HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW:Mesa builds off breakout year

By Dominic Perrone

Feb. 28, 2007 12 AM PT

Only a few familiar faces remain from the 2006 Costa Mesa High boys’ volleyball team and all are in different roles.

Mustangs Coach Gray Bailey was an assistant to Chris Komer last season when Costa Mesa reached the CIF Southern Section Division III finals, losing in four games to Santa Monica, which bounced them from the playoffs in 2005.

At 19 years old Bailey can relate to the youth this season’s Mustangs team exhibits. The player with the most varsity experience is sophomore Ben Lefebvre. Last season, Lefebvre filled in at outside hitter for a stretch of matches for his injured brother, Will. This season, Lefebvre has taken over the starting setter position.

“Ben’s always had good hands,” said Bailey, who said he was hired a month ago. “We needed someone to step up. He wanted to hit, but Ben stepped up. Ben is a team true team player. Ben said, ‘If that is what I have to do, then that’s what I’ll do.’ ”

Sitting next to Bailey this season will be first-year assistant Mitch Caldwell. Last season, Caldwell was the middle for a Mustangs team that captured their first league title in the 30-year history of the program.

“Mitch is a big help,” said Bailey, who was an assistant with his alma mater Upland in 2005. “He’s got a lot of knowledge and it’s fresh in his mind. Mitch is a great influence on the guys.”

Last season, Costa Mesa found success without overwhelming height, but this season they are far from lacking in that category.

Sophomore right side Ryan Thompson stands 6-foot-9 and senior middle blocker Scott Neslage is 6-3. Neslage comes to the Mustangs without any volleyball experience. He decided to take advantage of his height his senior year, much to the delight of Bailey.

“Scott and Ryan put up a big block,” Bailey said.

Senior middle blocker Philip Webber brings a club volleyball background to the team.

“He’s got some experience, mostly club experience,” Bailey said.

With two juniors, five sophomores and five seniors this season’s team is a contrast from last season which was all seniors except for one player. The goals remain the same though.

“The team in 2006 was guys that had been playing together since eighth grade,” Bailey said. “Bottom line is we want to put another banner on the wall. Another league title would be nice. They saw what they did last year and want to do that to.”

This season, the Mustangs move to the four-team Orange Coast League with Estancia, Calvary Chapel and Laguna Beach. Joining the Breakers in a league will also bump Costa Mesa up to Division II. Last season, Laguna Beach advanced to the quarterfinals of the playoffs, losing to eventual section champion Valencia.

The league offers two playoff spots and with Estancia losing nearly its entire varsity roster, as well, and Calvary Chapel missing the playoffs last season, the Mustangs have legitimate shot at the playoffs despite the turnover.

Costa Mesa lost Golden West League Most Valuable Player Ryan Bagwell to graduation. Bagwell, an outside hitter, was also first-team All-CIF Division III. The Mustangs will also be without graduated setter Andrew Melcer and opposite Will Lefebvre, who were second-team All-CIF honorees.

THE MUSTANGS

2 Andy Feldman So.

3 Jeff Dye So.

4 Scott Neslage Sr.

6 Ben Lefebvre So.

7 Robin Schuppert Sr.

11 Kyle Smith Jr.

12 Henry Tran Jr.

14 Garrett Frazier So.

15 Philip Weber Sr.

18 Denny Ly Sr.

25 Ryan Thompson So.