GABRIELLA SAVITE, WEST MORRIS

Freshman outside hitter, 5-7

JUST THE STATS: After the graduation of seven seniors from last year’s 2010 Morris County Tournament champion and Group 3 finalist, expectations were not high for West Morris this season. That is until Savite emerged as a dominate front-row player and solid server. With a per game average of 4.6 kills, 4.0 digs, 3.4 service points and 1.0 aces, the freshman led West Morris to a 23-3 record, No. 8 ranking in The Star-Ledger Top 20 and to the second seed in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 3 Tournament. West Morris will open play Wednesday against visiting Passaic Valley, the 15th seed. Over the past three weeks, Savite has upped her scoring strike to 5.1 kills per game while leading West Morris to its third straight MCT title and earning tournament MVP honors.

COACH’S COMMENT: “We wouldn’t be where we are right now without Gabriella this season. I knew about her preseason but didn’t realize what level she was at. When I first saw her play, I was pleasantly surprised. She’s a very smart hitter and player in general. She can block with the best of them and mixes it up well.” -- Jim Balella.

UNIFORM NUMBER: 30.

WHY VOLLEYBALL? "Steve Fenton, now the coach at Hunterdon Central, is one of the main reasons why I love the game. My first year (at age 11) he showed me a side of volleyball I didn’t get just watching it. When you are watching a game everyone thinks it's simple. But there are so many little things and room for error, especially for a hitter. If you don’t get those little things right, you won’t get your swing. In my first couple of years, (Fenton) showed me all the little things. He gave me a new respect and love for the game.”

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS: “I wasn’t expecting how this season ended up. I wasn’t expecting to play a lot as a freshman, with a lot of upperclassmen on the team. But I was so ready to be part of it, whether or not I got to play.”

AS A FRESHMAN ON VARSITY: “Just the experience playing with these upperclassmen at their skill level made me push myself so much. I put so much pressure on myself to do well because I'm a freshman, I’m the baby. I didn’t want to be underestimated because I’m younger. I kept pushing to prove to myself I can do whatever I put my mind to.”

CLUB: Atlantic Valley Volleyball Club.

BIGGEST WEAPON: Hitting. “I like to think I’m a smart hitter. If a set is not there, I like to think I put it to smart places, in the middle or an open spot. I get really excited when I get a kill. It feels so good to know you did all those little things right.”

VARIETY OF HITS: Down-the-line, cross, tip.

FAVORITE HIT: Tipping it right behind the block. “If I see it's an offset, I’ll change my approach so it looks like I’m going to hit. But I only put one hand up and I can get a greater reach that way. It makes it easier to place the ball over the block. When I go to tip I’m thinking about how to move my hand to place it. If I go up with my left hand, it's easier to tip it straight with my right hand.”

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT: “I’ve learned to read the set better and pick a spot, whether or not it's a good set. I just swing away. Working with the setters and passers has made me become a smarter hitter.”

NEEDS WORK: "Blocking."

BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT: On Oct. 12 in the match against Sparta. “When I reached double digits in kills, it was really exciting. Prior to that I had never gotten double-digit kills. Not even in club. There’s only so many points each team can earn. Knowing I had 11 means I got one fifth of them, which means that I helped my team win.”

BIG-GAME, PRE-GAME RITUAL: “I listen to my music before every game. When I have music in both my ears, I can zone out the world. I'm not thinking about anything else, just volleyball. Music helps me to focus on the game ahead and what I need to do.”

WHAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO NOW: “Lose Yourself,” by Eminem.

TEAM GOAL: To win the state title. “No one thought we’d win county because we lost a lot of our height, but we did. Now we want to surprise everyone.”

PERSONAL GOAL: “I want to take in this experience. It’s definately a journey playing with juniors and seniors. It's a different atmosphere than just your own age group.”

I BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT I: “Am obsessed with 'Transformers.'”

FAVIORITE SUBJECT: Science.

FAVIORITE FOOD: Chocolate chip cookies.

THREE FOR DINNER: "Justin Bieber, my sister Samantha and my Dad, Chuck."