A 20-win season and a division title were the hallmarks of another successful season by the Colts Neck High School boys volleyball team.
The Cougars maintained their status as one of the Shore Conference’s best teams, defending their public school A North Division title and receiving the No. 4 seed for the Shore Conference Tournament, which they were ousted from in the quarterfinals. The Cougars’ 20-7 record was impressive considering that head coach Glenn Jansen went out of his way to schedule quality non-conference opponents. The Cougars were seeded 10th in the NJSIAA Central Jersey playoffs and took No. 7-seed Hillsborough High School to three sets before falling.
The 20 wins were a school record for the Cougars in Jansen’s final year at the helm. He coached the Cougars for 14 season, winning 169 games.
“It’s been an amazing run,” Jansen said.
Spencer Matthews, one of the best players in the Shore Conference, was Colts Neck’s catalyst.
Overall, it was a good year for boys volleyball in the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD), with Howell High School (12-9) and Freehold High School (10-12) also qualifying for the Central Jersey tournament.
Matthews heads up the News Transcript’s 2016 All-FRHSD Boys Volleyball team and is joined by teammates Lucas Inglls, Nick Panicali and Luke Lallo. Completing the team are Howell’s Kyle Bosko and Matvei Nikishin and Freehold’s Harry Biddle.
Matthews is the last in a line of Matthews brothers who have helped elevate the Cougars’ program. Alistair Matthews, who preceded Spencer Matthews, was an all-state player, leading Colts Neck to a division crown. Following his lead, Spencer Matthews, an outside hitter, sparked the Cougars to a second straight division title this spring. The senior, who is going to continue to play volleyball in college at Alvernia University, delivered 237 kills and 135 digs. He served up 46 aces in what was another superb all-around season turned in by the veteran.
Panicali, who will be the face of the Cougars next year, blossomed into a dominating player in 2016. The junior smacked 258 kills. He had 108 digs and served up 56 aces. The Cougars will be built around their outside hitter next season.
Setter Inglis made it all work for Colts Neck with his superb passing. He gave the Cougars’ hitters the perfect setup for kills. He had 616 assists, as well as 30 blocks and 77 digs. He had 37 service aces. He’ll play for Ramapo College next year.
Lallo was a force on the front line with his 46 blocks and 88 kills.
Bosko, a senior, was a fortress for Howell at the net. He had 79 kills but, more impressively, had 81 blocks.
Defensive specialist Nikishin, who is just a sophomore, came up with 204 digs. He kept plays alive for the Rebels, which was a difference-maker.
Biddle was the Colonials’ front-line power. The senior had 169 kills on the season and eight blocks. He also had 66 digs and served up 13 aces in helping the Colonials complete a winning season and get into the state tournament.
