West Morris Mendham Girls Volleyball Team Works On Defending State And County Titles

MENDHAM, NJ ― The West Morris Mendham girls volleyball team is seeking another state title and to defend its county tournament championship this season, and so far, the squad is headed in the right direction.

The team is currently 5-2 and ranked No. 12 in the state. Last season, it finished with a 12-4 record and the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 championship. The team won the Group 3 tournament championship and advanced to the championship round of the Tournament of Champions in 2019. It also won the Morris County Tournament championship in 2019, the last time the county tournament was held.

“The team’s goal is to win the Morris County Tournament and Group 2 state tournament,” said head coach Greg Racz, explaining that the school is now classified as a Group 2 school as opposed to Group 3. “The team will be 5-2 heading into the weekend with the two losses both coming from division rivals and two of New Jersey’s Top 10 teams, No. 4 Sparta and No. 6 Roxbury. Both losses were decided in three sets.”

So far this season, Mendham advanced to the championship match of both the Jersey Classic Tournament in Paramus, falling to No. 1-ranked Immaculate Heart Academy, and the Bloomfield Invitational, falling to No. 9-ranked East Brunswick. All of the team’s victories were decided in two sets.

Several players have been leading the team.

“The team’s offense has mainly come through the balanced attack of outside hitters Ania Trzesniowski and Poppy Skjonnemand, middle blocker Annibelle Ernst, and setter Sarah Wilcock,” Racz said. “All four players are within 10 kills of each other for the team lead. The defense is led by the passing of libero Chloe Czop and defensive specialist Brittany Giles.”

The team has nine returning players and consists of eight seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. Only three players do not have prior varsity experience.

“Poppy Skjonnemand and Gabby David are the team’s senior captains and third-year varsity players,” Racz said. “Sarah Wilcock returns from Mendham’s 2019 Morris County champion and Group 3 state champion team. She sat out last season, which was moved from the fall to spring, to play beach volleyball and is committed to play Division I beach volleyball for Texas Christian University. Katie Webber was the team’s primary setter last season and helps run the team’s offense along with Sarah.”

The team has found success despite facing adversity.

“The season has once again been altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, although not as dramatically as last season,” Racz said. “With a return to fall play and a more regular schedule, the season requires a great deal of endurance starting with team camp in early August and hopefully culminating with a return to the Tournament of Champions toward the end of November.”

Mendham will host the “Dig Pink” game against Madison on Oct. 6 at Mendham High School with the junior varsity game starting at 4 p.m. and the varsity game following.

“The team will be raising money to support cancer research and honoring those who have battled cancer,” Racz said.

This is Racz’s second year as Mendham’s head coach. He previously coached the JV team from 2017-2019 and was a varsity assistant from 2013-2016. He has also coached the girls volleyball team at Mendham Township Middle School since 2016.

Mendham is scheduled to play Pope John this afternoon at 4 p.m. The team is set to face Livingston on Saturday; Randolph on Sept. 27; Jefferson on Sept. 28; Sparta on Oct. 1; Kinnelon on Oct. 4; Madison on Oct. 6; West Morris Central on Oct. 8; Morristown on Oct. 12; Montville on Oct. 14; Mount Olive on Oct. 20; Hunterdon Central on Oct. 22; Mountain Lakes on Oct. 25; Roxbury on Oct. 27; and Pope John on Oct. 28.