There’s no stopping Mackenzie Vellis.
The Rutherford senior outside hitter has a motor like none other, so when you mix that limitless energy with her forceful spikes, it spells trouble for the opposition.
Vellis stepped onto Rutherford’s court as a freshman in 2022 and immediately impressed head coach Helen Antzoulides, a legend of the sport who is closing in on 600 career wins.
Antzoulides has seen and coached her fair share of superstars. She saw that potential in Vellis, a three-sport athlete who is equally dedicated to basketball, track and field, and club volleyball as she is to high school volleyball.
Antzoulides was right about Vellis. The 5-foot-10 pure athlete has carried the torch as the next great Bulldog volleyball player, which all led to one moment on Oct. 27 in Fort Lee.
Facing the Bridgemen in a best-of-5 showdown, Vellis entered the day sitting 14 kills shy of legendary status.
In the third frame, with Rutherford leading 6-5, Vellis needed one more kill to ring in 1,000.
As fate would have it, two other four-year players put Vellis in perfect position for the kill. Tessa Davidson, who holds the all-time program digs record with 748, dug out a swing in the back row.
Davidson angled the ball to Cate Finan - who has more than 1,600 career assists - right in front of the net. Vellis knew the ball was coming for her, and Finan served her a precise pass at the end of the net.
Vellis put the ball down for the point, which made her the third player in Rutherford history to reach 1,000 career kills, and the third player in New Jersey to eclipse this milestone in 2025.
It was a career night in more ways than one. On top of reeling in her 1,000th, Vellis amassed 28 kills on Monday - which is a new career-best mark for her.
“Mackenzie earned this. She is so motivated and dedicated to her craft. I am so glad for her and the Vellis family,” Antzoulides said.
“She wants the ball. It’s in her blood to be part of every single play. That’s how she got to this point. We are so proud.”
Vellis joins Princeton’s Naomi Lygas (Oct. 7) and Bogota’s Emma Fowler (Oct. 23) as the third player to get to 1,000 kills this season. Prior to 2025, no one in New Jersey had reached 1,000 kills since 2021 (Kate Stoughton, Brick Memorial).
Rutherford and Bogota not only share the same county (Bergen) and the same section (North 2 Group 1), but they have played each other twice this year, including in the county tournament. Fowler totaled 32 kills in those two contests, and Vellis nabbed 36 - including a previous career-high 21 on Oct. 11.
“Emma and I knew we were on the same pace. I reached out to her when she got 1,000,” Vellis said.
“You’re next,” Fowler responded.
Vellis joins Jenna Rogers and Jessica Rogers as the all-time Rutherford Bulldogs to collect 1,000 kills.
“You see the banners in the gym, and you want your name up there. It drives you,” Vellis said.
“It’s also cool adding another last name to the banner.”
It was already a monumental night, but Vellis collecting 1,000 on Oct. 27 made it extra special for her and her family.
“Today is my grandmother’s birthday, who passed away when I was much younger,” Vellis said.
“She is loved by our family, so I hope this honored her well.”
Rutherford won the match over Fort Lee in a 3-2 thriller to improve to 19-5 this year.
“I just want to thank my teammates, coaches, and parents. They all helped to get here. I am very grateful,” Vellis said.
Mackenzie Vellis kills by season
Mackenzie Vellis by the numbers
NJ Girls Volleyball Coverage