WEEK 3 TOP 10

Thanks to Charlie Ginex for the photo (East Brunswick's Sameer Sood, the tournament MVP, passes the ball during the Bears Invitational.)

By Fred Siegle

Not many changes here from last week. But some more big matches this week - St. Josephs at East Brunswick today, and both those teams along with Moorestown at Southern on Saturday in a quad match could bring a shakeup next week.

1. EAST BRUNSWICK (8-0). Preseason ranking: 2; last week: 1. The Bears had a relatively uneventful week since the last ranking with wins over Bridgewater, South Brunswick, and West Windsor Plainsboro-South. They also went 13-1 in games as they won their Bears Invitational on Saturday. First real test of the season is Tuesday when they host St. Joseph.

2. Southern (13-0). Preseason ranking: 3; last week: 2. The Rams won their Shore Conference rivalry match with CBA last Monday. Now they can look forward to their big quad on Saturday when they host the No. 1, 3, and 9 teams.

3. St. Josephs (9-1). Preseason ranking: 1; last week: 3. The Falcons continued their ambitous schedule on Monday with a win over No. 5 Fair Lawn. They've already played six of the top 10 teams and will add East Brunswick (twice) and Moorestown this week. Coach Miguel Cabrita has invited Bayonne, the only other top 10 team the Falcons haven't played, to the Super Six Showcase (May 12). The other invitees: Fair Lawn, East Brunswick, Southern and Moorestown.

4. Old Bridge (5-2). Preseason ranking: 4; last week: 4. The Knights reached the semifinals at the Bears Invitational on Saturday, losing in one game to St. Joes. they had compiled a 7-5 record in pool play at the event.


5. Fair Lawn (7-1). Preseason ranking: 5; last week: 5. The Cutters suffered their first loss of the season against St. Joseph on Monday. They'll get another chance against the Falcons at the Super Six Showcase on May 12, when they'll also play East Brunswick, Southern and Moorestown. They reached the final at the Clifton Tournament on Saturday, losing to North Pocono of Pennsylvania.

6. CBA (8-3). Preseason ranking: 7; last week: 6. The Colts' only losses have been to No. 2 Southern (twice) and No. 3 St. Joes. The reached the semifinals at the Clifton Tournament on Saturday, going 6-2 in pool play, and beating Livingston in a 1-game playoff. They lost to North Pocono of Pennsylvania in semis. Brendan Corley was named to the all-tournament team.

7. Bayonne (10-0). Preseason ranking: 8; last week: 8. The Bees won their battle for supremacy in Hudson County with a 25-18, 19-25, 26-24 victory over St. Peters last Thursday. The two teams meet again on May 10 at St. Peters. This weekend, they'll be at the Livingston Tournament.

8. St. Peters (9-4). Preseason ranking: 6; last week: 7. The Marauders drop another notch after the loss to Bayonne, but aren't likely to fall any further in the foreseeable future. They won their pool with a 7-1 record at the Clifton Tournament.

9. Moorestown (6-0). Preseason ranking: 9; last week: 9. The Quakers are the only school in the 18-team Olympic Conference without a loss. They beat Eastern and Washington Township last week, and also captured the title at the Collingswood Classic on Saturday.

10. Bridgewater-Raritan (6-1). Preseason rank: unranked (teams to watch); last week: teams to watch. There's no shame in a loss to East Brunswick. The Panthers beat a quality team in Hillsborough last Thursday. While they barely made the state playoffs last year, Bridgewater seems to be cruising toward the postseason now.

Teams to watch: Clifton (still unbeaten and host Old Bridge on Friday); Livingston (beat Vernon last Friday); Williamstown (knocked Eastern from the unbeaten ranks last Wednesday); Bridgewater-Raritan (beat Hillsborough in a 3-setter last week); Eastern (still a talented team despite back-to-back losses to Williamstown and Moorestown.)

(edited on 4/24 to reflect loss by South Brunswick (to West Windsor South) last week that I hadn't taken into account - Fred).