BY SIENNA BUCKLEY
The boys GMC and NJSIAA Group IV Champion volleyball team plans to come back stronger than ever and repeat their past success. Last year’s team only lost one match and just five total sets, but they will have to adjust to losing several key seniors to graduation.
Seven seniors have graduated and left the team, making room for new additions. “This year’s team is different from last year’s because we are a younger team,” said junior Jonah Pagulayan. “Last year’s team was filled with seniors, but, this year, we have people from every grade.”
The volleyball team will attempt to continue the three-year GMC Champion streak and the two-year State Champion streak. “I want to keep hanging out with [my teammates] outside of volleyball and reminding them we have a chance at winning it all and to keep the streak alive,” said last-years kills-leader Oskar Lapinski.
Following the great season they had last year, the boys have similar goals for themselves. “Besides winning games, one of our goals is just continuing to develop as a team,” said senior Akin Oyebode. “We want to focus on building trust, communication, and consistency on the court so we can work together as one unit.”
The boys will have to step up their game to continue their historic run. “My expectations going into the season are that we’ll win everything again,” added Lapinski, who had 317 kills last season. “I am not expecting it to be easy, and we are all anticipating quite a fight this year.”
Players spent the offseason improving their skills and preparing for the upcoming season. “I’ve been doing club volleyball at Warren six pack, going to the gym for strength and my vertical, and stretching, so I stay loose,” said junior Emanuel Marion. “It helped me get a lot better than last year.”
On March 31 at 5:30pm, the team returns to the court at home for their first game of the season against South Brunswick. “I think the key to the team having a successful season this year is to not be complacent and work for everything,” said Pagulayan.
Posted on March 31, 2026
Photos by Laila Mohamed-Ali and Lors Photography
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