JULIE MONROY, UNION CATHOLIC

Senior outside hitter, 5-7

JUST THE STATS: Monroy, a terminating hitter and aggressive player, has produced a team-leading 234 kills, 111 digs and 125 service points with 20 aces in taking Union Catholic, No. 7 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to a 20-2 record and the top seed in the Union County Tournament. Union Catholic is also the second seed in the 2011 NJSIAA Non-Public bracket. In the first three rounds of the UCT, Monroy averaged 7.7 kills -- finishing with a match high in each -- to lift Union Catholic, seeking its fourth straight title in the event, into Friday’s championship against sixth-seeded Kent Place.

COACH’S COMMENT: “We ride off what Julie does. She gets in a rhythm and just starts going to work. She’s a great kid, the ultimate team player. We know if we’re in a tight one, we can just send it to Julie.” -- Nancy Saggio.

UNIFORM NUMBER: 2.

BIGGEST WEAPON: Her ability to place hits and a hard float serve. “In the moment, you have to slow the game down and see what is open on the other court and how to place your shot. It takes a lot of practice to learn, but over time, I developed that skill.”

NEEDS WORK: Defense. “I know where the ball is going to go, but I need to work on reacting to the ball quicker.”

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT: Mental game. “When I make a mistake, I am able to just brush it off and get back into the game.”

TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Michelle Cruz, of Immaculate Heart. “She is all over the defense, picking up each and every ball. The past three years we lost to IHA in states. And every year we’ve been scared to go into states and play IHA for the first time. But this season, having played them before and taken them to three games, showed us that we can play against the top-level teams and now we know what they can do and we are ready.”

SEASON GOAL: “Our whole team’s goal is state finals. It’s my fourth year on the team and, as a senior, I want it so badly and we are all going to keep going until we get it.”

KEYS TO SUCCESS: Maintaining focus. “Volleyball is a mental game. For me, the most important thing is not to focus on anything else but the game ahead.”

VOLLEYBALL MANTRA: Practice as if you are the worst; play as if you are the best.
“I found the quote (anonymous) online about a year ago and it just stuck with me. I repeat it to myself before and at the begining of each game. It has become something I just say now to get myself pumped up.”

PRE-GAME RITUAL: “I like to look at inspirational quotes before big games, from sports players, no matter what sport it is. It is definitely what I will be doing before county finals on Friday.”

CLUB TEAM: Atlantic Valley Volleyball Club.

WHEN NOT PLAYING VOLLEYBALL: Laser tag with friends.

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT I: “Am obsessed with Harry Potter.”

COLLEGE: She has been recruited by a variety of schools. Stockton, Howard, Pace and the University of New Hartford are just a few of the many. “I’m keeping my options open right now.”

MAJOR: Forensic science.

FAVORITE MOVIE: “Hocus Pocus. I make my sister Jenny watch it with me every Halloween. We can quote it from beginning to end.”

WHAT YOUR LISTENING TO NOW: “Cheated,” by Mike Posner.

THREE FOR DINNER: Olympic volleyball player Logan Tom; her grandmother, Providencia Dones; and Harry Styles of the United Kingdom music group One Direction.