Linden High School boys volleyball team looking to make some noise this season
LINDEN, N.J. — The Linden High School boys鈥� volleyball team is hoping to build on the success they had last season when they made it to first round of the state tournament. The Tigers are coached by Jimmy Smith, who is beginning his fourth season as the head coach.
Smith is only the second head coach in the program鈥檚 history.聽 Current athletic director, Steven Viana, was instrumental in pushing to get the team off the ground about eight years ago. Smith has been deeply invested in the Linden school district for years working in the IT department while still in college, as an assistant coach for the football team for the past eight seasons and as a physical education teacher in School No. 5.聽 He gets many of his players from the football team.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I get a majority of my players,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no feeder program for boys鈥� volleyball here like there are with other sports. Most of these kids are playing for the first time when they get to high school other than in gym volleyball.鈥�
The Tigers have some key players returning this season. Senior Dennis Belch will be looked to for leadership and plays the libero position.聽 Belch has been a starter all four years. Senior Christian Garcia heads up the middle blocker spot and led the team in the kills category last season.聽 Senior Gabriel Aaroyo starts at the setter position, and Andrike Terry rounds out the seniors as an outside hitter.聽 Sophomore Vanderley Jasmine is expected to take on a bigger role with the varsity this year as he split his time between junior varsity and varsity last season.聽 He will focus on being a utility player.
The team also has several assistants to help starting with Mark Radil, who is one of the girls鈥� volleyball coaches in the fall season and a girls鈥� basketball coach in the winter. Lisa Radil, his wife, also lends support. Linden graduates, Daniel Rodrigues and Jonathan Rengifo, are two former players who have come back as volunteer assistants, which is a testament to the relationships Smith forms with his players.
鈥淚 always dreamed of being a head coach,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 enjoy helping young men on and off the court. I develop great relationships with my players that last beyond the sport.鈥�
Smith hopes to continue growing the program. In 2020, Smith wanted to start a tournament hosted at Linden High School, but the COVID-19 pandemic hit that same season and the idea had to be shelved.聽 Smith would like to run the competition in honor of his mom, who passed away when he was a teenager.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 do it for this year because I wasn鈥檛 sure what it would bring, but hopefully in years to come.鈥�
The Tigers compete in the Union County Conference.聽 Practices are set to begin March 11.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping our core players will carry us into the state tournament and make some noise this year,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淥ur hopes are to win it all.鈥�
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