8/30/25
The future of New Jersey volleyball is incredibly bright! As the 2025 collegiate season kicks starts up, an exciting group of underclassmen have already secured their spots at prestigious universities across the nation. These early commitments from the Classes of 2026 and 2027 showcase the continued excellence and depth of Garden State volleyball talent.
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Division I Dominance: Elite Programs Come Calling
The crown jewel of this impressive group is Jadyn Clinksale from Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT), a 2027 graduate who has made perhaps the most eye-catching commitment by choosing Brigham Young University. The Cougars’ volleyball program is consistently ranked among the nation’s elite, making this a tremendous coup for both Clinksale and New Jersey volleyball. Jadyn plays her club volleyball at East Coast Crush.
Megan Evans from Paul VI (Class of 2026) has committed to powerhouse University of Connecticut, bringing her talents to the competitive Big East Conference. The UConn Huskies program has a rich volleyball tradition, and Evans (Jersey Juniors) will be stepping into one of the premier programs in the Northeast. Toms River South middle blocker Melanie Pinales (ECC) has committed to East Carolina University in the American Athletic Conference as a sophomore. The Pirates finished 19-10 last season, losing to UConn in the National Invitational Tournament.
Maggie Carcillo, also from Paul VI’s talented Class of 2026 (Jersey Juniors), is staying close to home but playing at the highest level with her commitment to St. John’s University. The Red Storm compete in the Big East alongside UConn, creating an exciting rivalry subplot between these two Paul VI teammates who will face each other in conference play.
Abby Kim (SideOut Sports) from Governor Livingston (2026) has chosen Loyola Maryland, a program known for its strong academic reputation and competitive Patriot League volleyball. Meanwhile, Sofia Hechavarria (USANY) from Lyndhurst (2026) will bring her skills to Sacred Heart University, a program that has been making waves in Division I volleyball.
Reese Murray from Holy Cross Prep (2026) has chosen East Stroudsburg University, a program known for its strong tradition in Division II volleyball within the PSAC.
Nola Duncan (Top Tier) from West Orange (2026) has committed to Towson University, adding another talented New Jersey player to the Colonial Athletic Association. Sofia D’Arcangelo (ECC) from Donovan Catholic will be playing for Caldwell College in 2026.
The geographic diversity continues with two Princeton High School standouts making unique choices: Naomi Lygas (2026) is heading to Tulane University for beach volleyball (P1440), while Kaelin Bobetich (2026) has chosen the University of San Francisco for beach volleyball as well (PrincetonVBC).
Division III Excellence: Academic and Athletic Balance
The Division III contingent showcases the perfect blend of academic excellence and competitive volleyball that defines many New Jersey student-athletes’ priorities.
Maya Foley (Princeton VBC) from Notre Dame (2026) has selected Babson College, one of the nation’s premier business schools, demonstrating the high academic standards these athletes maintain alongside their volleyball excellence. Babson’s volleyball program competes in the highly competitive New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).
Jayda Quigley (ECC) from Pinelands is heading to St. Joseph’s of Maine to play in GNAC. The were ranked 5th out of 14 squads in the division in the 2025 preseason poll.
Ella Torsiello (EssexVBC) from Glen Rock (2026) will join Drew University, staying relatively close to home while competing in the Landmark Conference. Drew’s program has been steadily building its reputation, and Torsiello’s commitment signals their continued upward trajectory.
Madyson Jennings (XtremeVBA) from Warren Hills (2026) is keeping her talents in-state with a commitment to Ramapo College, joining what has already become a pipeline of New Jersey talent to the Roadrunners’ program. Ramapo’s ability to consistently attract top Garden State players speaks to both their program quality and their strong recruiting relationships throughout New Jersey.
Early Commitments: A Testament to Excellence
What makes these commitments particularly impressive is their timing. These student-athletes have distinguished themselves early in their high school careers, catching the attention of college coaches while still having significant development time ahead of them.
The geographic spread is remarkable, from Jadyn Clinksale’s cross-country commitment to BYU to the beach volleyball opportunities in warmer climates for the Princeton HS athletes. This diversity shows that New Jersey volleyball players are not only excelling at the highest levels but are also sought after by programs with very different styles and specialties.
Program Pipelines and Recruiting Hotbeds
Several programs are already emerging as consistent sources of collegiate talent. Paul VI’s two Division I commitments (Evans to UConn, Carcillo to St. John’s) highlight the strength of their program, while Princeton’s unique beach volleyball commitments show the diverse paths available to top New Jersey players.
The early success of these commits also bodes well for their high school programs’ continued recruitment by college coaches. When elite programs like BYU, UConn, and St. John’s are already investing in New Jersey talent this early, it signals the continued respect for Garden State volleyball across the collegiate landscape.
The Future is Bright
As the current 2025 graduates begin their collegiate careers, this impressive group of 2026 and 2027 commits ensures that New Jersey’s reputation for producing elite volleyball talent will continue to grow. These early commitments not only validate the quality of coaching and competition within the state but also inspire the next wave of young players who dream of following in their footsteps.
The Garden State volleyball pipeline shows no signs of slowing down, and these early commits prove that the future of New Jersey volleyball is in excellent hands.