The most dynamic girls volleyball career ended this fall as Marlboro High School’s Jet Manzi again made the Mustangs one of the Shore Conference’s elite teams.

Manzi, who will continue her volleyball career at Lafayette College, led the Mustangs to a 20-5 season that included a return trip to the Shore Conference Tournament finals, where Southern Regional High School avenged last year’s loss to Marlboro, 2-1.

It’s not over the top to say that Manzi changed the way volleyball is perceived and played in the Freehold Regional High School District. She elevated the play of everyone on her team and made those playing against her elevate theirs. Her impact will be felt long after her graduation because of her total commitment to the sport.

Manzi and her Mustang teammates Haley Unger, Grace Kenningham and Sydney Tuman head up the News Transcript’s 2012 All-Freehold Regional High School District Girls Volleyball Team. They are joined on the team by Colts Neck High School’s Angela Zeck and Samantha Panicali, who helped a young Cougars team go 11-12.

Stats alone don’t tell you Manzi’s contributions, but they speak volumes for her talent. She recorded 304 kills, 110 digs, 112 aces and 131 service points for the Mustangs. She led the Shore in kills and aces, and she ranked fifth and fourth in the state in them, respectively.

What she brought to Marlboro was her versatility, the ability to play any position and play it great. The Mustangs’ head coach, Margie McNamara, said their best play was to “get the ball to Jet. She’s our first option.”

Unger, a junior, was the team’s force at the net. The middle hitter had 101 kills, 13 blocks and 112 digs. She won 68 service points, including 27 aces. Unger, also a standout on the basketball floor, has blossomed in the last two years and will be looked at to be more of a force next season.

Kenningham made a great debut and, with Unger, will be the foundation of the Mustangs next fall. The freshman led the team with 229 assists. She had 31 kills and 63 service points, including 26 aces.

Tuman, a senior setter, had 141 assists, 27 digs and 32 kills. Her 42 aces were second on the team to Manzi.

Panicali, the Cougars’ setter, was a tremendous playmaker for the Cougars with 297 assists. The junior also had 45 kills.

Zeck, a senior outside hitter, controlled the net for the Cougars and led the team in kills (70) and digs (132). Both Panicali and Zeck were effective servers, as Panicali delivered 69 aces and Zeck had 60.