Who's on the Boys Volleyball Preseason All-Shore team? Plus Top 10 teams, Players to Watch
With the several boys volleyball teams across the Shore having already kicked off their seasons this week, it's time for the APP's 2024 preseason All-Shore team and rankings - plus a Players to Watch List in collaboration with the Shore Volleyball Coaches Association.
Last spring, the conference proved it was one of the best leagues in New Jersey for volleyball as three of the four state finals featured teams from the Shore. Two of those three were crowned state champs as powerhouses St. John Vianney and Southern took the Group 1 and Group 4 titles, respectively. Colts Neck fell to Scotch Plains-Fanwood (the only team to beat Southern last season) in the Group 3 state final. Additionally, Pinelands was just short of an appearance in the Group 2 title game but lost to the eventual state champ in the section final.
More: Shore Softball Preseason team rankings. Who's in the Top 20?
With so much depth and quality across the conference, it was not easy to pick out the All-Shore preseason squad. The eight selections are below, along with 10 more players who are watch list candidates. The top ten teams round out this preseason preview for what is sure to be an exciting spring for Shore volleyball.
PRESEASON ALL-SHORE
Jacob Buss
School: Colts Neck
Year: Senior
Position: Outside Hitter
Buss is one of two returning first team selections from the coaches' All-Shore team in 2023. He was also the only first team honoree from a Colts Neck squad that finished as the Group 3 state runner-up after falling to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the final last season. Still, it was a remarkable postseason run for the Cougars and Buss returns to lead the group after finishing last season with 208 kills, 111 digs and and 43 aces.
Danny Brunke
School: Pinelands
Year: Senior
Position: Setter
Pinelands had a remarkable turnaround season in 2023. After finishing 9-10 the previous year, the Wildcats went 22-7 and made it all the way to the Group 2 South section final before falling to eventual state champion St. Joseph (Met.). Brunke is one of several key contributors returning from last year's breakthrough team, and he posted an impressive 679 assists along with 39 aces and 23 kills.
Dane Calsyn
School: Southern
Year: Senior
Position: Middle Blocker
As usual, Southern is once again set to be a powerhouse after winning the Group 4 state title in 2023. The Rams naturally lost a few key players to graduation, including two first team All-Shore selections, but they have elite players like Calsyn ready to step up. The 6-foot-3 senior had 110 kills and 30 blocks last season.
Nickolas Huzar
School: St. John Vianney
Year: Senior
Position: Opposite Hitter
Like Buss, Huzar is a returning first team All-Shore coaches' selection from last season's excellent Lancer team. As a junior, he was one of two first team choices from an SJV squad that finished 23-4 and won the Group 1 state title. After losing the bulk of that team to graduation, Huzar returns to lead a new-look Lancers back to the state final. Huzar finished with 111 kills, 30 blocks and 13 aces last season.
Jack McKenna
School: Southern
Year: Senior
Position: Outside Hitter
McKenna is another Ram who will be able to step into an even bigger role after being a second team performer for the state champs last season. He was second on the team with 177 kills and 204 digs in addition to 15 blocks. He should only build on this numbers as one of the team's key returning seniors.
Brent Romano
School: Howell
Year: Senior
Position: Outside Hitter
A first team All-Shore performer in the fall as a soccer player, Romano finds himself again on the first team as he prepares to close out his high school athletic career this spring. He was a centerpiece for the A-North Division champs last season, finishing with 217 kills and a team-high 30 aces in addition to 10 blocks and 89 digs. The Rebels will once again be contender thanks to this multi-sport standout.
Jan Tracz
School: Manchester
Year: Senior
Position: Outside Hitter
After Manchester's impressive 2023 campaign at 20-4, the Hawks will need to replace some lost talent and experience that graduated last year. Tracz returns to be a centerpiece after finishing with 241 kills, 48 aces and 40 blocks last season. His production will be relied on as Manchester aims to continue its run of recent success.
Adam Westrich
School: CBA
Year: Senior
Position: Outside Hitter
After a surprisingly middling 11-10 record last season, CBA aims to reclaim a spot near the top of the Shore this spring. The Colts return a fair amount of experienced players from last year's group, and they'll be led by standout returners like Westrich. As a junior, he led the team in kills with 192 and led the team in aces with 17.
ALL-SHORE WATCH LIST
Angelo Addiego - Southern - Setter - Sr.
Eli Elias - Jackson Liberty - Setter - Sr.
Matt Davis - Pinelands - Outside Hitter - Jr.
Brady Noon - Lacey - Libero- Sr.
Colin Olcott - Southern - Libero - Sr.
Krister Leya - Colts Neck - Middle Blocker - Jr.
Trevor Van Valkenburgh - Jackson Liberty - Outside Hitter - Sr.
Tyler Lavell - Holmdel - Setter - Jr.
Ethan Woods - Pinelands - Middle Blocker - Sr.
Alex Taylor - CBA - Middle Blocker - Sr.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Southern
2. Colts Neck
3. St. John Vianney
4. Howell
5. Pinelands
6. CBA
7. Manchester
8. Jackson Liberty
9. Jackson Memorial
10. Holmdel
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ boys volleyball Preseason All-Shore team, Top 10 team rankings
