NJIC teams to see (Content by Greg Tartaglia / Record Sports Department)
The North Jersey Interscholastic Conference features at least two teams that have designs on contending for state titles in Bogota (reigning Group 1 champ) and Rutherford (2018 Group 2 runner-up).
Dwight-Englewood graduated Autumn Leak (UPenn) from a team that reached last year’s Bergen County semifinals and welcomes new coach Tyler Singh, so it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs respond. As for the NJIC tournament, Wood-Ridge seeks to defend its title with four-year letter winner Madylin Marino leading the way. Among the coaches approaching career milestones: Andrea Marino of Wood-Ridge is 26 wins away from 500;
players to watch
Julianne Corniel, Bogota senior libero
Corniel was integral in the Bucs winning their seventh Group 1 state title this decade. After logging 172 kills, 148 digs and 46 aces at outside hitter, she changes spots to fill a need on defense.
Audrey Leak, Dwight-Englewood senior OH
Leak helped the Bulldogs to the best season in program history, which included the NJIC Liberty Division title, last fall. She tallied team-highs in kills (288) and aces (79) and has committed to Yale.
Jenna Rogers, Rutherford senior middle
Rogers brings championship high-jumping skills to the volleyball court, where she led North Jersey with 428 kills a year ago. She added 80 blocks for a squad that has sights set on another Group 2 final.
Preseason Top 20 rankings
- Immaculate Heart (39-1)
- NV/Old Tappan (23-4)
- NV/Demarest (21-5)
- Bogota (24-6)
- Rutherford (29-2)
- River Dell (17-5)
- Dwight-Englewood (23-3)
- Wayne Valley (22-5)
- Holy Angels (16-9)
- Tenafly (18-7)
- Pascack Hills (18-6)
- Ridgewood (23-4)
- Northern Highlands (22-9)
- Ramapo (11-10)
- Wood-Ridge (24-4)
- Passaic Tech (24-5)
- Ramsey (16-7)
- Indian Hills (11-12)
- Glen Rock (16-10)
- Leonia (15-9)
