Mustangs lifted by addition
Barry Faulkner
Officially, the Costa Mesa High boys volleyball season began
Wednesday with a three-game nonleague loss at Calvary Chapel. But the
dawn of what Coach Dave Sorrells promises to be an exciting campaign
came Monday, when senior Danny Krikorian joined the team.
Sorrells expects Krikorian, a first-team All-Golden West League
basketball player who played four varsity seasons for Coach Bob
Serven, to make an immediate and profound impact on the Mustangs,
despite not having played volleyball since his freshman year.
“What Danny brings as a player and a leader, is something we
didn’t have,” said Sorrells after witnessing Krikorian’s first
practice Monday. “Within a half hour, he was hitting the ball better
than anyone we’ve had here since B.J. Lightvoet (a former All-CIF
kill cruncher who graduated in 1999).
“(The 6-foot Krikorian) is still going to compete in track and
field, but he was able to clear up his schedule enough to join our
team,” Sorrells said. “We just got a whole lot better. This is huge.”
The Mustangs, who also picked up Ziad Pepic, a 5-10 senior who
played basketball, needed all the help they could get after losing
all the top players from a 2002 squad that earned an at-large berth
in the CIF Southern Section Division IV Playoffs, its first
postseason since 1999. Sorrells said he will need time to evaluate
how Pepic can contribute best.
Freshman Ryan Bagwell’s three kills were a team-high against
Calvary Chapel and the Mustangs dropped 3 of 4 one-game tournament
matches Saturday.
But Krikorian gives the team a go-to hitter, whose athleticism
will also pay off in other areas, Sorrells believes.
“He’ll play outside hitter and he’ll be in every passing
rotation,” Sorrells said.
Hoping to provide a little support will be a group that includes
five seniors up from the junior varsity.
John Santos is a 5-9 senior setter, backed up by senior Elias
Campos, who will help out in the back row, Sorrells said.
Darrell Wase is a 5-9 senior outside hitter who has improved
greatly, Sorrells said, and 5-11 senior Rocky Nguyen is another
outside hitter.
Adam Nili is a 5-11 senior outside hitter and 5-10 junior Mitch
Mandel is another veteran member of the program.
The 6-0 Bagwell shows promise and may wind up setting some,
Sorrells said.
Garrett Walthers is a 6-2 sophomore with promise and 6-3 sophomore
Gabriel Gonzalez adds size at the net.
Tony Krikorian, a 5-8 freshman who spent the basketball season
with his older brother on the varsity, will be counted upon to help
with ball control.
Freshman Andrew Melcer, a 5-2 back-row player, is among those
working hard to improve Sorrells said.
Sophomore Mike Huang, a 6-2 middle blocker, is expected to join
the lineup some time in the second round of league.
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