3 More Big Programs to Watch Spring 2021

<p><b>Immaculate Heart Academy</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Immaculate Heart, known as IHA, is consistently one of the top programs in New Jersey year after year. This team won the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions the last three seasons in a row and seven times over the last decade. As an all-girls, private prep school, IHA has the ability to draw in new talent from all over, which often gives the program an advantage over public schools. However, it would be unfair to not acknowledge the masterful coaching that the staff, headed by Maria Nolan, has displayed. Seven players have graduated, but hotshots like [player_tooltip player_id="99886" first="Brookelyn" last="Talmadge"] ‘23, </span><a href="https://highschoolsports.nj.com/player/gianna-grigalunas/girlsvolleyball/season/2019-2020"><span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="99820" first="Gianna" last="Grigaliunas"]</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ‘21, and </span><a href="https://highschoolsports.nj.com/player/olivia-coughlin/girlsvolleyball/season/2019-2020"><span style="font-weight: 400;">[player_tooltip player_id="99810" first="Olivia" last="Coughlin"]</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ‘21 are returning to defend their champion title. Read more on IHA </span><a href="https://prepdig.com/2020/12/defending-their-title-immaculate-heart/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><b>Old Tappan</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Old Tappan High School finished the 2019 - 2020 season as County Champs for Bergen County. With an overall record of 22-3, Old Tappan left little room for error. Their three losses were to Northern Highlands and Immaculate Heart, whom they later beat both 2-1, and Mendham in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champs. The loss of libero </span><b>Gianna Fasano</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and defensive specialists </span><b>Gianna Sabatini </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><b>Isabella Wong</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> appears to prove a threat for Old Tappan's defense, but returners like </span><b>Emma Illovosky</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>Carly Powell</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><b>Sofia Colon</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are eager and willing to fill in the gaps. Read more on Old Tappan </span><a href="https://prepdig.com/2020/12/what-to-expect-from-old-tappan/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><b>Williamstown</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Williamstown High School girls volleyball finished last season 30-3 overall: only losing to Union Catholic in an out-of-conference match, North Hunterdon whom they defeated later in the final round of the NJSIAA tournament, and Mendham who went on to take on IHA in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions one round later. Key athletes like pin hitter </span><b>Lilyanna Martucci</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, setter </span><b>Isabella Tamburrino</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, libero </span><b>Summer Wroniuk</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and outside hitter </span><b>Nina Alcaro</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> were instrumental in their success. Now that they've graduated, the program will rely on the returning underclassmen and juniors to continue the legacy. Read more on Williamstown </span><a href="https://prepdig.com/2021/01/williamstowns-four-big-returners/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>