2019's Top 10 Boys Long Island Volleyball Players to Watch this Season

Ryan Barnett #24

Position: Outside

School: Westhampton Beach High School Class of 2021

Committed to Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA

Club: Academy Volleyball

Last Season Stats

165 kills, Ranked 4th on Long Island

87 digs, Ranked 7th on Long Island

15 aces, Ranked 7th on Long Island

Getting To Know Ryan:

Favorite pump-up song: Two Step by Dave Matthews band

Game day superstitions: Eat a Snickers bar before game

All time favorite athlete: Martin Brodeur

His advice for younger players: Trust the process

Most influential coach: Coach Dezy

Skills/techniques he works on the most: Passing

Will Boeri #21

Position: Middle and Right Side

School: Smithtown High School West Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Club Team: LIVBC

Awards & Achievements: All division

Last Season stats

101 kills, Ranked 9th on Long Island

31 blocks, Ranked 4th on Long Island

Getting to know Will:

Favorite pump-up song: Power by Kanye West

All time favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant

Inspiration as a young athlete: Micheal Phelps

His advice for younger players: Every time you step on the court give it your all and just enjoy the moment while it lasts

Most influential coach: Coach Andrew Sanchez

Other sports he plays competitively: Track and field

His strengths on the court: Blocking

Adam Burkk #9

Position: Outside Hitter

School: Eastport South Manor Class of 2020

Club Team: LIVBC

Awards & Achievements: States Finalist, Named All County

Last Season Stats:

58 kills, Ranked 13th on Long Island

Getting To Know Ryan:

Favorite pump-up song: Middle Child by J. Cole

All time favorite athlete: Luis Severino

Inspiration as a young athlete: His Father

Favorite volleyball memory: The hype before States as a sophomore

His advice for younger players: Everything comes with time

Most influential coach: Coach Bill Kropp

Trey Cole #13

Position: Outside and Libero

School: Connetquot High School Class of 2020

Committed to Pepperdine University, Malibu CA

Club Team: Academy Volleyball

Awards & Achievements: Member of the USA National Team. Named Rookie of the Year, All Division, 3x All County, 2x Libero of the Year, All County Tournament Team, All Long Island. Rated 1st Libero in the Country for 2020 by Volleymags, East Coach Champion.

Getting to Know Trey:

Favorite pump-up song: Capo by NLE Choppa

Game day superstition: He must wipe his shoes before every serve receive

All time favorite athlete: Lebron James

Most influential coach: His Dad

His strengths on the court: Leadership and ball control

Skill/Technique he works on the most: His Jump Serve

Robert Copozzi #7

Position: Outside

School: Center Moriches High School Class of 2020

Committed to Marist College (for baseball)

Awards & Achievements: Named 2x All County, All Long Island First team

Last Season Stats

288 kills, Ranked 1st on Long Island

23 aces, Ranked 2nd on Long Island

155 digs, Ranked 3rd on Long Island

12 blocks, Ranked 11th on Long Island

Getting to Know Robert:

Game day superstition: He must slap the back line before each game

All time favorite athlete: Derek Jeter

Inspiration as a young athlete: Growing up watching his sister play volleyball

His advice for younger players: Don’t let the past affect the present and to just have fun

Most influential coach: Coach Andrew Sanchez

His strengths on the court: Hitting and Passing

AJ Fitzgerald #19

Position: Outside

School: Sachem North High School Class of 2020

Club Team: Academy Volleyball

Awards & Achievements: Named All State, All Long Island First Team, All County, and Rookie of the Year

Last Season Stats

173 kills, Ranked 3rd on Long Island

86 digs, Ranked 8th on Long Island

11 Aces, Ranked 12th on Long Island

Getting to Know AJ:

Favorite pump-up song: Money in the Grave (feat. Rick Ross) by Drake

All time favorite athlete: Matt Grace (his brother)

Favorite volleyball memory: Winning Counties and the Long Island Championship

Most influential coach: Coach Matt Rivera, Coach Distefano, and Coach Rick Cole

His strengths on the court: Always encouraging his team and doing whatever it takes to help the team succeed

Skills/Techniques he works on the most: Serving and serve receive

CJ Johnson #13

Position: Setter

School: Sachem North High School Class of 2020

Awards & Achievements: Named All County, All County Tournament MVP, All Long Island Second Team

Last Season Stats:

371 assists, Ranked 3rd on Long Island

35 digs, Ranked 19th on Long Island

Getting to know CJ:

Favorite pump-up song: Bad Boys for Life

All time favorite athlete: Shaquille O'Neal

Inspiration as a young athlete: His Father

Favorite volleyball memory: Piling on the court after winning the Long Island Championship and going to States

His advice for younger players: Always put your team first, don’t be selfish

Most influential coach: Coach Matthew Rivera

His strengths on the court: Communication and anticipating plays

Ryan Parker #22

Position: Setter

School: Northport High School Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Last Season Stats

129 assists, Ranked 7th on Long Island

75 kills, Ranked 11th on Long Island

Getting to Know Ryan:

All time favorite athlete: Lebron James

Favorite volleyball memory: Placing 5th at Nationals

His advice for younger players: Enjoy your High School years and always work hard

His strengths on the court: Being transparent when he sets and his attacking ability

Skills/Techniques he works on the most: Passing

If he could play volleyball in any other country it would be in either Germany or Italy.

Quincy Rooi #15

Position: Outside, Opposite, Middle, Setter

School: Sachem East High School. Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Club Team: LIVBC

Awards & Achievements: Won the All County Setter Award and was named All Tournament

Getting to Know Quincy:

Favorite pump-up song: 223's by YNW Melly and Stand Up by Kevin Scott

All time favorite athlete: Roberto Clemente

Favorite volleyball memory: Going to Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona

His advice for younger players: Stay on the grind and don't worry about winning or losing, you just need to improve as a player

Most influential coach: Coach Sanchez

Skills/Techniques he works on the most: He always tries to work on passing more than hitting because “you can't hit a ball if you aint even good at passing”

Mark Williams #16

Position: Outside Hitter

School: Sachem North High School

Not yet committed

Club: Academy Volleyball

Awards & Achievements: Won the Long Island Championship and was a State finalist. Named All County, All County Tournament

Getting to Know Mark:

Favorite pump-up song: Trophies (feat. Drake) by Young Money

All time favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant

Inspiration as a young athlete: The tradition within Sachem North Volleyball/former players

Favorite volleyball memory: County or LIC champs

His advice for younger players: Always be mentally prepared before playing and focus on one point at a time

Most influential coach: Coach Matt Distephano, aka Coach Dezy

His strengths on the court: Leadership, good energy and passing

Honorable Mentions

Nick Bianco #11

Position: Opposite

School: Massapequa High School Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Club: LIVBC

Jacob Waga #28

Position: Outside/Opposite

School: Commack High School Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Club: LIVBC

Finn McCandless #4

Position: Outside/Middle

School: Lindenhurst High School Class of 2020

Not yet committed

Club: LIVBC