2026 Empire 8 Men's Volleyball Players to Watch

Men's Volleyball | 1/9/2026 11:00:00 AM

The 2026 Empire 8 men's volleyball season is set to begin on Saturday, January 10, 2026 with three teams in action. This will be the final season before the Empire 8 officially sponsors men's volleyball as championship sport in 2027. Seven teams will compete this season with Hartwick College joining the group in their inaugural season. 

Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the Empire 8 Network.  

ELMIRA COLLEGE - Head Coach Eddie Daoreuang
Luke Jata, Jr., OH, Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge – Jata finished the 2025 season with 216 kills and was ninth in the United Volleyball Conference in both kills (2.67) and points (3.49) per set last season

Nick Rohman, So., S, Levittown, NY/Division Avenue - Rohman finished his debut season averaging 6.43 assists per set, totaling 135. He will be looked at to be a leader for the Soaring Eagles in 2026. 

HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Joshua Bigford
Nate Roorbach, Fr., S, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora - Roorbach is set to take the court for the first time in his collegiate career in 2026. He will be exciting to watch in the Hawks' debut season. 

Anthony Ruggiero, Fr., OH, Schenectady, NY/Guilderland - Ruggiero will also be playing in his debut season in 2026. He will be expected to take on a big offensive role for the Hawks. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Mark Corbin
Jerry Buno, So., S, Portland, OH/Skyview - Buno finished his season totaling 260 assists, averaging 3.61 assists per game. Defensively, he totaled 92 digs averaging 1.26 per set. 

Devin Cline, Jr., MH, Belmont, NY, Genesee Valley-Belfast - Cline was a top contributor offensively for the Highlanders last season. He was top-three in kills totaling 102. He averaged 1.55 kills per set. He hadded 12 service aces, 45 digs and 25 blocks in 2025. 

NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Eben Meyer
AJ Burda, Sr., S, Fairport, NY/Fairport - Burda led the Golden Flyers with 712 assists and averaged 7.19 assists per set. He was sixth in the UVC in assists per set. He also finished third on the team in digs totaling 151. 

Ryan Murphy, So., MB, Penfield, NY/Penfield - Murphy had an outstanding first season with the Golden Flyers. He led the team in blocks with 57. He ranked ninth in his conference in hitting percentage with .349. He registered 131 kills and 31 digs on the season. 

SUNY POLY - Head Coach Daniel Short
PJ Gottler, Sr., OH, Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute - Gottler finished his junior season leading the team in kills with 340. He averaged 3.04 kills per set, putting him fifth in his conference, and hit at .275 percent. He was also third in his conference in service aces per set with 0.44 with 41 total. 

Thomas McNulty, Sr., LB, Port Jefferson Station, NY/ Comsewogue - McNulty, the 2025 Empire 8 Co-Libero/Defensive Player of the Year, had a stellar season. He totaled 350 digs, averaging 3.10 digs per set. His dig numbers led his conference. He also had an impressive .939 reception percentage. 

RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Reid Hartl
Dylan Fox, Jr., OPP, Albany, NY/Colonie - Fox, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, was a first team E8 all-conference pick last season. He finished is 2025 season with 325 kills and averaged 3.01 kills per set. He addd 164 total digs and 60 blocks. He finished second in his conference in total kills.

Anthony Guetti, So. S, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa - Guetti finished his debut season with 813 assists and averaged 7.26 assists per set. These numbers put him fifth in his conference. He added 116 digs and 36 blocks on the season. 

ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Matt Cohen
Casey Jackson, Sr., OH, Spencerport, NY/Spencerport - Jackson played in 88 sets over 27 matches in his 2025 season. He finished third on the team with 154 kills and fourth with 93 digs. He also amassed 21 service aces and 21 total blocks on his way to second team all-E8 honors. 

Sonepith Keoviengsamay, Jr., OH, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy - Keoviengsamay, the 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year, earned second team all-E8 honors last season after slamming 155 kills while hitting nearly .250 across 68 sets over 23 matches. 
 

• Dylan Fox, Russell Sage, Jr., OPP, Albany, NY/Colonie - 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year
• Sonepith Keoviengsamay, St. John Fisher, Jr., OH, Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy - 2024 Empire 8 Co-Rookie of the Year