This year’s girls volleyball team set an example of sportsmanship, hard work, and determination.

With an extremely impressive 31-1 record, and earning Division, County, Sectional and Group 1 Championship titles, they are the most successful volleyball team in VHS history.

Captain Madisyn Mathews says she “could not be any more proud of my team. We worked so hard every day in practice to achieve these goals, and we did. I am so happy that this was my senior year because this was honestly the most amazing season we could have had. Our team was so close this year, enabling us to work so much better as a team.”

With  topping the success of the 2016 team as its goal, this year’s team had huge expectations. The 2016 team was the first Verona team to win the Super Essex Conference American Division, the first Verona team to win a county championship since 1981, and the first time any VHS volleyball team was ranked on the NJ.com Top 20.  Last year’s team was 32-2.

This year’s team reached all those goals, and added a new one.  Their tremendous season and Group 1 championship earned them a berth, as the fourth seed, in the state’s Tournament of Champions, next to notoriously talented  teams like Immaculate Heart Academy and Old Tappan High School. The VHS team beat Old Tappan 2-1 in the first round of the tournament of Champions, but saw their season end when they suffered their first loss of the year to Immaculate Heart, the number-one team in the state

Ending the season on a loss is always difficult, but several members of the team focused more on the success throughout the year, rather than how the season ended.

“I’d like to thank my teammates for being so supportive throughout the season,” said senior captain Cammy Fuentez. Besides skill and practice, a key component to a successful team is working together and having each other’s backs, which the 2017 Volleyball team seemed to have mastered.  Captain Carly Waterman said

“We had such an incredible season this year and I am so proud of every member on this team,” said senior captain Carly Waterman said. “We worked super hard every day in practice and we definitely learned the importance of sticking together. These past four years were absolutely amazing and to finish this year with so many titles made it even more special. I’m so happy I got to be a part of such a great team and even better family.”

So what does the 2018 season hold for the Verona High School Girls Volleyball team? I guess we will have to wait and see!