Eagles tab boys’ volleyball coach

Penn State graduate will try to keep Estancia’s successful program going strong.Mark Cygan, a science teacher at Estancia High, has been named the head coach of the Eagles’ boys’ varsity volleyball team, athletic director Tim Parsel said Tuesday.

Cygan replaces Tracey Ingraham, who served as the team’s coach the last five years, including the 2004 season, when the Eagles were CIF Southern Section Division III champions. Last year, Ingraham led Estancia to a Golden West League title and a Division III semifinal appearance.

Parsel said Ingraham is getting ready to start a family, but will keep her job as an English teacher at La Quinta High.

Cygan is in his second year of teaching at Estancia after moving here from Pennsylvania.

“When he started teaching here, he said he was interested in volleyball,” Parsel said. “So when the job opened up, he was our guy.”

Cygan is taking over a program that has had a lot of success the past two years, having gone undefeated in Golden West League action during that stretch.

Last season, the Eagles were led by senior setter Trevor Holmes, the league’s most valuable player and an All-CIF Division III first-team selection.

Estancia reached the Division III semifinals, despite not having 6-foot-6 middle blocker Dallas Kopp in the lineup because the junior had broken a finger before the playoffs. The Eagles eventually lost to top-seeded Orange Lutheran in the semifinals.

Kopp and fellow All-Golden West League selections Scott Markley, Shaun Markley and Alex LaGrand are slated to return this year for the Eagles, who finished 22-10 last season.

Parsel said he wants to put an emphasis on developing young players before the well runs dry.

“The last two years have been very good,” he said. “But we need to re-stockpile the younger levels. We have four or five starters back this year, so we’re in good shape. But after that, we have to develop the younger levels.”20060118I81N1TBBNo Caption