After record-setting regular season, Lower Cape May girls volleyball team hopes for more success in state playoffs

Posted: October 28th 2026

Lower Cape May's girls volleyball team has enjoyed a record-breaking season this fall. Pictured are (from left): back row - Harley Siner, Zoey Heany, Sahara Moore, Ava Riggins, Gywneth Roll, Addy Pacevich; front row - Mindy Cifuentes, Melinda Reeves, Chely Candelaria, Georgia Shutter, Ava Hernandez. Not pictured: Merrick Wilson.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

It’s been a record-setting season for the Lower Cape May Regional High School girls volleyball program.

The Lady Tigers finished the regular season as champions of the Cape-Atlantic National Conference, the first league title of any kind in the program’s history.

“The girls are very excited to get that first volleyball banner for the school,” head coach Greta Pacevich said.

The team finished its regular season with Monday’s 2-0 win over Wildwood, putting the team at 15-7 heading into next week’s second-round South Jersey Group I playoff match. Lower, as the No. 6 seed, received a first-round bye.

The 15 victories are already a program record for wins in a season.

The records don’t stop there.

Senior setter Adeline Pacevich, the daughter of the head coach, surpassed 1,000 career assists when she recorded 14 in the victory over Wildwood. Her total now stands at 1,003. She is the only girls volleyball player in Cape May County history to reach 1,000 career assists. Her 360 assists as a senior are also a single-season program record. She also leads the team with 128 serving points and 53 serving aces this season.

Junior Ava Riggins has also hit the record books. The outside hitter has registered 240 kills this season, shattering the old mark of 218 set by Alyssa Ferrante as a junior in 2023.

“Ava has a really great connection with Addy,” coach Pacevich said. “She used to be a middle hitter but we moved her outside knowing she’d get a lot more attempts and a lot more swings. She and Addy have really worked a lot together. They communicate very well. They seem to know where each other is all the time.”

Junior Melisa Reeves has been another standout as the team’s libero and defensive specialist. She leads the team with 197 digs.

“She’s the anchor of the defense and she’s the best passer on the team, which you desperately need out of your libero and defensive specialist,” coach Pacevich said. “She’s so level headed. Nothing ever flusters her.”

Senior Chely Candelaria (second on team in kills with 79 and blocks with 15), senior Sarah Moore (team leader in blocks with 28), senior Harley Siner (second on team in serving points with 102), junior Zoe Heany, senior Georgia Shutter and junior Ava Hernandez are the other key players in the rotation.

Other varsity contributors include seniors Gwyneth Roll and Mindy Cifuentes and freshman Merrick Wilson.

Lower Cape May is set to open the South Jersey Group I Tournament Monday by hosting 11th-seeded Roselle Park.

“This is our third year in a row hosting a first-round match,” coach Pacevich said. “We’re looking to go as far as we can. I expect us to do very well. Hopefully, we can go pretty far in the tournament.”