The quest for a title begins

Opening day of the 2024 season is quickly approaching, and many teams across the state have been preparing accordingly by playing in scrimmages against both in conference and out of conference opponents.

Those scrimmages have offered coaches to see which rotations and lineup pairings work best together, and players the opportunity to improve on skills that they might’ve picked up last season or in the offseason.

But on Monday it all starts up again for real. Powerhouses will look to defend its state titles. Young programs on the rise will attempt to break though into the state’s elite. Top players will set new records and put their teams on their backs, and yet there will be as many new names and faces that are just starting their journey of being some of the best in the state.

As with the start of every new season, we also release our Preseason Top 20. Four teams who were unranked at the end of last season have taken the place of several teams in last season’s final ranking. The remaining 16 teams all had a spot in last season’s final Top 20.

Let the madness begin. Below you’ll find the entire NJ.com Boys Volleyball Preseason Top 20 for the 2024 season.

1-Southern

2023 final record: 31-1

2023 final ranking: No. 1

After ending the 2023 season as the No. 1 team in the state, Southern will start the 2024 season in the exact same spot. The Rams spent much of last season in the No. 2 spot and chasing Old Bridge but a win over the Knights in the South, Group 4 sectional final changed the tides before an eventual Group 4 championship just a few days later. Lucas Kean, one of the best players in school history, has moved on but there’s still plenty of talent returning with Jack McKenna and Angelo Addiego.

Season opener: April 2 vs. Toms River North, 10:00

2-Old Bridge

2023 final record: 29-1

2023 final ranking: No. 3

Old Bridge slots into the No. 2 spot to start this season after spending most of last season as the top team in the state. The Knights’ only loss came in the South 4 sectional final to Southern, which also ended its run of four consecutive state championships, but this team should be right back in the conversation for winning another state title this season. There was star power lost from last season, but Massimo Roco, Nicholas Do, and Troy Markle highlight a still very talented team in the GMC. The Knights’ April 17 matchup against Southern is one that everyone should have circled.

Season opener: April 3 vs. West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 5:30

3-Scotch Plains-Fanwood

2023 final record: 31-1

2023 final ranking: No. 2

The reigning Group 3 champion, Scotch Plains-Fanwood returns arguably the top player in the state in Tim Ennis. Despite the graduations of Nicholas Schmidt, Jeremy Zimmerman, and Zach Chung, Ennis’ return gives the Raiders a star to build around that most other teams don’t have. Players such as Dan Ennis, Ryan Pierson, and Kirean McElroy Barker will be relied on more than they’ve been in past seasons, but this…