Four Port Jefferson Girls Volleyball Players Named Among Long Island’s Best

Four Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls volleyball players were recently named to Newsday’s list of the top 100 high school players on Long Island: seniors Ava Reilly, Thea Mangels and Lina DeLeo and junior Sara Puopolo. The Royals have achieved remarkable success in recent seasons, capturing the Suffolk County championship from 2022 through 2025 and the Long Island championship from 2022 through 2024. The team was named New York Downstate Regional champions and reached the New York State final four in both 2022 and 2025.

A varsity player since eighth grade, setter Ava Reilly recently recorded her 2,000th assist for the Royals, becoming the only player in program history to reach this milestone. For this accomplishment, Ava was named Newsday’s “Athlete of the Week.” She has earned all-state honors three times and all-county honors twice and led the county in assists in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. She is a two-time league most valuable player and won rookie of the year her first season.

“Ava recorded an impressive 153 digs, 51 kills and 32 aces last season to accompany her county-leading 676 assists,” said Charles Hafner, head coach of the Port Jefferson girls varsity volleyball team. “She is currently the county leader in assists this season and in the top 25 in digs as well.”

Following her graduation from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Ava plans to continue her academic and volleyball careers at Johnson and Wales University.

Senior middle blocker Thea Mangels recorded 188 kills, 35 digs and 31 aces in the 2025 season and is in the top 25 in Suffolk County for kills this year. She received all-state honors last season and is a two-time all-class honoree and two-time all-league honoree.

Senior libero Lina DeLeo has 156 digs, 116 kills and 29 aces last season and has placed her name on the county leaderboards to start this season. She is in the top five in digs and the top 25 in aces. She has been previously recognized with all-class honors and twice with all-league honors. After graduation, Lina is expected to continue her studies and play volleyball at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Junior outside hitter Sara Puopolo was named the league defensive player of the year last season and has earned all-state, all-class and all-league honors. This season, she ranks in the top 10 in Suffolk County in kills and aces and is in the top 25 in digs.