowther had 108 kills and 27 blocks of her own. Expect her to take on a bigger role as well.
Olivia Coughlin and Maeve Duffin were a formidable duo setting and running the offense last season, combining for 949 assists.
This is the most complete team in the state and has a good chance of winning the Tournament of Champions once again.
CONTENDERS
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Dwight-Englewood celebrates a point in 2018.
Dwight-Englewood (Last year: 23-3)
Dwight-Englewood would’ve been 23-0 had it not have played Immaculate Heart three times last season. Those three matches were arguably some of the best of the entire 2018 season with the one in the middle being a three-set thriller in the Bergen County Tournament semifinals.
Graduation claimed outside hitter Autumn Leak, setter Jayna Waldman and libero Linda Chen. Leak had 209 kills and 91 assists, Waldman had 412 assists and Chen had 245 digs.
