The post-season accolades are rolling in for girls playing for the Allegro volleyball club following the 2007 high school season.
Leading the way was Angelika Kopacz, a senior from Rutherford, who plays for the Allegro 18-National team, along with players from the state-title winning Immaculate Heart high school team who joined Allegro this year. Kopacz and Andrea Nolan (18 National)of Immaculate Heart were named first-team All-State by the Star Ledger.
Kopacz, who led Rutherford to a 25-2 record, also was named the North Jersey player of the year by the Bergen Record, and was selected to the Star Ledger's All-Group II and All-Bergen teams.
"All the hard work at practice, playing year-round, paid off,'' said Angelika, who hopes to continue playing in college at either Rutgers University or Siena College. "Our high school team had a great year, we couldn't ask for more.''
Three Allegro 18-National players - Nolan, Michelle Sempkowski of East Brunswick, and Casey Larson of Livingston - were named player of the year for the county by the Star Ledger.
Larson, Ariel Scott (16-National) of Immaculate Heart, and Megan Knott (16 National) of Caldwell were named to the All-State Second Team by the Star Ledger, while Emily Carson (17-National) was named to the All-State Third Team.
Allegro practices started last week at PowerZone, so the girls are now putting the high school season behind them and concentrating on club.
"I'm really excited about club,'' Angelika said. "I think we're so much better than we were last year. Everyone's improved so much, and we're just going to keep on getting better. It's going to be a real good season.''
Other Allegro players earning honors:
ALL GROUP
Group 2
First Team: Angelika Kopacz, Rutherford - Megan Knott, Caldwell - Emily Carson, Caldwell
Second Team: Megan Maher, Wood-Ridge
Third Team: Amethyst Holder, Parsippany
Group 3
First Team: Casey Larsen, Livingston
Third Team: Samantha Savite, West Morris Central
Group 4
First Team: Michelle Sempkowski, East Brunswick
Second Team Paulina Zawistowska, Bayonne
All Non-Public
First Team: Andrea Nolan, Immaculate Heart - Ariel Scott, Immaculate Heart
Leah Cerf, Montclair Kimberley
Second Team: Laura Garbarino, Immaculate Heart
Third Team: Kathleen Oroho, Pope John - Blair Bell, Montclair Kimberley
All Prep
Third Team: Olivia Glassman, Rutgers Prep
The Star-Ledger Girls Volleyball All-Area
ALL-BERGEN
First Team: Andrea Nolan, Immaculate Heart - Angelika Kopacz, Rutherford
Second Team: Ariel Scott, Immaculate Heart - Megan Maher, Wood-Ridge
ALL-ESSEX
First Team: Casey Larsen, Livingston - Emily Carson, Caldwell - Megan Knott, Caldwell
Leah Cerf, Montclair Kimberley
Second Team: Casey Tepper, Livingston - Blair Bell, Montclair Kimberley
Third Team: Alyson Popola, Caldwell - Kaitlyn Marrero, Nutley
ALL-HUDSON
First Team: Paulina Zawistowska, Bayonne
ALL-MIDDLESEX
First Team: Michelle Sempkowski, East Brunswick - Allanah Miller, East Brunswick
ALL-MORRIS
First Team: Amethyst Holder, Parsippany - Amber Mosher, Mount Olive
Second Team: Samantha Savite, West Morris Central - Bella Galvez, Parsippany Hills
Third Team: Hannah Ensel, Mount Olive - Alicia Capparucci, Hanover Park - Kaylee Monga, Morris Knolls
ALL-PASSAIC
First Team: Stephanie Warner, Passaic Valley
Second Team: Jamie Kievit, Wayne Valley
Third Team: Brittany Newman, Wayne Valley - Deanna DeWitt, DePaul.
