Takeaways from Week 1 of the High School Season

<p>Week 1 has come and gone! Many teams made their fall season debuts and the volleyball did not disappoint. There were thrillers, upsets, top matchups and more. So let’s take a look some of the biggest takeaways from Week 1 of the season. </p> <p><strong>If you want to Be the Best, You have to Beat Immaculate Heart</strong></p> <p>Just after Week 1, we can already tell that if you want to be the best this season, you will have to beat Immaculate Heart. Immaculate Heart is the top team in a majority of the NJ sites including our Prep Dig Rankings. And in a matchup of their top contender, Bogota, the team was dominant in a 2-0 victory (25-15, 25-15). [player_tooltip player_id="99886" first="Brookelyn" last="Talmadge"], expected by many to be one of the best players in the state this season, performed up to expectations. The middle blocker tallied 10 kills and four blocks to lead IHA to victory.</p> <p>Many times you would not get this matchup until the postseason and we got it as a team opener. Bogota won’t be going unbeaten this time around and Immaculate Heart looks poised for another run at a championship. </p> <p><strong>The Parody Begins</strong></p> <p>What we love in high school volleyball is the parody and how for the most part, anyone can be beaten on any given day. It did not take long as several top teams were upset in Week 1 including a powerhouse!</p> <p>Brick Memorial went out and rallied to upend No. 3 Southern in a three-set thriller. [player_tooltip player_id="99872" first="Kate" last="Stoughton"], a verbal beach volleyball commit to California State University Long Beach, recorded team highs of 16 kills, 10 digs and five aces to propel Brick Memorial to the win. She was the best player on the court and was feeling it. All Brick had to do was to ensure they got her the ball. </p> <p>Lenape upended Cherokee in a tight, three-set match. Cherokee has gotten off to a rough start but Lenape has raised some eyebrows with their depth. The team is spreading the ball around and making it difficult for opposing teams with 5-6 players who can rack up kills. </p> <p><strong>Players Showcasing Their True Potential</strong></p> <p>The top players stepped up and showed out this week. Let’s take a look at some of the top performances. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="128499" first="Olivia" last="Cammalleri"] put on a passing display, recording 22 assists in a win against Wayne Valley. [player_tooltip player_id="128675" first="Sarah" last="Wilcock"] re-entered the high school season after opting out in the spring with an all-around game of 5 kills, 6 digs and 9 assists against Sparta. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id="128494" first="Nathaly" last="Flores"] has had 22 kills through two games with her live arm. </p> <p>We already talked about Talmadge and Stoughton. This season is going to be electric!</p>