Conference Preview: Olympic
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The day we have waited for as finally arrived. It’s the opening week of the girls high school season and Day 1 has come and gone with high quality volleyball. So let’s keep the conference previews rolling with the Olympic. …
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Continue ReadingThe day we have waited for as finally arrived. It’s the opening week of the girls high school season and Day 1 has come and gone with high quality volleyball. So let’s keep the conference previews rolling with the Olympic. The Olympic may be on the smaller side due to number of teams but that does not mean there is a lack of talent. Let’s took at the favorites, dark horses and players to watch.
Last Season
In the spring, there was a battle for the top spot between five squads all within a game of each other in the loss column. Some may say that lack of games or too many games ruined their chances of having the best winning percentage in conference play due to COVID. Shawnee finished with the highest percentage but that does not mean there was not success for other squads. As Shawnee and Paul VI were sectional champs too while Cherokee came up just short against Southern.
Favorites
Shawnee
The predicament for Shawnee is a real one as they have lost 90 percent of their players who recorded stats in the spring. Who remains? Only one of the top outside hitters in the state in Mia Moscicki Mia Moscicki OH Shawnee | 2022 State NJ . The team will be relying on her heavily on and off the court. The team does bring in plenty of upperclassmen this season but the team will go as far as she can take them.
Paul VI
Another squad who had a successful spring campaign was Paul VI who were sectional champions. The team loses their critical partnership at setter but their core of hitters return to make things difficult. If the team has a setter who can fill in those shoes, they will be right there at the end of the season.
Dark Horses
Cherokee
A team with a significant rebuild is Cherokee. The team thrived as a senior heavy squad with a couple young talents to make it to a sectional final. This season is for those young stars to step into bigger roles as leaders. The talent is not in question but will they be resilient when they are struggling to find their game. All of their losses were in three-sets so getting out to fast starts will be crucial.
Washington Township
Lastly, we have a surprise squad in Washington Township. They had a solid spring campaign but the most important part is that their entire core group is coming back. The team is dangerous at all positions and have loads of young talent. They may be another year away but if this team clicks to start the season, I believe they will be contenders this season.
Players to Watch
Mia Moscicki Mia Moscicki OH Shawnee | 2022 State NJ (Shawnee; OH)
Taylor Bartrum Taylor Bartrum OH Cherokee | 2024 State NJ (Cherokee; OH)
Zharia Harris-Waddy Zharia Harris-Waddy 6'0" | MB Paul VI | 2023 State NJ (Paul VI; MB)
Nina Cleary Nina Cleary S Washington Township | 2024 State NJ (Washington Township; S)
Ava Rankin (Lenape; MB)
Wyette Schubert-Brown (Sencea; OH)
Bella Craig Bella Craig 5'3" | DS/L Camden Catholic | 2022 State NJ (Camden Catholic; L)