Mesa building toward future

Bryce Alderton

For the first time in his four years as head coach of the Costa Mesa

High boys volleyball team, Dave Sorrells “has a program.”

“The last three years, I’ve had very few returning players,” said

Sorrells, whose Mustangs needed only their first two matches to equal

the win total of a year ago. “Last year, I didn’t have one returning

varsity player and had 13 guys who had never played varsity

volleyball before.”

This year is a bit different. The Mustangs return four players and

feature five sophomores who are already playing quite a bit.

Junior middle blocker Garrett Walthers earned first-team

All-Golden West League accolades last year and is one of three

Mustangs who honed their skills playing for club teams in the

off-season. Returning sophomores Ryan Bagwell, a 6-1 setter and

outside hitter, along with setter Andrew Melcer, are the other two.

Bagwell earned second-team all-league honors last year. Senior

outside hitter Mitch Mandel also returns.

“Garrett has been crushing the ball in the middle,” Sorrells said.

“He is really hitting well.” So much so that Sorrells is

contemplating a position change.

“Even though [Walthers] is hitting well in the middle, there is

still the thinking of moving him to the outside because he is such a

good hitter.”

The Mustangs have some firepower off the blocks with senior

outside hitter Mike Torrenueza making his varsity debut, along with

sophomores Ryan French, Trevor Smith and Will Lefebvre. Smith has

started at outside hitter while Sorrells began the season using two

setters -- Melcer and Bagwell. French plays middle blocker.

“Ryan French has improved in the last few weeks ... in everything,

from hitting, blocking and defense,” Sorrells said.

The newcomers also include 6-6 senior middle blocker Marko

Stankovic, the starting center on the boys basketball team who is

making his debut playing volleyball.

“His blocking is pretty good and his hitting will take time,” said

Sorrells, who played volleyball at Orange Coast College. “The better

he gets, the better we are going to be. He is learning and has a

great attitude.”

Even though five sophomores are seeing significant playing time,

Sorrells said their maturity matches what he would expect out of a

senior-laded team.

“This is the most serious group of kids I’ve had listening to me,”

Sorrells said. “They really enjoy playing together and that is the

most important thing I’m seeing right now. They know if they don’t

play together I will kick their butts.”

Sorrells was realistic when discussing how he sees the league

standings shaping up.

“I see us around third or fourth,” he said. Estancia was rated No.

1 in the preseason CIF Southern Section Division III poll and Ocean

View is right there.

“We are a lot better. This is the best group of athletes I’ve had.

They are good athletes with great attitudes. They are taking it upon

themselves to build a successful program and they are well on their

way. It is a pleasure to be coaching them.”

The Mustangs (3-2) open Golden West League play Wednesday at home

against Saddleback.