Senior Spotlight: Hackensack volleyball player Jason van der Wilt

The 6-foot-4 middle hitter wanted to keep improving his game after helping the Hackensack boys volleyball team finish 25-7 and win the Big North Freedom Division this spring.

Coach Bob Bollerman suggested that the rising senior try beach volleyball. So van der Wilt has been traveling down the Shore every Sunday with classmate Nick Esposito, a libero, to play tournaments in Point Pleasant and Seaside Heights.

"Playing on sand is a lot harder than playing indoors, obviously," van der Wilt said. "You do a lot more moving, and you have to communicate more … it helps with speed, jumping, my all-around game."

"All-around" is the best way to describe his contributions to the Comets in 2016. Despite missing a handful of games with a sore knee, van der Wilt finished second on the team in kills (170) and digs (143) and led the way in blocks (37) and aces (48).

The latter stat, which ranked No. 2 in North Jersey, accentuates an impressive skill. With his height and reach, he is able to deliver standing-topspin serves accurately, putting movement on the ball that typically requires a full-jump-serve for other players.

"His brother [Erik] played with me his freshman and sophomore years [2011-12], and Jason used to come all the time and watch," Bollerman said. "[Jason] got into it and knew that he was going to play in high school."

"I played a little volleyball in middle school," van der Wilt admitted, "but I really started playing competitively my freshman year."

The Rochelle Park resident actually plays two sports that were not on his radar before coming to Hackensack. He joined the boys bowling team as a junior, in part to keep excess stress off his knees ahead of volleyball season.

"Growing up, I played soccer, basketball and baseball," he said. "I played basketball my freshman and sophomore years, but going into my junior year, I had a minor knee injury that prevented me from doing soccer and basketball."

Fortunately for van der Wilt and the Comets, he is a quick study. His bowling average last winter was 152 in league play and higher in tournaments. The right-hander shot his first 600 series in the afternoon round of the Bergen County tournament en route to averaging 192.7 over six games and placing 23rd in a field of 150-plus.

"Right now, I’m also doing a [summer] bowling league, which is helping me for that season," van der Wilt said.

His No. 1 sport remains volleyball. He and Esposito are entering their fourth year on varsity, and Hackensack will need them to step up following the graduation of four-year lettermen Edward Emedoh and Mac DiTomasso.

Van der Wilt has chalked up 344 kills, 340 digs and 77 aces to date, and in each of his first three seasons, the Comets’ win total has gone up. This year, they played in their first Bergen final since 2003 and claimed their first division title since 2004.

The hope is for more success to come, in high school and beyond.

"Playing volleyball in college is definitely something that I’ve dreamed about the past few years," said van der Wilt, who would like to study business. "I’ve been in contact with a few schools, but as of now, I haven’t really made any decisions about where I’m headed."

Email: tartaglia@northjersey.com