4/6/25
As the New Jersey boys high school volleyball season gets underway, we’re already witnessing remarkable performances across the state. With just two weeks of competition in the books, several athletes have distinguished themselves as statistical leaders, setting the pace for what promises to be an exciting season. Let’s dive into the numbers that tell the story of these early weeks and highlight the young men who are making their mark on the court.
KILLS LEADERS: OFFENSIVE POWERHOUSES
When it comes to offensive firepower, Jahseem Branch of Pennsauken Tech has established himself as the early season kill leader with an impressive 76 kills in 16 sets. Branch’s ability to terminate points has been instrumental in Pennsauken Tech’s strong start.
Not far behind is Weehawken’s Adam Uryniuk, who has amassed 72 kills in just 10 sets, giving him the highest kills-per-set average in the state at a staggering 7.20. Uryniuk’s efficiency as an attacker has been nothing short of phenomenal, making him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in New Jersey.
Other standout attackers include Bridgewater-Raritan’s Harry Fromberg (71 kills in 15 sets), Passaic Charter’s Albert Nova (70 kills in 18 sets), and Collingswood’s Tonio Guglietta (68 kills in 16 sets).
Scotch Plains-Fanwood junior Daniel Ennis has already made his presence felt, ranking 10th overall with 61 kills in 10 sets (6.10 kills per set), continuing the volleyball excellence that runs in his family.
Notable among the kills-per-set leaders are Thomas Edison Energy Charter’s Krish Chitalia (6.40 kills per set), Bergen Tech’s Daniel Jones (6.25 kills per set), and Edison’s Ajit Sivakumar (6.00 kills per set), all demonstrating remarkable efficiency in their attacking roles.
BLOCKS LEADERS: DEFENSIVE WALLS
Defensive play at the net is being dominated by Monroe High School, with two of their players among the top blockers in the state. Aryan Sikka leads the way with 21 blocks in 12 sets, while his teammate Shreesh Santosh follows closely with 20 blocks in 13 sets.
The most efficient blocker thus far has been Middletown North’s Jordan Sampson, who is averaging an incredible 3.00 blocks per set (12 blocks in 4 sets). Newark Tech’s Elijah Daniels has also been outstanding, recording 2.80 blocks per set (14 blocks in 5 sets).
Other defensive standouts include Pennsauken Tech’s Eric Chavarria (18 blocks in 16 sets), Monroe’s Vishwajith Banala (18 blocks in 10 sets), and Newark Tech’s Malcolm Bragg, who has registered 17 blocks in 8 sets for a 2.13 blocks-per-set average.
The blocking statistics reveal that Arts High School’s Ibukunoluwa Babalola (2.29 blocks per set) and Toms River North’s Daniel Pakhnov (2.29 blocks per set) have been formidable middle blockers, consistently challenging opposing hitters.
ASSISTS LEADERS: SETTING UP SUCCESS
The engine of any volleyball offense is the setter, and several players have distinguished themselves in this crucial role. Passaic Charter’s Isaac Acevedo leads the state with 158 assists in 18 sets, showing his ability to consistently deliver the ball to his hitters.
Lakewood’s Gio Hernandez (154 assists in 16 sets), Northern Burlington’s Nithik Kambhampati (153 assists in 15 sets), and Bridgewater-Raritan’s Andrew Zagula (151 assists in 15 sets) have all been pivotal in orchestrating their teams’ offenses.
When it comes to assists efficiency, American History’s Alexander Minchala has been in a class of his own, averaging an outstanding 14.40 assists per set (72 assists in 5 sets). Summit’s Alex Vehap follows with 13.00 assists per set (78 assists in 6 sets).
Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s Brody Balestrino has been exceptional as well, ranking 8th in assists-per-set with 11.60 (116 total assists in 10 sets), demonstrating the Raiders’ continued excellence in all facets of the game.
DIGS LEADERS: DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
Back-row defense has been led by Northern Burlington’s Lucas Lamboy, who has accumulated an impressive 96 digs in 15 sets (6.40 digs per set). Pennsauken Tech’s George Stewart has also been stellar, recording 90 digs in 16 sets.
The most efficient digger has been Montclair’s Logan Martinez, who is averaging a remarkable 10.00 digs per set (40 digs in 4 sets). Newark Tech’s John Guaman (7.20 digs per set) and Bergen Catholic’s Jeongsoo Park (6.75 digs per set) have also shown exceptional defensive prowess.
Other defensive standouts include Hoboken’s Coby Kriegel (81 digs in 13 sets), Bridgewater-Raritan’s Ethan Romanak (73 digs in 15 sets), and Clearview’s Brady Divito (65 digs in 14 sets), all of whom have been anchoring their teams’ back-row defense.
ACES LEADERS: SERVING SPECIALISTS
Service line dominance has been particularly notable from Weehawken’s Adam Uryniuk, who leads the state with 25 aces in 10 sets for an impressive 2.50 aces per set. This dual threat in both attacking and serving makes Uryniuk one of the most complete offensive players in New Jersey.
Vernon’s Victor Silva and Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s Daniel Ennis are tied with 17 aces each (1.89 and 1.70 aces per set, respectively), showing their ability to put pressure on opponents from the service line.
Other top servers include Thomas Edison Energy Charter’s Krish Chitalia and Randolph’s Gabriel Sherwood, both with 16 aces, and Hudson Catholic’s Reza Mahlou, who has recorded 15 aces in just 8 sets (1.88 aces per set).
SCHOOLS DOMINATING THE STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
Several schools have multiple players ranking among the statistical leaders, indicating programs with impressive depth and talent. Pennsauken Tech leads the way with four players in the top five of various statistical categories, showing their balanced approach to the game.
Monroe and Bridgewater-Raritan both have three players among the statistical leaders, demonstrating the strength of their programs across multiple positions.
Passaic Charter and Northern Burlington each boast two players among the top performers, while Scotch Plains-Fanwood, continuing their tradition of excellence, has representatives among both the kills and assists leaders.
CLASS DISTRIBUTION: EXPERIENCE LEADS THE WAY
Looking at the class distribution among top performers, it’s clear that experience is playing a significant role early in the season. Seniors make up 45.8% of the statistical leaders, leveraging their years of high school competition to excel on the court.
Juniors are close behind at 41.7%, showing that the next generation of stars is already making their mark. Among these juniors is Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s Daniel Ennis, who is following in the footsteps of his brother Timothy (now playing Division 1 volleyball at UC Irvine).
Interestingly, only 4.2% of the statistical leaders are sophomores, highlighting the typically steep learning curve for younger players in this physically demanding sport.
RISING STARS TO WATCH
Several players have immediately established themselves as ones to watch this season. Adam Uryniuk’s dual threat capability in both kills and serving makes him one of the most complete offensive players in the state. Junior Daniel Ennis continues to excel as an outside hitter for the powerhouse Scotch Plains-Fanwood program.
Monroe’s blocking duo of Aryan Sikka and Shreesh Santosh gives them a formidable defensive presence that will challenge opponents all season long. American History’s Alexander Minchala’s setting efficiency suggests he’ll be a cornerstone for his team’s success.
LOOKING AHEAD
As the season progresses, these early statistical leaders will face increasingly challenging competition, testing their ability to maintain their impressive numbers. For younger players currently developing their skills, these early standouts provide inspiration and a standard of excellence to strive toward.
The first two weeks have given us a glimpse of the incredible talent spread across New Jersey’s high school volleyball landscape. With many of the state’s traditional powerhouses like Bridgewater-Raritan, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and Old Bridge showing strong early performances, the stage is set for an exciting season of competition.
For players looking to join these statistical leaderboards, the formula is clear: consistent effort, technical refinement, and unwavering dedication to improvement. The volleyball community in New Jersey continues to grow stronger each year, with the level of play steadily rising across the state.
As we move deeper into the season, we’ll continue to track these statistical leaders and celebrate the achievements of these dedicated student-athletes who represent the best of high school volleyball in the Garden State.