Boys volleyball: Not short on drive

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - It’s usually not a good sign when the female coach is

taller than half the boys volleyball team’s starting lineup. Especially

when the coach is only 5-foot-9.

“It keeps them humble,” quipped Estancia High Coach Tracey Heims, who

sees eye-to-forehead with four of her six starters.

What they lack in height, the Eagles hope they can make up for with

ball control, said Heims, an Estancia alum in her first season, after

guiding the school’s girls program in her coaching debut last fall.

“Ball control is all we’ve been practicing and I’ve been impressed,”

said Heims, a former setter who won a state championship as a freshman at

Golden West College in 1994. “Every guy can pass, so we don’t have to

hide anyone in the corner.”

Heims, whose team opened Thursday against Orange, said she plans to

have 10 varsity players, with at least as many on a junior varsity team.

But, while still evaluating personnel, she zeroed in on seven players

expected to contribute heavily to the varsity.

Senior Dan Wotta, a 6-2 outside hitter, will be the go-to hitter.

“He’s going to be our star,” Heims said. “We have a lot of guys who

can hit the ball hard, but he hits it quick. He has a quick wrist snap

that could give him an advantage against blockers.

Wotta will field sets from a pair of setters, led by 5-8 senior Don

Phan. “He’s a great setter and a great athlete,” Heims said. “He played

JV last year, for whatever reason, but he’s really looking forward to his

senior year.”

Nick Rycroft, a 5-7 senior, is the other setter in the six-two scheme.

Jess Helmich, a 5-6 sophomore newcomer, and John Lindsay, a 5-7

senior, are additional outside hitters, while Jeff Niles, a 6-3 senior,

will also start.

Josh Kornegay, a 6-0 freshman, will lead the reserves, most of whom,

Heims said, have yet to distinguish themselves.

“I’m the third coach in three years, so a lot of what I’m teaching is

still new to everyone,” Heims said. “But I think this group has more

talent than my first girls team did and these guys are very motivated. I

end practice everyday and the guys usually stay around for another hour

scrimmaging. I can’t kick them out of the gym.”

Estancia roster

Dan Wotta 6-2 Sr.

Don Phan 5-8 Sr.

Nick Rycroft 5-7 Sr.

Jess Helmich 5-6 So.

John Lindsay 5-7 Sr.

Jeff Niles 6-3 Sr.

Josh Kornegay 6-0 Fr.

Coach: Tracey Heims