By: Guy Kipp
The Monroe Township High School girls volleyball program enters its second season of existence, but its first as a full-fledged varsity program.
With more than 30 girls trying out for the team this year, coach Susan Winfree is encouraged with the enthusiasm within the school. And, although Monroe lost its first varsity match, 25-12, 25-16, to South Plainfield on Tuesday, there were enough positive signs to fuel some optimism for this fall.
Setter Rachel Friedrich, the only senior starter on the team, is one of those signs.
"Rachel played for us last year," Winfree said. "She’s a solid setter and server. She also has some skill as an outside hitter."
Joining Friedrich in the starting lineup are three juniors and two sophomores, with 11th-graders Kim Allegro and Brooke Klag filling the roles of co-captain. With so much youth on a first-year varsity team, Winfree continues to teach and seek improvement each day.
"Unfortunately," the coach said, "at Monroe, there is no feeder system and no traveling program. The only exposure they get to the sport in middle school is really in gym class. We are getting them as freshmen and then starting from there."
Nonetheless, the coach feels her starting six is a group that shows a balance of skills and complements one another well.
"Our junior right back, Radha Shah, is our number one server," Winfree said. "She’s very consistent and powerful, and she is good under pressure."
Shah came through with two aces in the opener against South Plainfield.
Sophomores Elaina Hansen and Amy Kalbach round out the starting lineup. Hansen is an outside hitter and Kalbach a front setter.
Seniors Monica Kupczak, at left back, and Sydney Normil, at right back, juniors Kim Gregor and Brianna Malvone, sophomore Kathleen Ruotolo and freshman Meghan Williams should also see playing time.
Malvone, an outside hitter, had three assists and two kills against South Plainfield while Ruotolo chipped in with two assists.
"We’ll be doing fundraising this year to help send players to camps this summer to further develop and refine their individual and team skills," Winfree said. "We may also implement a summer clinic for younger players through the rec program in Monroe."

