CN volley team serving up aces
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
The Colts Neck girls volleyball team has found another way to defeat teams this year. They are serving teams off the court.

CHRIS KELLY staff Colts Neck High School's Christen Papasso sets the ball for a spike during a home game against Long Branch on Sept. 26.

"This is the best serving team I've ever had," said Cougar coach Glenn Jansen. "Five of six can all serve."

Christina Kantonides has led the way with 41 aces in the team's first nine matches. Megan Morton's jump serve can pulverize teams.

The Cougars have been getting nearly half their points a game from aces or service winners that goes a long way toward explaining the team's 8-1 record. Their serving has allowed them to get on serious runs that have broken matches up for them.

In winning the last two Shore Conference A North titles, the Cougars hammer teams with big hitters up front. That hasn't changed. SeniorKarissaHerrick is providing that control of the net. In a pair of straight-set wins (Red Bank Regional and Toms River East), she totaled 15 kills and three blocks.

"She's our go-to girl," said Jansen.

Herrick is one of 10 seniors on this very experienced Cougar team that is committed to capturing a third consecutive division title.

Setter Christen Papasso, middle hitter Cassie Lewski, opposite hitter Morgan, outside hitter Kantonides, the Libero, Avery Wager, Alexa Mazurkiewicz, Rosa Micho and Kara Petrou are the core of seniors who have post 22-6, 22-7 records over the last two years.

Junior Kirsten Corley and Alexa Michos are the underclassmen having the biggest impact. Corley is a setter. She has had as many as 18 assists in one game and she has contributes her share of aces. Michos has given Colts Neck two solid Libero defensive players.

Marin Bernstein and Alex Sussman, also juniors, are part of the team's rotation.

"This is one of the best group of girls I've coached," said Jansen. "They're playing for each other. They rally around each other.

"The seniors are great leaders," he added.

Colts Neck always goes to the Moorestown Tournament the first weekend of the season as a warm-up. This year, the tourney took on added importance because the day before the tourney senior captain Sam Shaw, a four-year starter, was hurt in an automobile accident that will prevent her from playing this year. The Cougars not only miss her experience but her career 214 aces.

"We needed it [tournament] to see who would step up," noted Jansen. "We did very well. It answered a lot of questions."

One of the players who stepped up for Jansen was sophomore Caitlin Schullstrom.

Last week, the Cougars ran their A North winning streak over their last three years to 32 straight. They were 6-0 in division play.

Howell, which won five of its first nine matches, is rebounding nicely from last fall's five-win season.

Senior Heather Tallman and juniors Gabrielle Sebastian and Julie Kerr provide the experience. Sophomores Amanda Ferraro and Loredana Geminangi are playing important roles.

In their recent three-set win over Marlboro, Kerr had 16 assists, two kills and a pair of aces. Sebastian had 10 kills and two aces in the win while Ferraro added four kills. Geminangi, the team's top server, delivered nine aces.

Coach Todd Going has two freshmen, Samantha Payne and Kathryn Causey, who part of the team's rotation.

Freehold Borough is positioning itself for a run at the state playoffs. The Colonials are 4-4 after losing to Howell, 2-0, and beating Marlboro, 2-1 (25-22, 17-25, 25-13).

Coach Jen Bruzucki has a team that has a nice balance between veterans and freshmen.

Amanda Brennan, Amanda Matthews, Lauren Trulli and Zara Zweber are the seniors who were part of last fall's 7-9 squad. Rounding out the returnees are Delaney Frost, Kristen Frosh, Daphne Bistromvich, Gabrielle Cuzzolino and Melanie Devorin.

Freshman Maggie Preston has given the Colonials a lift with her play. In the Colonials victory over Marlboro, Preston had three kills and a trio aces.

Matthews had four kills and three aces and Brennan had five kills and three aces.

The Colonials aren't relying on any one big hitter on the line, but getting the kills and blocks from a number of players.

At Marlboro, Margie McNamara is very pleased that her Mustangs won half of their first six matches. She has only two seniors on a team that is predominately freshmen and sophomores.

What the Mustangs have displayed to McNamara's delight is "resolve."

"They do have the drive, they are competitors," he said. "They come to play and win.

"They are a nice group of girls who work hard," she added.

Senior captain Carly Moss, an outside hitter, is responsible for some of that resolve along with Danielle Edwards, the other senior on the team.

Sophomore Emily Lutewitte, the team's middle hitter, is the emotional leader on the court.

Setter Rebecca Newman and Rachael Vosey are the only other returnees from '07.

A newcomer, Eliana Messasalma, has been a very big help with her defensive talents and her passing.

Jackie Rizzo, the libero, is yet another underclassman that has been contributing as is Courtney Thomir.

"Every game we've been getting better and better," said McNamara.