Women's Volleyball

Rowan Predicted to Repeat as NJAC Women's Volleyball Champions

PITMAN --- Following an undefeated run through last year’s regular season schedule and the conference tournament, Rowan was predicted to repeat as NJAC Women’s Volleyball champions. The preseason poll voting was conducted among the league’s nine head coaches.
 
Montclair State, last season’s runner up, garned a first-place vote and is predicted second. Stockton picked up two first place votes and was predicted third overall. Kean comes in at No. 4, followed by Rutgers-Camden in fifth. William Paterson – predicted sixth – was voted this year’s dark horse team to watch. Ramapo (7), NJCU (8), and Rutgers-Newark (9) round out the poll.
 
The Profs return all but one from that NCAA qualifying squad, including a trio of all-conference honorees. Senior libero Simone Sparano was the NJAC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year last season after leading all conference players with 5.04 digs per set. She is joined by all-conference selections in senior outside hitter Natalie Ogden and sophomore setter Brooke Adams. Adams led all NJAC players with 9.83 assists per set in her rookie season and was second in the conference in total aces (64) and third in aces per set (0.53). Ogden returns after ranking third in the conference last year with 3.46 kills per set and was also among the top 10 in hitting percentage. Head Coach Deana Jespersen welcomes a strong group of newcomers as well, including Jena Kaul (Metuchen/CJVA), Vanessa Hutchinson (Upper Merion (PA)) and Kelly Hector (Watchung Hills).
 
Montclair State will once again be in contention for a conference title, as a trio of senior captains return to lead a very strong Red Hawk squad that is hungry after coming within a serve of last year’s conference title. Reigning NJAC Player of the Year Delaney St. Pierre is back, and is joined by four-time all-conference honorees in senior outside hitters Carly Waterman and Leah Higgins. St. Pierre, a two-time all-conference pick, was third in the NJAC last year with 9.15 assists per set and was among the top 10 in aces. Waterman ranked in the top 10 in the NJAC last year in points per set (5th; 3.80), kills per set (6th; 3.19), and hitting percentage (10th; .231). Higgins was also among the NJAC’s top 15 in kills per set (2.71), points per set (3.09) and hitting percentage. Head Coach Eddie Stawinski welcomes a solid group of newcomers, including Division I transfer Skye Ramsey (Delaware State) along with Emma Hatcher (Land O’Lakes (FL)), Addi Castles (Wando (SC)), and Mia Capriglione (Roxbury).
 
Stockton, always in the mix for a conference title, returns a solid group including all-conference honorees Emma Capriglione and Haley Green. Capriglione is the leading returning scorer and looks to step up following the graduation of Charlotte Leon. She was among the top 15 in the NJAC last season in kills per set (2.62) and points per set (3.02). Green was among Stockton’s top last season with 2.45 kills and 2.59 points per set. They are joined by sophomore middle hitter Teleyah Witherspoon, who was Stockton’s top blocker as a rookie last year and ranked seventh among all NJAC players with 86 total blocks (0.74/set). Head Coach Allison Walker also welcomes a group of rookies looking to make an immediate impact, inicludiing Kate Louer (Clifton), Camille De La Torre (Hempfield (PA)), and Regan Mendick (Red Lion Christian (DE)).
 
Kean brings back a solid core to a team that expects to be competitive. Sophomore Anne Beckemeyer, a Second Team All-Conference honoree in her rookie season, returns along with junior outside hitter Ashley Smith and senior outside hitter Morgan Hall. Beckemeyer was the NJAC’s leading blocker last season with 1.05 blocks per set. She was also top 5 in hitting percentage (.264) and top 15 in both points per set (3.22) and kills per set (2.41). Smith was also top 10 in the NJAC last year with 2.75 kills per set and was 11th with 3.20 points per set. Hall chipped in 2.10 points per set along with 54 total blocks and 34 aces last year. With a deep roster, Head Coach Don Perkins is excited for the potential of his team and is looking for one or two to step up as the go-to/clutch scorer for the Cougars. He also welcomes a pair of out-of-state players hoping to make an immediate impact including Aspen O’Brien (McHenry West (IL)) and Aubreanna Adams (Chugiak (Anchorage, AK)).
 
Rutgers-Camden will field an experienced squad this season with two fifth-year returners in Brinn Hassan and Morgan Fox, along with junior Isabella Choice. Fox, an NJAC Second Team libero last season, ranked fourth among all conference players with 4.00 digs per set and was 12th in aces per set (0.42/44 total). Hassan ranked in the top 10 in the NJAC in both aces per set (3rd; 0.50) and assists per set (6th; 8.36). She also contributed 2.08 digs per set last year. Choice, a middle hitter, was among the top 20 in the conference in four categories. She had the fourth-highest hitting percentage in the NJAC last year (.291) and amassed 78 blocks to rank eighth in the conference. She is the leading returning scorer with 2.24 kills and 2.98 points per set last year). Head Coach David Gurst welcomes a handful of newcomers vying for immediate time, including transfer Peyton McGregor (Drew) along with Ciera McCrae (Southmoore (OK)), Bella Craig (Camden Catholic), and Sophia LaPorta (Atlantic Co. Tech).
 
William Paterson, picked sixth overall and chosen as this year’s dark horse selection, is poised to surprise which Head Coach Kevin Rodgers considers the Pioneers’ greatest strength. He brings in over 10 new players this year, led by transfers Eliana Lamb (Manhattanville) and Paola Molina (Coffeyville CC). They look to gel with a group of returners led by senior middle blocker/outsite hitter Kathleen Burrough, sophomore defensive specialist Ciara Feliz, and right side hitter Beatriz Soares. Burrough ranked among the NJAC’s top 20 in four categories last year including aces (11th; 0.47/set), digs (17th; 2.91/set), points (19th; 2.77/set), and kills (20th; 2.11/set).
 
Ramapo brings back a balanced group with strong leadership from its returners, which include senior middle blocker Caleigh Golabek, senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Stephanie Ross, and sophomore middle blocker/right side Riley Stewart. Golabek posted the NJAC’s second-highest hitting percentage last year (.302) and was sixth in the conference with 0.61 acess per set (49 total). She also chipped in 2.81 points and 0.68 blocks per set to rank among the top 20 in the NJAC. Ross is Ramapo’s leading returning scooper after posting 3.53 digs per set last year to rank in the top 10 in the conference. Stewart gained valuable experience as a rookie last year, and returns after ranking among the top 15 in the conference with 51 blocks (0.65/set). Head Coach Rob Pichardo also welcomes a strong group of newcomers, including  setter Katie Bishop (Stuttgart, Germany) and right side hitter Ashley Kish (Jefferson Twp.)
 
NJCU brings back a very strong core from last year as Head Coach Jourdan Robinson’s Gothic Knights look to improve in conference play. The squad is headlined by seniors Paola Toledo and Leah Seickendick along with sophomore Rachael Pharo. Toledo is the leading returning scorer after putting up 3.06 kills and 3.32 points per set, both of which ranked her among the NJAC’s top 10 last season. She was also eighth in the NJAC with a .246 hitting percentage. Seickendick, a middle blocker, was fourth among all NJAC players last year with 72 blocks (0.87 per set) and was also among the top 20 in hitting percentage. Pharo made an immediate splash in her rookie season last year as the outside hitter was among the top 15 in the NJAC in kills (2.63/set) and points (3.04/set) while adding 2.54 digs per set.
 
Rounding out the preseason predictions is Rutgers-Newark, which is undergoing a transition year as men’s head coach Aidan Albrecht is serving as the interim for the women’s team upon the departure of Megan Knott. Albrecht will look to returning leaders Alexa Rivera and Saniyiah Richardson to pace the Scarlet Raiders. Rivera is the leading returning scorer, ranking among the NJAC’s top 25 in points (2.52/set) and kills (2.00/set) last year. She was also ninth in the NJAC last year with 3.56 digs per set. Richardson is the leading returning scooper, as her 3.79 digs per set last year ranked sixth in the NJAC. Rookies Jackie Rosario (Donald Payne Tech) and Aliyah Sanchez (Bloomfield) join the Scarlet Raiders this season looking to make an immediate impact.
 
The 2022 women’s volleyball season tips off on Thursday, Sept. 1, as Ramapo and William Paterson hit the road for their season openers. The remainder open over Labor Day weekend at various tournaments.
 
2022 NJAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll (first place votes in parentheses)
1. Rowan (6)
2. Montclair State (1)
3. Stockton (2)
4. Kean
5. Rutgers-Camden
6. William Paterson (dark horse)
7. Ramapo
8. NJCU
9. Rutgers-Newark