OCEAN CITY – Moving up from a junior varsity program to varsity this fall, the Ocean City High School girls volleyball team will be facing tougher competition and a tougher schedule, but the players and coaches can’t wait.
Red Raider volleyball was new at OCHS last fall, but it attracted a large turnout for an abbreviated junior varsity season. The district elevated it to varsity in 2023, which means they are in for quite a change.
“It’s been an adjustment for sure. We definitely know we are going to see a lot more competition this year with our varsity and junior varsity,” said head coach Jill Garza, who helmed the team in its inaugural season last year.
The girls were scrimmaging Kingsway last week to give them a better idea what the competition will be like moving forward, she said.
“When we scrimmaged Triton Regional on Monday we definitely noticed the difference between their freshman team and their JV team and their varsity teams. There will be more competition this year, for sure,” Garza said.
Last year even seniors embraced the program knowing they wouldn’t get the chance to play varsity and a range of girls from all grades came out to play.
Garza said most of the girls from last year’s JV team are back.
“We had 44 try out this year which is about 10 more than last year so we did have to make some cuts this year,” she said. “We feel pretty good about our team. The girls are still really excited.”
The team leaders this fall are “definitely our seniors,” the coach said, naming three varsity starters – Rebekah Long, Marlie Chiarello and Lily Robert. She made a point of keeping the juniors from last year who returned.
“We did decide, because we have a loyalty to our seniors, we didn’t cut any seniors so we have a couple who decided to play JV and one decided to be a manager. We kept all of our seniors this year so it’s nice.”
The Red Raider volleyball team will have about 20 matches this year.
“We had eight JV matches last year so 20 varsity this year is a lot,” Garza said, which means more rigorous training this season.
“We actually have some weeks where we have three matches in a week so we’re going to have less practice days, so that will be difficult,” she said. “I feel the more they play the better they get. I think it will be great for them.”
Jen Dean is the JV coach this season and Jen Carey will be the freshman/novice coach.
Garza’s seniors are all excited about what is ahead.
“I was here last year,” Chiarello said. “The team is great. I love the community, everyone is so supportive and it’s a great sport to play.”
I have enjoyed volleyball from a young age and I joined last year,” Skylar Cohen said.
“It’s really fun to play and everyone here is so supportive and so much fun to be around,” Melany Cruz said. “And it’s just great.”
“I love the coaches,” Robert said. “They’re really supportive and they help you grow as a player. And everyone is so supportive of each other.”
“Last year I had a lot of fun and I really liked the team and made a lot of friends and I wanted to see them again,” Tayton Heap added.
“I love the team, I love the coaches and these girls are my best friends,” Long said.
The girls’ first varsity match is at 5:15 p.m. Friday at Hammonton. They are home at 11:30 a.m. Saturday against Egg Harbor Township and again at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Middle Township. They are at Mainland at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
