Maggie Carcillo and Megan Evans are enjoying a fresh start together.
Carcillo transferred in from Pennsylvania this fall, and Evans missed most of last season with a severe injury, so both Paul VI High School sophomores were basically starting the 2023 volleyball season off in the same boat. Both were looking to make a contribution to one of the most successful programs in New Jersey, while not disrupting the chemistry that was already in place. After a 19-win regular season, it’s safe to say the Eagles are gliding as smoothly as ever.
“I already knew all the players, so it was pretty easy to make friends and connect with them,” said Carcillo, who plays club with Jersey Juniors Volleyball in Cherry Hill. As such, she was already familiar with three club teammates who also play at Paul VI, including Evans, Kam Wertz and London Jackson – all sophomores.
Blending in with the older students can sometimes be tricky, but not at Paul VI, where the Eagles practice hard, but spend a lot of time bonding off the court, too.
“Outside of school, we all hang out together, whether it’s a pasta party or bowling. We all connect very well,” Carcillo said. In the process, Evans and Carcillo became best friends, too, which wasn’t difficult since they share a lot of the same classes.
Evans’ high school volleyball career had the roughest of starts, as she broke her ankle in her first game last year. She returned to play just a handful of games at the end of the season.
“It was horrible,” Evans said. “And right after [the season], I tore my meniscus, so the whole year I was dealing with injuries and trying to come back from them.”
Now healthy, Evans remembered how her nerves were settled leading up to her freshman debut thanks to a welcoming group of experienced players. She had zero worries heading into year two while playing catch up.
“All the seniors last year were very welcoming,” Evans said. “The program here at the school is just amazing, … and we try to do the most team bonding that we can to bring us more together, especially as we’re getting further along in the playoffs.”
Carcillo and Evans are a big reason for the team’s success. Evans, a powerful outside hitter, is second on the team in kills (116) behind senior Emily Ezeiruaku (140) through Nov. 5. She has also contributed 49 digs and 41 aces. Carcillo, a hybrid who can both hit and set, checks all the boxes with 105 kills, 67 digs and 209 assists. She leads the team with 64 aces.
“Maggie has been really good,” Paul VI coach Dan Chung said. “She fits right in with everyone. The kids know they have to compete year in and year out – and every single day. There’s a lot of talent here.”
Paul VI won the Non-Public A state championship in 2021 and finished with a 28-3 record. Last year, they won 27 games in a row before losing a three set nail-biter in the state championship game.
On Nov. 3, the Eagles defeated Kent Place in two sets in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs and were scheduled to play Donovan Catholic High School, Toms River, in the semifinal Nov. 8. Paul VI has just three seniors on the team in Ezeiruaku, Jessa Zulueta and Kailyn Greene-Gordon. The rest of the roster is stacked with eager, young and talented players looking to win that next state championship, whether it’s this year or in the near future.
“We’re definitely having fun with it,” Chung said. “We don’t know what the outcomes are going to be in the future. We hope that it’s the best that we can possibly hope for. But a lot of these [players] aren’t going anywhere any time soon … and we are going to continually get better.”
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
