Programs to Watch Spring 2021: Sparta
Sparta had a great 2019 season having made it to the semifinal round of the NJSIAA tournament. They’re losing a whopping 8 seniors, namely setters Morgan Saulys and Brooke Serovich, middle blocker Liv Bouma-Hannam, and DS Kate Esso. They have…
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Continue ReadingSparta had a great 2019 season having made it to the semifinal round of the NJSIAA tournament. They’re losing a whopping 8 seniors, namely setters Morgan Saulys and Brooke Serovich, middle blocker Liv Bouma-Hannam, and DS Kate Esso. They have a ton of hitters returning: outside Mackenzie Wiggins Mackenzie Wiggins 5'11" | OH Sparta | 2021 State NJ , right side Martina Foy, outside Alexis Smernoff, middle blocker Brynn McCurry, and middle blocker Daniella Abbastante.
Mackenzie Wiggins Mackenzie Wiggins 5'11" | OH Sparta | 2021 State NJ dominates the court offensively. She earned 403 kills and 66 aces in her 2019 season. She stunned us with 20 blocks and 11 assists, nodding to her excellent ball and body control, and 257 digs. I’ve seen her play in person up close as a spectator and across the net during the season. One thing I can say is that she makes everything she does look easy and natural. She moves around the back row with grace and can convert almost any ball into an offensive swing. It’s no wonder she was the number one option to run last season. I don’t anticipate that this will change for the spring.
However, the young Alexis Smernoff will be giving her a run for her money there. This sophomore plays a very similar game to Wiggins. Similarly graceful and strong, Smernoff is a powerful outside who displays remarkable athleticism on every play. As a freshman last season she earned 96 kills, 16 blocks, 75 digs, and 35 kills. These two power outsides will be such a strong balance on the court, stifling their opposing teams offensively without any mercy to be had. If I were the Sparta coach, I’d look to her as the one to fill Wiggins’ shoes after she graduates, because she already so closely resembles her style of play.
Right in line with them both is returning senior Martina Foy. She’s a big right side with a strong block and killer swing as well. This will be her third year on the varsity squad, so we can expect that her comfort with this level of play will carry over into the shortened spring season. At 5’11” she has a long reach at the net to block and a great angle to swing from. She didn’t have much opportunity to shine last season, so she only showed up with 72 kills, but her 17 blocks, 25 digs, and 20 assists are impressive. I’ve been keeping up with her in the offseason where she plays travel alongside Wiggins and I can tell she is going to bring a renowned ferocity and versatility to this upcoming high school season.
These hitters will also be rejoined by senior libero Jordan Aschenbach. For how strong her defense is, she spent a great deal of last season playing right side for the squad. Bigger hitters are coming up that can take that spot so she can go back to the back row. It is quite notable that she was so consistent all the way around that the coaches converted her to a right side and still saw such great success with her. It will be thrilling to see how she rolls back into her libero spot.
With all of their setting personnel having graduated, they appear to have all these big hitting options no way to use them. Luckily, the younger sister of Alexis, Emily Smernoff, is a 6’1” setter/right side joining the squad as a freshman this year. With her long arms, she’ll be able to shut down most any outside hitter and put up a big wall for the middles. When she gets into the groove, she hits balls straight down, too. She’s a competent setter and Sparta’s strong defense should make it even easier for her. Where she really shines is behind the service line. I’ve had the honor of receiving a few of her standing floats, or should I say trying to receive. She’s young and a little timid, but she is strong. With some more coaching and experience, she will be absolutely lethal for the future of this program.