Champion volleyball team blocks to the top

Libero Jannah Khalil jumps to powerfully serve the ball.

BY ZOE CHIN AND MICHELLE LAM

The girls volleyball team currently holds an impressive 32-1 record. They secured a win in the Central Jersey Group IV Final to set up a rematch with Williamstown, the team that knocked them out of the NJSIAA Tournament last year and the only team to beat them this season.

The team won the GMC Tournament Championship on October 25 by defeating Mother Seton in straight sets, outscoring them 50-11. “The emotions were very high in the locker room regarding our GMC win, but we are not letting that get into our heads because we have other goals in mind that we want to achieve,” said captain Weronika Malinowski, who had 19 kills in the tournament.

Winning the GMC Championship created a full rush of happiness and excitement. It showed their efforts and dedication paid off. “We all celebrated as a family, and it will be a memory we all hold forever,” said senior Dylanie Canzano.

On November 11, the girls crushed Hunterdon Central 3-0 at the 2025 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final round to advance on to the 2025 Girls Volleyball championship semifinal round. “We’ve put so much work in this season as a team, and we are very proud to see it working in our results,” said Ashley Markle, who leads the team with 352 kills. “Although the sectional win feels very nice, we still are working extra hard towards being group 4 state champions this year.”

Captain Weronika Malinowski squats down and digs the volleyball to her teammates.

In a one-day tournament on October 11, the Knights suffered their first loss of the season against Williamstown. The game turned into an intense showdown from start to finish. They lost the first set, came back to win the second, and lost the third with both losses ending 23-25. “We knew we had to bounce back fast after Williamstown because that same day we had to play Princeton,” said sophomore Tatum Jones.

The team could not let that affect them for their upcoming matches. “We had to have that next game mentality and note we couldn’t do anything about a game that already finished, but what we could do was focus on the next one and work hard to come out with that win,” said Jones.

The girls came back to defeat Princeton in a tough match, moving them up to the number two ranking in the state. “Princeton is an amazing team and it’s always a game we look forward to. I feel we truly worked as a team to be able to achieve such a big win and I’m extremely proud of us,” said Canzano.

Izabela Morgan rises above the net to spike the volleyball.

Throughout the season, the team showed incredible teamwork, supporting each other through every challenge. “We would always have each other’s backs when we would have rough days individually,” said Jannah Khalil.

Strong leadership from the upper classmen and captains guides and supports the underclassmen. “I share my mistakes, so they don’t have to go through them and can be even more successful,” said Malinowski. “I try my best to include and make the underclassmen feel comfortable and supported.”

The girls gear up for their November 13 rematch against Williamstown to advance to the NJSIAA Group 4 Finals on November 15. “They are a very good team with great coaching staff, and we have a lot of respect for them. We have been waiting for this game for the whole season, so we have been preparing all year for this,” said Markle. “As long as we control our side and stay confident, I feel very good.”