Area Teams Finally Serving Notice : Up-and-Coming Squads Begin to Surface in Southern Section Polls

A few years ago, it would have been unheard of for a boys’ volleyball team from the region to upset an established power. But Royal High ushered in a new order March 4 in its opener when it beat Santa Barbara, the No. 2-ranked 4-A team, 15-9, 15-9, 16-14.

“Santa Barbara is no country bumpkin,” Royal Coach Bob Ferguson said. “This says a lot about your team.”

The statement it makes is that Royal--and perhaps other area teams--is among the elite of the Southern Section.

The growth of boys’ volleyball among Southern Section schools has exploded, with 218 teams playing in 28 leagues and three divisions. Five years ago, 138 schools fielded teams in 13 leagues and two divisions.

And nowhere is that surge more apparent than in the Valley region. Many area programs are only 4 or 5 years old, but one glance at the preseason Southern Section polls shows that the region quickly is becoming one of the most dominant.

“The play has really jumped another level for the boys,” said Jess Quiroz, whose Harvard-Westlake team is the defending Southern Section 3-A Division champion. “I think there are a lot of good coaches out there and the interest is really booming.”

In the 3-A alone, area teams Harvard-Westlake, Royal and Notre Dame hold down the top three positions in the preseason poll. Canyon, Hart, Camarillo and Crespi also are ranked in the 3-A poll, and Nordhoff is ranked in the 2-A.

Coaches cite the proliferation of area club volleyball programs for the improved play.

“When I first came here, seven years ago, the number of athletes who had played volleyball were few and far between,” Notre Dame Coach Jim Hall said. “Now we have players who are learning the game earlier. And the level of play is only going to get better.”

Hall, a 1980 Notre Dame graduate, personifies the change. He attended Notre Dame before the school instituted a boys’ volleyball program but learned the game on the beach and eventually played at Cal State Northridge.

“Now we have players coming to our program who have been playing club since junior high,” Hall said.

Said Hart Coach Ralph Ausman: “The skills of the younger players are significantly improved. What we have now are real volleyball players instead of good athletes who are learning the game. It takes a good two to three years of volleyball to start understanding the game. That’s something you can’t rush.”

As the quality of play improves, area teams can set their sights on the established powers in Orange County, the South Bay and Santa Barbara. The continuing improvement of area teams, combined with the fact that Royal and other Marmonte League schools have large enrollments, might force the league to move into the 4-A as early as next year.

“I don’t know if we are quite ready for that yet, but we’ll give it our best shot,” Ferguson said.

A look at the top teams:

SOUTHERN SECTION

Royal--Four-year starter Travis Ferguson, a 5-foot-11 setter, keys a versatile Highlander attack. The offense includes three solid outside hitters: Steve Hodge (6-3, junior), Steve Hambly (6-2, senior) and Brett Osterhoudt (6-2, senior). Kerry White (6-5, senior) and Josh White (6-5, junior) patrol the middle. Twins Josh and Joe Penrod, a pair of 6-5 hitters, give Royal depth.

Harvard-Westlake--The Wolverines open defense of their 3-A title with a new coach and a team that blends experience and youth. Quiroz, a longtime assistant who has replaced Mark Zalin, has built his team around seniors Steve Keck, a 6-4 middle blocker, and Chris Hopkins, a 5-10 setter-outside hitter. Two other seniors, Dan Martin (6-0, outside hitter) and Greg Young (6-1, middle blocker) should contribute along with a talented group of sophomores led by Seth Rodsky (6-3, middle blocker), Doug Park (5-11, outside hitter) and Matt Sebree (6-0, outside hitter).

Notre Dame--Ball control and passing are team strengths, but the Knights will emphasize their attack with setter Tim Lennon (6-2, senior) back to guide the offense. Among Lennon’s favorite targets are Tom Stillwell, a 6-8 junior middle blocker with a 35-inch vertical leap, and Morgan Hay, a 6-0 senior outside hitter.

Matt Morgan, a 6-1 senior, gives the Knights an added dimension on the outside with his left-handed hitting. Sophomores Jimmy Swerkes (5-9, outside hitter), Chris Hunt (6-4, middle blocker) and Ryan Equizi (5-11, setter) also should help.

Canyon--The Cowboys, ranked sixth in the 3-A, have won four consecutive Golden League titles but will field an inexperienced team. Rob Trilk (6-1, senior), a three-year starter at outside hitter, is the only player left from last year’s regular lineup. Two other seniors will move up from reserves roles: Joe Ferguson (6-4, middle blocker) and Adrian Lorenzana (6-2, middle blocker).

Brian Stires (5-9, junior) has won the setting job, and Russ Lynn (6-0, junior) could provide explosiveness as an outside hitter. Brent Phillips (6-2, outside hitter) is a promising sophomore.

Hart--The Indians, No. 8 in the 3-A, might challenge Canyon’s Golden League reign with a veteran team. Setter Chris Quinlan (6-1, senior) is a three-year starter who was named most valuable player at the USC volleyball camp last summer. Outside hitters Chad Strickland (6-0, junior) and Ken Gawley (6-1, senior) are outstanding passers. Tim Morshead (6-3, sophomore, outside hitter), Keith Matkin (6-5, junior, middle blocker) and Bryan Ellis (6-2, junior, outside hitter) should help Hart to execute a balanced attack.

Camarillo--Coach Bob Cornelius expects this team to become the school’s best. Camarillo is ranked ninth in the 3-A. Brady Andresen (6-3, senior setter-outside hitter) runs an attack that includes two left-handed hitters, Andy Angeles (5-9, junior) and Dan Hess (6-3, junior).

Dan Wachter (6-0, senior) shares setting chores with Andresen in a 6-0 offense (in which two setters are used instead of one and there are always three hitters in the front row). Andy Wade (6-0, junior) is an outstanding middle blocker.

Crespi--The Celts, ranked 10th in the 3-A, have qualified for the playoffs in five of the past six years. Coach Ken Slattum believes this team can challenge for the Mission League title. Middle blocker Marcus Sumner (6-4, senior) keys the defense with his quickness, and Mike Lees (6-5, junior) has made a successful move from the middle to outside hitter. Phil Gajic (5-11, senior), a back-row specialist last season, has taken over at setter. Nick Di Pasquale (6-2, middle blocker) is a promising sophomore, and Bill Rojas (6-2, junior) and Cass Smith (6-2, senior) provide outside hitting strength.

Nordhoff--The Rangers, ranked ninth in the 2-A, boast one of the Southern Section’s top players in 6-0 senior Kevin Cochran. Cochran, who has a 40-inch vertical leap, is an outside hitter.

Tim Sebek (6-4, senior) has a year of experience as a middle blocker. Thanis Randopoulos (6-2, senior) joins Sebek in the middle, and Jeremy Stallings (5-7, sophomore) and Jim Flynn (6-2, senior) will share responsibilities at setter. Blake Coleman is a solid passer, and senior Randy Jewell will help at outside hitter.

Taft--Coach Doug Magorien has scheduled several top-notch Southern Section teams this season to try to prepare his team for the City Section playoffs. The Toreadors were seeded No. 2 in the City 4-A playoffs last spring but lost in the quarterfinals to University.

Taft, an experienced and athletic team, is led by setter Ryan Cooper (6-0, senior) and a pair of basketball standouts, outside hitters Casey Sheahan (6-2, senior) and Adam James (6-1, senior). Daniel Kim (6-1, junior) is one of the City’s top performers at outside hitter.

Granada Hills--The Highlanders reached the City 4-A final last year, but the current squad lacks the experience of last year’s senior-oriented team. Bobby Curtis (6-3, senior) is the only returning starter, but the lineup will be enhanced by setter Greg Webb (6-2, senior), a transfer from Chaminade.