Boys volleyball: Experience the difference

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Since experiencing the birth of his first child in

November, Corona del Mar High boys volleyball coach Steve Conti deals

daily with youthful inexperience. To a much lesser degree, the

seventh-year head man faces a similar challenge with this year’s Sea

Kings, who have just three senior returners (and another up from the

junior varsity) from a team that played in the program’s fifth

consecutive CIF Southern Section title match last spring.

John Grod, a 5-foot-11 senior opposite, is the only returning starter

from a team that shared the Pacific Coast League crown with Northwood,

which returns everyone and is the league favorite this season.

CdM was eventually swept by Santa Ynez in the Division IV title match

and finished 15-7.

Grod, who played outside hitter last season, when his contributions

were primarily with ball control, should, once again, be a stabilizing

force with passing and defense. But, perhaps, his biggest asset will be

leadership.

“Leadership plays such a vital role,” said Conti, who named Grod and

senior setter Spencer Miller this year’s co-captains. “I think it’s more

important than any skill, because it’s not just something that affects

one player. It affects the entire team.”

Miller, a backup last year to PCL MVP Evan Burden, one of four

starters who graduated with All-CIF honors, will run the show.

“He played a lot in the back row and he did set some matches for us,”

Conti said. “He has had to wait his turn, just like Evan did, and I think

he’s ready to seize the opportunity.”

Ryan Inman, a 6-4 middle blocker, also received some playing time last

season. He’ll step in for graduated Forrest Mack, after recovering from

torn ankle ligaments which sidelined him for all but three games of his

senior basketball season.

“He’s still limited in some things we’re doing in practice,” Conti

said last week. “I’d say he’s about 90%, but he’s still mentally coming

off the injury.”

Conti said Inman is also coming off a solid junior season, in which he

got plenty of action when Mack missed time with injuries.

“(Inman) was great for us at the end of last year,” Conti said. “He

started for us when we swept Northwood and Laguna Beach in league. He has

paid his dues, but, before our first practice, he hadn’t touched a

volleyball since the summer. It takes awhile to get the cobwebs off.”

Bart Welch, a 6-0 junior who has played outside and opposite and could

also set, provides some experience, versatility and a familiar theme with

this year’s group: athleticism.

“We have a lot of depth at outside hitter, but if I had to pick a

starting lineup today, (Welch) would be in there, because he’s

experienced and he competes real hard throughout practice,” Conti said.

Miles Yourman, a versatile 6-2 junior, is among those battling for

playing time.

Brian Brinkerhoff, a 6-4 junior, is in the mix in the middle, while

Greg Gabriel, a 5-11 junior, will provide valuable depth at setter.

Eric Jones, a 6-6, 210-pound junior, could provide an imposing

presence in the middle, while 6-2 junior Gunnar McClellan is among those

Conti believes lack only experience.

Brandon Sherrick-Odom, a 6-2 junior who also played basketball, is

another of Conti’s athletes, while freshmen twins Kevin and Tom Welch

have already shown they clearly belong on the varsity, Conti said.

Senior Charlie Stafford rounds out a 13-member roster stocked with

seven juniors and two freshmen.

“It’s an athletic group, but it’s the youngest I’ve ever had,” Conti

said. “We have no superstars, but it’s one of the deepest teams I’ve had,

top to bottom.”

Conti said not being the team to beat in the PCL, a distinction it has

had since joining the circuit before the 2000 season, could also be a

plus.

“I think we can approach this season the way Sarah Hughes approached

the Olympics,” Conti said. “She wasn’t expected to win, so she went in

wanting to work hard, have fun and see what happens. So, what happened?

She nailed it.”

It may take Conti awhile to nail down his rotation.

“It’s so competitive right now, it’s going to take a few matches for

me to figure out which group of guys is best together,” he said. “You can

see some things in practice, but it’s the matches where you really see

who likes to compete and who can execute and do the things you need to be

successful.”

That process begins Friday, when the Sea Kings begin play in the

Francis Parker Tournament in San Diego.

Corona del Mar boys volleyball

John Grod 5-11 Sr.

Spencer Miller 6-0 Sr.

Ryan Inman 6-4 Sr.

Bart Welch 6-0 Jr.

Miles Yourman 6-2 Jr.

Brian Brinkerhoff 6-4 Jr.

Greg Gabriel 5-11 Jr.

Eric Jones 6-6 Jr.

Gunnar McClellan 6-2 Jr.

Brandon Sherrick-Odom 6-2 Jr.

Kevin Welch 6-1 Fr.

Tom Welch 5-11 Fr.

Charlie Stafford 6-0 Sr.

Coach: Steve Conti