Grand Island Enters 2026 With Veteran Core Across the Court

Overview

• Grand Island's roster includes experienced seniors Lucas Soto, Luke Nowocien, Ben Frey, Will Meyers, Owen Parker and Wes Pelczynski.
• The schedule starts with an early road test at Lockport, followed by Kenmore at home on Sept. 15 and road matches at Niagara Falls, Frontier and Niagara Wheatfield before the end of September.
• HighSchoolSports.org published Grand Island at 14-4 in 2025-26, part of a multi-year run under coach Bill Schultz that gives the program a strong recent standard.

Grand Island Boys Volleyball Pre-season Preview

Grand Island has enough familiar names back to enter the 2026 boys volleyball season with a clear base of experience.

Coach Bill Schultz's roster includes senior setter Lucas Soto, who has appeared in multiple prior seasons, giving Grand Island a veteran option in a key offensive role. Senior outside hitters Luke Nowocien, Will Meyers and Owen Parker also return, while Ben Frey returns at opposite and Wes Pelczynski gives Grand Island another senior defensive piece.

There is also a younger group that could shape the rotation as the season builds. Austin Clause and Leo D'Angelo are listed at libero, Jake Scott at outside hitter, Vytas Stalyga and Dillon McCarthy in the middle, Christian Hinkle at opposite and Liam Smith at opposite. Senior Andrew MacConkey is also listed in the middle, and Aaron Vizzi gives the roster a second senior setter.

Grand Island's recent standard is notable. In HighSchoolSports.org's published results, Grand Island went 14-4 in 2025-26 after seasons of 11-5 in 2024-25 and 9-6 in 2023-24.

The schedule gives Grand Island very little time to ease in. Grand Island opens Sept. 9 at Lockport, then hosts Kenmore on Sept. 15 before road matches at Niagara Falls on Sept. 16, Frontier on Sept. 19 and Niagara Wheatfield on Sept. 21.

Later landmarks include a home match with Lockport on Oct. 6, Niagara Falls visiting Grand Island on Oct. 14, Niagara Wheatfield coming in on Oct. 16 and St. Joseph's on Oct. 21. The listed schedule closes with a road match at Lancaster on Oct. 28.

With senior returners at setter, outside hitter, opposite and defensive specialist, Grand Island's preseason outlook starts with continuity. The next step is turning that experience into a steady lineup against a schedule that gets busy right away.