Top Returners in the CVC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colonial Valley Conference will look much different this season without big names and teams competing at the top. You won't be seeing players from programs like Ewing in this article about the top returners in the conference because we don't know how good those players will turn into. We'll let time take care of that uncertainty as we talk about the best prospects returning to the CVC this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Caitlyn Nagle - Hightstown (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two players are set to lead the pack this season for Hightstown, beginning with Nagle, an interesting player to watch with incredible upside as she enters her senior campaign. Very balanced player overall, someone who's made sure to work on her offense just as much as her defense, and it's showed on the court. She's going to take quite the significant leap in offensive production while being asked to keep up that defensive prowess.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] - Hightstown (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside Nagle is forward [player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'], the Howard commit that will be stepping into the shoes of Abby Misier, someone who re-wrote records at Hightstown over her career. Having played with Misier for a few years, she knows exactly what it will take for success down low and she's already demonstrated that, nearly missing out on double-double averages as a junior with nearly three blocks a game defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='499079' first='Meghan' last='Connolly'] - Notre Dame (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame is in a very interesting spot coming into this season, very much a contender in the CVC, but a team searching for a real superstar. It has two candidates to step up into a role like that, one of which being [player_tooltip player_id='499079' first='Meghan' last='Connolly'], a sharp-shooting senior with great defensive instincts and an ability to score. If she wants to take that next step forward, she needs to develop her game more inside the arc and play with physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='915317' first='Isabella' last='Diaz'] - Notre Dame (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the same style as what we just discussed with Hightstown, complementing Connolly down low is [player_tooltip player_id='915317' first='Isabella' last='Diaz'], a great defensive piece that we've seen grow into a mainstay in the starting lineup. Eyes will be on her down low just as they will be on Connolly on the perimeter, but Diaz has the physicality to match up with anyone. Head down and power through, using her energy and competitive drive to get her baskets and boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='600912' first='Anna' last='Winters'] - Princeton (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pieces have left the puzzle for Princeton from last season, but there's plenty of depth coming back to the fold for this season, headlined by junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='600912' first='Anna' last='Winters'], a player that's demonstrated she can play anywhere from the 3 to the 5 on the floor. That level of versatility has shown through when watching her tape, from shooting to drawing fouls, deflecting passes or dishing off assists to teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='651487' first='Katie' last='Corby'] - Steinert (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Definitely some serious talent returning for this Steinert team this season despite some key losses from last year's senior class. [player_tooltip player_id='651487' first='Katie' last='Corby'] just might be leading the way after leading the team in scoring as a freshman. Great three-point shooter and a great defender as well, Corby has demonstrated leadership qualities already that are going to make her the focus at the top of the key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='600913' first='Ava' last='Aldarelli'] - Robbinsville (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first time in a few years, the Valley division is WIDE open as the class of the conference, Ewing, will be in rebuild mode following its senior trio graduating in the spring. Other teams will have the opportunity to step up, teams like Robbinsville who have arguably the best player in the CVC in [player_tooltip player_id='600913' first='Ava' last='Aldarelli']. As dominant a scorer as they come, she made her presence felt, getting to the foul line nearly six times a game as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583709' first='Zairra' last='Galloway'] - Hamilton West (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Definite struggles persisted for Hamilton West last season, winning just five games as a team, but there is significant reason to be hopeful in this season, much of it coming from senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='583709' first='Zairra' last='Galloway'], who put together a spectacular junior campaign. Near double-double numbers with 2.5 steals and 3.2 steals per game over that span. Her sophomore-to-junior year growth is enough for us to really get behind her this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='600914' first='Amber' last='Wooding'] - Lawrence (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence was yet another team that went through its struggles last season, but it had quite the diamond in the rough in [player_tooltip player_id='600914' first='Amber' last='Wooding'], putting together a fantastic sophomore year scoring 14.5 points per game, but perhaps more importantly, recording more than four steals a game. She's able to get things done on both sides of the ball effectively and just is incredibly productive, a big trend to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583711' first='Emma' last='Wilke'] - Nottingham (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's safe to say that Nottingham didn't achieve nearly what it wanted to last season, making for quite the uphill battle at the bottom of the Valley division. What they won't have to worry about is the play of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='583711' first='Emma' last='Wilke'], a very sneaky-great scorer for the Northstars. Averaged double-figure scoring totals for the first time and with that level of confidence under her, she's going to be competing for an all-conference selection this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->