Phil Anastasia: Tung has C.H. East off to fast start

Fangel Tung says the best thing about the Cherry Hill East girls' volleyball team is that each player brings something "unique" to the court.

Fangel certainly fits that category. The senior setter might be the quickest athlete ever to play for veteran Cherry Hill East coach Scott Mooney.

Plus, Tung has a great feel for her new position. Through nine games this season, she has 125 assists as the surprising Cougars have broken to an 8-1 start.

Tung started playing volleyball as a sixth-grader in Vancouver, Canada, where she lived from age four to 12. She has lived in Cherry Hill since her seventh-grade year.

Tung also is a standout midfielder for the Cherry Hill East girls' lacrosse team, which should be among the best in South Jersey next spring. She is undecided about college but has visited Stanford, the University of Chicago and Columbia, among others.

Question: What do you like best about volleyball?

Answer: I like how you have to have fast reflexes. Everything happens so fast. You have to react so quickly. It's just fun.

Q: Do you prefer volleyball or lacrosse?

A: I like them both. They are completely different, so whatever one I'm playing I seem to enjoy the most.

Q: Do you know what you want to study in college?

A: I'd like to be a pharmacist, so I think I'll probably major in chemistry.

Q: Is that your favorite subject in school?

A: Yes. That was one subject I really enjoyed learning about. It just seemed to make sense to me.

Q: What kind of music do you listen to?

A: I like Christian rock. I really like "Switchfoot" (a Christian rock band from San Diego).

Q: What's it like to play for Coach Mooney?

A: It's great. He really knows what he's talking about. He's always positive. Well, most of the time. He makes it fun.

Q: What do you like about playing setter?

A: It's fun to create chances for the hitters. I feel like every set counts. We know it's not just the people who make the hits who are the keys to success. It's everybody.

Q: What the best thing about the Cherry Hill East volleyball team?

A: Each player brings something unique to the court. We're all different but we play well together. That helps out a lot.

Q: What do you bring to the court?

A: I hope I bring a positive attitude.

Three stars from last week

1. Irina Nagovsky had nine kills as Eastern beat St. Joseph's, 2-0, Thursday in girls' volleyball.

2. Markos Georges scored three goals to raise his season total to a South Jersey-best 18 as Audubon beat Paulsboro, 6-0, Friday in boys' soccer.

3. Anthony Horten of Moorestown won the Division 3 race of the South Jersey Open in cross-country with the best time of the day, 15 minutes, 53 seconds, Saturday at Delsea.

Three tips on this week

1. Gloucester Catholic hosts Glassboro in a key Tri-County Diamond game Tuesday at 7 p.m. in boys' soccer.

2. If form holds in the first round, No. 3 seed Bishop Eustace will travel to No. 2 seed Holy Spirit in a semifinal game of the South A tennis tournament. The Crusaders will have extra incentive as they believe they should have been awarded the No. 2 seed.

3. No. 1 Eastern visists No. 2 Shawnee in a field hockey showdown Thursday at 3:45 p.m.

Super 7 power rankings

The top teams in South Jersey, regardless of sport (records through Saturday):

1. Haddonfield girls' tennis (22-0): The Bulldogs have won 18 of their matches by 5-0 scores.

2. Eastern field hockey (11-0): Junior goalie Alana Barry holds the school record for shutouts with 49 - and counting.

3. Holy Spirit football (4-0): Senior linebacker Anthony Sarao, who has committed to Stanford, is expected to receive his invitation this week to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 8 in San Antonio.

4. Cherokee football (4-0): The Chiefs made major statement with 27-7 road victory over Williamstown on Friday night.

5. St. Augustine boys' soccer (10-0): The Hermits are expected to be top seed in Coaches Tournament, which they've never won.

6. Lenape girls' soccer (8-1-1): The Indians have their sights set on their fourth consecutive Coaches Tournament title.

7. Cherokee girls' volleyball (10-0): The Chiefs visit Williamstown (14-2) Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in a clash of the only two South Jersey teams ranked in the Newark Star-Ledger state Top 20.

Under consideration (listed alphabetically): Eastern girls' soccer, Haddonfield boys' cross- country, Paul VI football, Paul VI girls' soccer, Moorestown girls' tennis, Shawnee boys' soccer, Shawnee field hockey.