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.