Top Performers from Round 1 of State

<p>These girls have been waiting all year for this moment to play in the State Tournament. The games were played at a high level and the girls performed admirably. However, some of the girls took their games to another level and stood out. Let’s take a look at some of the top performers from Round 1!</p> <p>Julianna Lavner (Wayne Valley)</p> <p>Many did not know what to expect from Lavner as she sprained her ankle three days before their first round match against a team who has been a perennial power in Old Tappan. She decided to give it a go and the team got off to a rough start. However, she took over to rally from a set down. She finished with 17 kills and 3 blocks. </p> <p>Alisa Vukovic (West Windsor-Plainsboro South)</p> <p>Vukovic sometimes flies under the radar on West Windsor as she sometimes is not highlighted due to the deep talent West Windsor-Plainsboro South. In the first round, she made a name for herself. She was all over the court with a live arm and excellent passing. She finished with 11 kills and 30 digs in a 2 set victory. She was unquestionably the best player on the court. </p> <p>Jacklyn Neusner (Randolph)</p> <p>Neusner is the catalyst for Randolph. The entire offense runs through her as the setter. She needed to be great and she was as Randolph advanced in a three set victory over Montclair. She had 31 assists and 8 digs. She easily could have had more! It was a perfect passing performance from her to help Randolph move on. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="128486" first="Isabella" last="O’Neill"] (Hawthorne)</p> <p>O'Neill has been the focal point for Hawthorne and for them to go far. She would have to carry the squad. She did so in Round 1 with 15 kills and 11 digs. Her versatility is what makes her an excellent opposite. Her live arm will be there and she has a solid serve that sometimes goes unnoticed so watch out. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="99842" first="Veronica" last="Tikhomirova"] (Barnegat)</p> <p>Tikhomirova delivered for Barnegat like she has her entire career. She did everything she could for the squad to advance. Her serve was the crucial component to her game in their first round victory. She had team highs in kills (11), aces (11) and digs (4). If the wicked serve continues, who knows how far Barnegat can go. </p> <p>Vicky Huang (Morris Tech)</p> <p>Lastly, we have Vicky Huang. Huang was all over the court for Morris Tech in their two-set victory. Her quick first step and court position allowed her fly around the court and record 24 digs. She even threw in a couple aces for good measure. </p>