Central Regional Boys Volleyball Team Goes 8-0 in Shore Conference This Season

Central Regional junior Nick Monguso never played competitive volleyball before a year ago, never really thought about it until  he joined the school’s fledgling volleyball team.

But the outside hitter has been a catalyst for the Golden Eagles’ quick ascent in only their second year of existence, the first in league competition.

The team went 8-0 in Shore Conference A Central and made it to the NJSIAA Tournament. They lost the tourney opener in Washington Township in southwestern New Jersey.

They also reached the Shore Conference Tournament, losing the opener to a seasoned and battle-tested Christian Brothers Academy. Central Regional finished an impressive 10-8.

"Actually, I’m very surprised with what we did," Monguso said. "We played volleyball through (last) summer and winter. We have very good coaches who taught us how to play. We have a good group of kids and we all know each other."

And Monguso has learned fast. He had a .459 hitting average, which rates him high in the Shore area.

"It’s like a baseball player with a .459 batting average," coach Jeff Mangold said. "That’s how impressive that is." 

At six feet, four inches, Monguso, who also plays for the school’s boys soccer team, cuts an intimidating image at the nets as an outside hitter. And his play helped as the team’s weak link in many losing games was its passing game, he said.

"I had to play good for us to win," Monguso said. "Overall, I did not have a bad game. I helped us get a good chance to win."

The Golden Eagles won home-and-home division matches against Manchester, Lacey, Monsignor Donovan and Barnegat. But they had a tough loss to Toms River East and a two frustrating ones against Red Bank Catholic — going to three games in its season opener and losing two close games the second time they played.

Only two senior starters have graduated - setter Nick Salvemini and middle blocker Danny Tarabocchia. Another senior, Dylan Meelheim, also graduated.

"He’s 6-7 and I wish we had him a year earlier to work with him," Mangold said.

"We’re losing two starters but we can replace that with the talent coming up," Monguso said.

A solid cast will return next season, including  junior Schyler Jaworowski, who led the team in kills and digs, although not by much. This team was well-balanced and did not rack up big numbers.

"We didn’t have one guy we went to all the time for kills," Mangold said.

Junior hitters Cody Ertle in the middle and Ambrose Powell outside will also be back, along with libero Chris Penta. Juniors John Edler at setter and Brandon Bellomy as middle.

The team showed good chemistry throughout the season, which helped it win matches, Mangold said.

"The key was their drive to want to play volleyball," he said. "They loved to compete. They wanted to get better."

Mangold hopes that will carry over to the junior varsity that went 6-9 and also had a well-balanced squad. Two of them — sophomores Casey Breitenbach as a libero and John Seaton as an outside hitter — came up late in the season. Paul Golden, their coach will not be back next season. He's seeking a full-time teaching position and none are available at Central Regional.

The Golden Eagles hope to be playing in a tournament again next season.

 "I’d rather go into tournaments like that and against (strong) teams out of conference that make us better," Mangold said. "That’s where we want to be. That’s where we want the guys to be playing."

While many will play on their own over the summer, Mangold is relaxing a bit before returning to the courts in August to begin preparing his Central Regional girls team.

"We’re going to be good," he said. "We’re athletic and tall. I think we’ll do okay."

 Outside hitters Ashley Bernath, a junior, Rachel Iozzia, a sophomore, are back. Both played on the girls basketball team that enjoyed its best season in 20 years, going unbeaten in the division.

Bernath was in the NJSIAA outdoor Meet of Champions in the triple jump for the girls track and field team. Taylor Robertozzi, a junior setter, and junior middle hitter Michelle Iozzia — Rachel’s older sister — are back. Kelly Solan, a junior setter, also returns.

Unlike the boys team, the girls team did not use a libero because no player was defensively strong enough for that specialist position, Mangold said.

"Our passing has to be better for next season," said Mangold as his players are looking into summer volleyball camps. "If you can’t pass the ball, you can’t win."