4/23/25

Few players command attention quite like Timothy Smith. Standing at an imposing 6’5″ with an extraordinary 11’9″ vertical leap, the West Caldwell Tech senior has transformed from a volleyball newcomer to a Division I-bound talent in just three short years.

Smith, a Newark native and member of the Class of 2025, has been the driving force behind West Caldwell Tech’s remarkable success. After leading the Eagles to the Group 1 state championship in 2024, Smith has the team positioned for another title run with their impressive 7-1 start to the 2025 season.

“Next year I will be playing for Coach Karl France and attending D1 Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck,” Smith revealed about his collegiate plans, a testament to his rapid development in the sport he only began playing during his sophomore year.

“I started playing volleyball my sophomore year for fun,” Smith explained. “The reason that I kept going is because of my high school coach Natasha Batista and I appreciate the opportunities that she has unraveled for me in my journey.”

The numbers tell the story of Smith’s dominance. After recording a staggering 286 kills, 32 blocks, 160 digs, and 33 aces during the 2023-2024 championship campaign, Smith has maintained his exceptional production this season with 120 kills, 8 blocks, 41 digs, and 16 aces through just 21 sets played. His remarkable efficiency has been on full display, with five of his eight matches featuring 17 or more kills, including back-to-back 20-kill performances against Millburn and Ridge.

What makes Smith’s journey even more special is the family connection that permeates the Eagles’ roster.

“My teammates at West Caldwell Tech are great to be around,” Smith shared. “Shyan Bell is a good teammate because of his high energy. He’s also my brother so having my brother on the court with me is a huge part of me wanting to play volleyball. My setter and libero play a role in why we have such solid success with them being my cousins, we have chemistry between each other.”

That chemistry is particularly evident in Smith’s connection with senior setter Dennis Ayora.

“Me and my setter are close outside of volleyball and we have a connection on the court,” Smith noted. “When it comes down to a close match, he knows that we have to take over and finish the game.”

Smith’s rise in volleyball came after a significant shift in his athletic focus.

“All my life, I played football,” he revealed. “Before volleyball, I played football for Irvington high school until my junior year, but I left and played for East Orange for one month. I stopped playing and started to take volleyball more seriously.”

That decision has paid dividends not only for Smith but for the entire West Caldwell Tech program, which captured the North Jersey, Group 1 sectional title and Group 1 state championship last season under Coach Natasha Batista, whom Smith credits as a pivotal influence.

“My head coach is the reason I play volleyball,” Smith said. “She is someone I will go to for wisdom and someone that understands me outside of volleyball. She gave me opportunities to reach my accomplishments, and sacrificed her free time to fund raise for the team and make sure that everyone that wants to work hard gets to play. I am grateful for her.”

Coach Batista’s influence extends beyond the high school program, as she helped connect Smith with Garden State Elite (GSE), where he plays as an outside hitter and opposite hitter.

“My club experience at GSE was a good experience with great competition and great coaches,” Smith explained. “The positivity at GSE was really good. I’m glad I chose GSE because outside of high school, they have a great support system and they helped me be ready for the next level.”

That preparation has Smith and the Eagles ready to face any challenge. With the realignment of group and state sectionals this season, West Caldwell Tech is positioned well for another championship run, though Smith maintains a mature perspective on the team’s approach.

“With many upcoming tough matches on the schedule, we will have to go back to fundamentals and play our normal game,” Smith advised. “Win or lose, it’s a learning experience at the end of the day so we just have to play serious but still have fun.”

When asked about potential barriers to the team’s success, Smith’s answer revealed his leadership mentality: “I think our biggest barrier to achieving success this year would be ourselves. But as long as we have a clear goal we can be successful, One goal and one team.”

This team-first attitude has helped Smith develop into a complete athlete who excels in multiple sports. Beyond volleyball, he also enjoyed a successful basketball season, which he credits to supportive teammates.

“My basketball career this year was a great year which I got to play with great teammates that helped me with things outside of sports like Joel Desuze and Nasir Ruaf,” Smith shared. “These two guys were a big part of the reason I played basketball this year.”

Smith’s athletic versatility is matched by a strong support system that has enabled his development both on and off the court.

“My support system is my father and mother who are always helping me out in the process,” Smith acknowledged. “My father comes to the games and helps me focus on everything.”

He also credits several coaches beyond Batista, including “Coach Julian from Drew University and Coach Karl from GSE,” as well as his “Vice Principal and former WCT coaches Ali Aryakia and Justin Bevilacqua.”

As West Caldwell Tech continues its quest for back-to-back state championships, Smith remains focused on leaving a legacy that extends beyond volleyball statistics. His role as a leader and mentor to younger players, like middle blocker Ibrahim Desources, demonstrates his understanding that his impact transcends personal accomplishments.

“Our middle Ibrahim Desources is someone that looks up to me and I do my best to be a role model for him,” Smith said.

With his combination of extraordinary physical gifts, competitive drive, and team-first mentality, Timothy Smith has not only elevated West Caldwell Tech’s volleyball program to championship heights but has also secured his own promising future at the collegiate level. As he prepares to soar with the FDU Knights next fall, Smith continues to rise above the competition while lifting those around him in the process.