Top GMC Boys Volleyball Players to Watch in 2026

Standout athletes from across the Greater Middlesex Conference poised for breakout seasons

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:10pm

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As the 2026 boys volleyball season gets underway, several top players from the Greater Middlesex Conference are primed to make an impact. This list highlights the top returning talents, including senior standouts and rising stars, who are expected to lead their teams to success this year.

Why it matters

Boys volleyball continues to grow in popularity across New Jersey, with the GMC being one of the state's most competitive conferences. These players to watch represent the next generation of volleyball stars who will shape the landscape of the sport in the Garden State.

The details

The list includes impact players from each of the GMC's divisions. In the Blue Division, South River's Antony Diatchuki, New Brunswick's Bryan Martinez, and Perth Amboy's Eduard Monsanto are poised for big seasons. The Red Division is headlined by Old Bridge's Oskar Lapinski, St. Joseph (Met.)'s Dominic Nycz, and the Monroe duo of Ansh Patel and Shreesh Santhosh. Colonia's Joel Velez, Piscataway's Benjamin Coombs, and the J.P. Stevens pair of Aryan Kharra and James Lugo highlight the White Division players to watch.

  • The 2026 boys volleyball regular season is currently underway.

The players

Antony Diatchuki

A senior at South River who led the team in kills last season and was second in blocks.

Bryan Martinez

A senior at New Brunswick who logged 137 digs and 64 kills last season and will take on an expanded role on the attack this year.

Eduard Monsanto

A senior at Perth Amboy who was the team's primary setter last season and will look to run the offense again with multiple returning pieces.

Oskar Lapinski

A senior at Old Bridge who is arguably the top player in the state coming into the season after recording 317 kills as a junior.

Dominic Nycz

A senior at St. Joseph (Met.) who eclipsed the 300-kill mark last season and returns as the Falcons' top weapon.

Ansh Patel

A sophomore at Monroe who finished with 164 kills last season, the second-highest total for a returning player in the GMC.

Shreesh Santhosh

A senior at Monroe who was second on the team with 187 kills last season and will now take over the top role in the offense.

Joel Velez

A senior at Colonia who totaled 527 assists and 125 digs last season as the team's setter and will be at the center of the Patriots' attack again.

Benjamin Coombs

A junior at Piscataway who led the team with 155 kills as a sophomore and is part of a dynamic duo with classmate Timothy Washington.

Aryan Kharra

A junior at J.P. Stevens who led the team with 227 kills last season and is part of a talented junior class for the Hawks.

James Lugo

A junior at J.P. Stevens who was the full-time starter as a sophomore in 2025, finishing with 540 assists, 90 digs, and 43 kills.

Angel Santiago-Morales

A senior at Edison who was among the team leaders in blocks last season and is expected to take on a bigger role in the offense this year.

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The takeaway

The GMC is home to an impressive collection of boys volleyball talent, with several standout players poised to lead their teams to success this season. These athletes represent the next wave of stars who will shape the sport's future in New Jersey.