Feehan, Matthews lead All-District volleyball

Led by Howell High School's successful defense of its Shore Conference A North Division championship, boys volleyball in the Freehold Regional High School District enjoyed unprecedented success in 2009.

Coach Jim Huebner's Howell Rebels were once again the top team on the court, capturing the A North title for the third consecutive year. In postseason action, the Rebels won two state tournament matches and advanced to the round of 16 in the NJSIAA South-Central Group IV competition for the first time.

The Rebels were eliminated by the eventual state champion, Southern Regional High School. The Rebels were 18-6 and were ranked No. 15 in the state.

Coach Glenn Jansen's Colts Neck High School Cougars pushed Howell to the final match of the season before coming up short in the A North race. The Shore Conference Tournament was held for the first time this spring and the Cougars advanced to the final four. The Cougars went 18-13 and were ranked No. 16 in the state.

Coach Margie McNamara's Marlboro High School Mustangs had their finest season. The Mustangs' 13-8 record was the best ever at Marlboro, and for the first time the Mustangs won a state tournament match.

In fact, all three state tournament qualifiers — Howell, Colts Neck and Marlboro — won at least one state tournament match for the first time since volleyball became a varsity sport in the FRHSD.

The quality of play displayed by the area's three teams speaks volumes for the overall talent in the area and the future of the sport. The News Transcript's 2009 All- Freehold Regional High School District Boys Volleyball Team reflects that talent, as the area had some of the finest players in the Shore Conference and in the state.

Leading the team are Adam Feehan and Chris Katona of Howell, and Alistair Matthews of Colts Neck, three seniors who are no strangers to the All-FRHSD squad. Joining them on the All-FRHSD team are Tom Sum of Howell, Dan Rosenthal and Brian Heller of Marlboro, and Justin Smith and Bobby Von Schaack of Colts Neck.

As a tandem at the net, Feehan and Katona were unmatched. Behind every five- or six-point run the Rebels went on, it was a kill or a block by one of those two players that usually instigated the streak.

The net play of Feehan and Katona energized their teammates, and as four-year players they brought experience with their talent. They took Howell volleyball to its greatest heights and have set the bar high for those who will follow.

Feehan, the team's go-to player, had 174 kills and a team-high 73 blocks. The middle hitter served up 20 aces, made 91 digs and had 13 assists. He ranked among the Shore Conference leaders in all categories and was arguably as good an all-around player as there was in the conference.

Katona, an outside hitter, led the team in kills with 192 and added 44 blocks and a team-high 110 digs.

With Feehan and Katona, the Rebels knew they had things under control at the net, but in order to win another championship they needed someone who would step up and be the playmaker. That player was Sum, whose 460 assists are proof of what kind of distributor he was, ranked third in the Shore Conference. The Rebels' setter led the team with 29 aces and found the time to come up with 51 blocks and 35 kills.

Matthews enjoyed a great four-year career at Colts Neck. The Cougars were among the Shore Conference's best teams each year with Matthews at opposite hitter. Every Colts Neck opponent developed its game plan against the Cougars with an eye toward Matthews.

Matthews had another outstanding season, ranking high in every statistical category in the Shore Conference. He dominated play at the net, leading the conference in kills (334). He also came up with 98 digs, 31 assists and 41 service aces. He did it all for the Cougars.

The Cougars' Van Schaack ranks among the best hitters in the conference and his play at the net kept opponents from focusing all of their attention on Matthews. Van Schaack, a senior outside hitter, had 58 blocks and was second to Matthews in the conference with 246 kills. He contributed to the offense with 20 aces.

Smith, a senior, was in the middle of it all for Colts Neck. The Cougars' senior setter led the conference in assists (616) and got his teammates involved in the action. He delivered 40 service aces this season.

Rosenthal and Heller were Marlboro's co-captains and they led the Mustangs by example and by their play on the court. Rosenthal was the Mustangs' finisher. He had more than 120 kills on the season, ranking among the leaders in the Shore Conference. He also had 44 digs.

Heller was the team's playmaker and recorded more than 300 assists and 57 digs, ranking among the conference leaders in those categories.

FRHSD athletes who earned honorable mention recognition for their play during the 2009 volleyball season are Eric Sollenberger of Colts Neck High School; Mike O'Loughlin and Andrew Acconzo of Howell High School; and Matt Shassol and Ben Shassol of Marlboro High School.