Jaguars’ girls aim for return to volleyball tournaments

By WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Correspondent

Jenna Kwiecinski, like her older sisters — accomplished surfers Jessica and Casey — is spending a lot of time on the beach this summer.

But it’s not for surfing or even some recreation and sun tanning. It’s to play some serious beach volleyball as she gets ready for the upcoming varsity girls volleyball season at Jackson Memorial High School.

“She has played a lot of beach volleyball this summer and is a good all-around player,” coach Rich Ranney said of the rising senior middle hitter who also has shown a knack for defense and serving, as well as blocking and hitting.

Kwiecinski also developed those skills playing club volleyball along with rising senior outside hitter Nicole Leonardt.

“I’m looking for her to be a little more consistent this season,” Ranney said of Leonardt.

They will anchor a team that is looking to get back into tournament play after missing both the NJSIAA and Shore Conference tournaments for one of the rare times in the team’s history last season. Jackson Memorial just missed qualifying for both tournaments in a 10-9 season, winning its last three matches.

They’ll look to lead a team hit hard by graduation of key players, including setter Gianna Perez, middle hitter and blocker Yulia Myrovych and hitter Caroline Szczkowska. Perez has gone on to Villanova University on an academic scholarship but does not expect to play volleyball there, while Myrovych is headed to the Air Force Academy.

There is good budding talent eager to step up for Ranney and new varsity assistant Jackie Volpe, who played volleyball at Marlboro High School and Manhattan College.

“We have girls who played a lot for junior varsity and a little on varsity level,” Ranney said. “We have some seniors who are looking to work their way onto varsity.”

Sarah Bagley, a spot starter last season entering her senior year, is a versatile player who can handle setting and hitting. Gianna Bollaro, a senior, saw spot time on varsity last season and is projected as an outside hitter.

Other rising seniors who could earn significant varsity playing time are Camille Garcia, a setter who played mostly on junior varsity last season, and hitters Tyrah Andrews and Johanna Williams.

But there are some younger players who Ranney said he will also count on when practices officially begin in a few weeks, particularly Erin Migneto, a 5-foot-11 rising sophomore who Ranney said is very instinctive around the net as a middle blocker.

Also included in a strong sophomore class is hitter Alexis Fryc, Ranney said.

Shannon Asta and Gionna Longhigano lead the way among the players entering their junior year this fall. “Whoever demonstrates the most on the floor [will get consideration],” Ranney said. “It could be game to game or week to week. But it’s not a bad situation.” Depth could be an asset in the event of injuries or any player struggling on a given day of what Ranney, and his players hope will be a long season going deep into tournament play.