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Salesianum stands out among preseason Top 30 players in Delaware high school boys volleyball

brad myers, delaware news journal
·2 min read

There is no doubt who the state’s top coaches see as the most talented boys volleyball team in Delaware.

Salesianum.

When asked the rank the top players heading into this season, the coaches placed five Sals among the top eight spots.

No other team has more than one player ranked among the top 12.

Salesianum's Cody Popp plays the ball in front of Christian Sullivan in the first game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball on May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High. Both Popp and Sullivan are rated among the state's top returning players for this season.
Salesianum's Cody Popp plays the ball in front of Christian Sullivan in the first game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball on May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High. Both Popp and Sullivan are rated among the state's top returning players for this season.

Of course, that doesn’t guarantee Sallies a state title. The Sals were 17-0 and seeded No. 1 going into the championship match of the first DIAA Boys Volleyball Tournament last spring, only to see Cape Henlopen make the big plays at the key times and walk off with a 3-0 victory.

But surprises are to be expected in the state’s fastest-growing high school sport.

Just 11 Delaware high schools competed in boys volleyball in 2021. That number jumped to 18 in 2022, then mushroomed to 30 teams last spring.

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It’s up to 33 this year. And with dozens of new players joining teams each spring – many with varsity experience in other sports – fresh faces could emerge quickly among the state’s top players.

Heading into the new season, here is how the state’s top coaches rank the Top 30 players in Delaware high school boys volleyball.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on X (aka Twitter): @BradMyersTNJ

30. Pablo Serey, jr., Christiana

29. Rahman Tokhi, jr., Christiana

28. Son Nguyen, jr., Christiana

27. Braeden Boulden, sr., Smyrna

26. Dan Pagano, sr., Saint Mark's

25. Jaden Hong, jr., Charter of Wilmington

Charter School of Wilmington Jaden Hong (7) during a regular season volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.
Charter School of Wilmington Jaden Hong (7) during a regular season volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.

24. Minh Vu, jr., Odessa

23. Mason Muzzey, jr., Charter of Wilmington

22. Bryce Patterson, jr., Cape Henlopen

21. Harrison McCleery, sr., Mount Pleasant

20. Michael Zerenner, sr., Newark Charter

19. Zackary Ellerbruch, sr., Delcastle

18. Andrew Mahoney, so., Salesianum

Salesianum's Andrew Mahoney (right) digs in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesianum's Andrew Mahoney (right) digs in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

17. Adrio Smit, sr., Conrad

16. Joseph Mancuso, sr., Charter of Wilmington

Charter School of Wilmington's Joe Mancuso (88) during a volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.
Charter School of Wilmington's Joe Mancuso (88) during a volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.

15. Zach Walton, sr., Dickinson

Dickinson setter Zach Walton
Dickinson setter Zach Walton

14. Riley Buzby, jr., Appoquinimink

Appoquinimink's Riley Buzby
Appoquinimink's Riley Buzby

13. Ido Rosenblatt, so., Charter of Wilmington

12. Arian Santos, sr., Delcastle

11. Mitchell Holland, sr., Saint Mark’s

10. Gabe Welsh, jr., Conrad

9. Zach Hirn, so., Indian River

8. Aiden Dietrich, jr., Salesianum

Salesianum's Aiden Dietrich sets in the final game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesianum's Aiden Dietrich sets in the final game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

7. Will Snyder, sr., Charter of Wilmington

6. Christian Sullivan, sr., Salesianum

Salesianum's Christian Sullivan (16) goes for a kill against Cape Henlopen's Dylan Henry in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesianum's Christian Sullivan (16) goes for a kill against Cape Henlopen's Dylan Henry in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

5. Talan Stephens, sr., Cape Henlopen

Cape Henlopen High School junior Talan Stephens (7) sets a ball against Salesianum School during the boys volleyball game at Salesianum in Wilmington, Friday, April 14, 2023. Salesianum won 3-0.
Cape Henlopen High School junior Talan Stephens (7) sets a ball against Salesianum School during the boys volleyball game at Salesianum in Wilmington, Friday, April 14, 2023. Salesianum won 3-0.

4. Ronan Landis, sr., Salesianum

Salesianum's Ronan Landis (left) digs in front of Cape Henlopen's Charles Casas in Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesianum's Ronan Landis (left) digs in front of Cape Henlopen's Charles Casas in Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

3. Reece Dodd, sr., DMA

DMA's Reece Dodd (5) in action during a regular season volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.
DMA's Reece Dodd (5) in action during a regular season volleyball match between Charter School of Wilmington and Delaware Military Academy on Friday March 31, 2023.

2. Reid Maas, jr., Salesianum

Salesianum's Reid Maas (right) blocks against Cape Henlopen's Dylan Henry in the first game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesianum's Reid Maas (right) blocks against Cape Henlopen's Dylan Henry in the first game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

1. Cody Popp, jr., Salesianum

Salesinaum's Cody Popp sets in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.
Salesinaum's Cody Popp sets in the second game of Cape Henlopen's 3-0 win for the first DIAA state title earned in boys volleyball, Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at Smyrna High School.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware high school boys volleyball: Preseason Top 30 player rankings