A nearly perfect season last spring for the Scotch-Plains Fanwood boys volleyball team sets the stage for another notable year as the spring sports season is right around the corner.
The program has been remarkably successful since being introduced as a varsity sport in 2018. The team has repeated as Union County champions for five consecutive seasons and have defended the NJSIAA Group 3 Sectional title the last two seasons.
The only loss last season came from Old Bridge where the Raiders were bested in a battle between two of the best teams in the state. In its last three campaigns, SPF has only been beaten four times.
“I look at success, not measured by wins and losses, but whether the players are playing to the maximum of their abilities and desire,” Head Coach Brock Hor told The Fanscotian.
Six seniors were lost to graduation last year; five of whom were starters: Jeremy Zimmerman, Zachary Chung, Nicholas Schmidt, Guy Varela, and Kevin Indoe. Chung led the team with 441 digs last season and Schmidt tallied the most assists with 713. Although these seniors were considerable talents, the Raiders have a well-rounded roster of experienced players that will fill the open spots.
“Graduating three of the [five] key players from last year only changes certain elements. Tim Ennis, Dan Ennis, Ryan Pierson, Quinn Donahue, Kieran McElroy Barker, Michael Wojcik, and Ryan Adams all have varsity experience, and know what system we run,” Hor said.
Among those returning, senior outside hitter Tim Ennis stands out the most. He has individually climbed the rankings as being one of the top players in the state during his three years so far. He was acknowledged as the Union County Conference Player of the Year of 2023, made the All State First team list and joined the 500 kills club all last season.
“[Winning Union County Conference Player of the Year] is a great honor because my teammate won it when I was a freshman. Getting that title and keeping it in SPF is really special,” Ennis said.
“[Ennis] has already cemented his legacy with his individual accomplishments, but I know that [he] wants to graduate this program leaving it better than when he came in. His leadership and how he speaks about the future of this program is what solidifies what made one of the best players I have coached,” Hor said. “Tim always had one foot in the present but always looked two steps to the future.”
Even without his fellow hitter Zimmerman, Ennis will step up on a large scale this season by ushering the overall competitiveness of the team.
“Every year, new kids come into the gym, and we just want them to play hard because volleyball has become a very successful sport in the last six years. Being competitive at practice leads us to play well in games,” Ennis said.
Pierson, Donahue, Barker, Wojcik, and Adams are also expected to fill the roles of the graduated seniors to combat the vast competition in the state. Donahue will be taking over as the starting setter, a crucial position that controls the rhythm of the offense.
Tim Ennis alongside his sophomore brother Dan Ennis jump out as a possible pair that will emerge as a reckoning force, keeping the team as a contender to preserve the titles.
The Raiders first match is on the road against Linden on Monday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m..
Schedule for the remainder of the regular season:
4/2 vs. Piscataway
4/3 vs. Elizabeth
4/5 @ Westfield
4/9 @ Livingston
4/11 @ Oratory Prep
4/15 vs. Bridgewater-Raritan
4/16 vs. Summit
4/17 @ Union
4/19 vs. Roselle Catholic
4/22 @ Southern Regional
4/23 @ Elizabeth
4/25 vs. Westfield
4/29 @ Hillside
5/1 @ Hackensack
5/2 @ Belleville
5/3 @ Roselle
5/6 vs. Plainfield
5/8 @ Summit
5/9 @ East Brunswick
5/10 vs. Union
