Teams to Watch Out for in 2021: Verona

<p>         We’re inching closer to the opportunity of having volleyball this spring as we have transitioned into 2021! These girls’ opportunity to play the game they love is starting to become a reality. There are teams with a great chance to have monster seasons’ who came up just short in 2019. One team to watch out for is Verona. </p> <p>              Verona was a good team last year with plenty of depth and gave everyone playing time to be able to showcase their ability. Yes, the squad was led by some seniors like defensive specialist Sloan Lawless and setter Kelly Waterman.  This team has plenty of depth with a majority of their core returning. Verona can be a team to be on the look out to challenge for the SEC.  This presents a grand opportunity for them to improve off of 21-9 record. </p> <p>              The team is bringing back some outstanding talent and have the potential for a something special. The squad finished third in their division behind Millburn and Caldwell. Then finishing with the sixth best record overall. The team was successful in postseason play by losing to the semifinals in the Essex County Tournament to Millburn. Then, in the NJSIAA tournament, Verona lost to Kinnelon in the semifinals of the Group 1 tournament. </p> [caption id="attachment_125099" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-125099" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/01/Ashley-Duhaney-300x218.png" alt="" width="300" height="218" /> Photo: <a href="https://njpowerranking.com/2020/10/01/senior-ashley-duhaney-powers-veronas-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Jersey Power Ranking</a>[/caption] <p> Some players to look out for are [player_tooltip player_id="99855" first="Ashley" last="Duhaney"], Megan Meehan and Patricia Rokava. This team is going to be looking for Duhaney to build off of her sophomore season where she had 171 kills, 47 blocks and 48 digs. She was lethal and her athleticism on offense and defense make her difficult for opposing teams to prepare for. She's a force to be reckon with in the middle. </p> <p>Meehan was not one who wen unnoticed either by having a solid junior year. She will be looked upon as the vocal leader for guidance. As an outside hitter, she finished with 120 kills and 182 digs. Her ability to create angles is what makes her a solid outside. </p> <p>Lastly, Patricia Rakova was one who saw play right away as a freshman and made an immediate impact. She was the final component of the three-headed monster on Verona. This presented an opportunity for the team to be lethal on all parts of the court. She had a solid year with 137 kills and 37 digs. Watch out for her to build upon that for not just this year but the next couple years. </p> <p>              My concern for Verona will be able to replace Waterman at setter. Waterman was the main passer on the squad and it will be intriguing to see how the position is filled. If so, Verona will be right there in the conference because they have all the pieces around that position. </p> <p>                  This is a squad that has 11 players returning which will allow them to be right there. Don’t be surprised if this team is right in their in the conference. Can they defeat Millburn or Caldwell? Only time will tell but they will have the ability to do so. </p>