Volleyball Star Jet Manzi Carries a Strong Team

The Marlboro High School girls volleyball team has gotten off to a fast start in 2011 behind their junior leader Jet Manzi.

But if it was not for a key decision in sixth grade, none of this would have happened.

“I used to do gymnastics and I quit when I was in 6^th grade and there was great devastation in my family,” Manzi said. “So I figured I had to do something. So I picked volleyball and I started [playing] and I loved it.”

Manzi said nothing specifically attracted her to volleyball, but the pure sport of it was enticing.

“Actually, I don’t really know,” she responds with a laugh. “I think I just needed to play something and my friend played volleyball and I said ‘Oh, I’ll try it.’”

The rest is history.

Manzi is the focal point of this Mustangs team, which is 7-1 through Thursday’s games.

So far this season she has amassed 40 service aces, 81 kills, and 107 assists. She is also the vocal leader in the huddle, making sure, for example, that her fellow Mustangs stay focused.

“We need to fix when we get the scrappy stuff coming over the net,” she said about the style of play in those games. “We have to work on making it better and not freaking out when we hit the ball.”

Marlboro High School head coach Marge McNamara said Manzi is the player to watch.

“Jet Manzi,” McNamara said with authority. “She’s a junior. She’s one of the [Star Ledger’s] top 25 players in the state. Last year she was the top sophomore volleyball player in the state.”

Manzi is fairly reserved about those preseason accolades, giving a simple “I’m very flattered” response when asked about her appearance on the top players list.

Even though Manzi is only 5 foot 7 inches, she loves a part of the game usually reserved for taller players.

“I love hitting. Even though I’m short and I probably won’t be able to hit in college, that’s my favorite part.”

Manzi said she would ideally like a full scholarship somewhere, but for now her focus right now is squarely on this season and helping this team accomplish their lofty goals.

“I definitely want to win the [Class ‘A’ North] division and I know we can win the division. And also Shore Conference is a big thing. I want to win the Shore Conference," she said.

If Marlboro does win the Shore Conference, it is safe to say that Jet Manzi will be in the middle of it all.