1994 BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW : SIX TEAMS TO WATCH : Laguna Beach

Coach: Michael Soylular (fourth year).

1993: 17-3, 10-0 in the Pacific Coast League. Lost in Division I semifinals to Capistrano Valley.

Key returners: Beau Bianchi, 6-4, outside hitter, Sr.; Kurt Nelson, 6-4, setter, Jr.; Dan Styles, 6-4, outside hitter, Jr; Trevor Whalley, 6-3, middle blocker, So.

Key newcomers: Mark Bergman, 6-3, outside hitter, Sr.; Bobby Cordova, 5-11, outside hitter, Sr.; Ryan Harmon, 5-7, back-row specialist, So.; James Kimball, 6-3, middle blocker, So.; Szlar Kovacs, 6-9, middle blocker, Sr.; Justin Maison, 5-11, outside hitter, Jr.; Ryan Satrappe, 5-11, outside hitter, So.

Outlook: After reaching the semifinals last season, the Artists could be ready to take the next step. County coaches agree that the one piece Laguna Beach was missing was a dominant middle blocker. Enter Kovacs, a 6-9 transfer from Hungary. Two all-league outside hitters return, Bianchi and Styles, and Nelson takes over for all-county setter David Berney, now at USC. Said Soylular: “We lost four starters so the question is if the talent will gel.”