Crusaders cream of area boys’ volleyball crop
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Erik Boal
GLENDALE -- Village Christian High boys’ volleyball Coach Bill
Schnobrich enjoyed an extremely successful season with the Crusaders
girls’ volleyball team.
But the potential of his boys’ squad has everyone in the area taking
notice, and with good reason.
The Crusaders return seven all-Alpha League players from last year’s
group that posted a 20-5 overall record and 6-0 in league.
Schnobrich’s squad advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division III
quarterfinals, where it lost to St. Monica. Coincidentally, Village
Christian’s second nonleague match today is against the Mariners, and the
Crusaders will have an opportunity to test exactly how good they are real
soon.
Led by returning league most valuable player Josh Seffel and a trio of
all-league first-team selections -- senior outside hitter Ken Benesh,
junior outside hitter Nick Manghelli and senior setter Ethan Perry --
Village Christian should have little difficulty winning another league
title.
Seffel, a 6-foot-4 senior middle blocker recorded 320 kills and 210
blocks last season, and Benesh (374 kills) and Manghelli (363 kills) are
two of the area’s hardest hitters.
How far Schnobrich’s squad advances in the playoffs may depend on the
play of the three all-league second-team honorees -- junior middle
blocker Travis Atkinson, junior defensive specialist Ryan Benko and
sophomore defensive specialist Matt Levoe.
Despite the loss of Urvish Patel and Doug English to graduation,
Crescenta Valley High will be competitive in the Pacific League and hope
to challenge defending-champion Arcadia High for the title.
The addition of Claremont and Upland highs make the league a six-team
effort, with Coach John Nelson’s squad right in the middle of the pack.
Senior setter Maulik Patel, who recorded a school-record 1,105 assists
last season, is the only returning all-league selection.
Patel earned second-team honors and helped guide the Falcons to the
Division I quarterfinals, where they lost to Esperanza High.
Senior outside hitter James Park appears to be Patel’s favorite
target, with Cameron Acuff and Eric Jeppsen providing strength and depth
along the front line.
Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie is another of the four area coaches
that guide both the boys’ and girls’ programs and judging by the
successful results of the female Rebels this season, this year’s boys’
squad should be challenging Cathedral and Salesian for the Santa Fe
League title.
Seven players return with valuable experience, which will hopefully
make up for the loss of graduated all-league first-team selection Chas
Terhune.
Seniors Dan Kempton and Sameer Kumar and junior Brian Shim are the
nucleus of Beattie’s squad with possibly the best sophomore in the area,
William Birnie, ready to make a big impact.
If La Canada Coach Kevin Boyke can do half as much in his first year
leading the Spartan boys’ team as he did with the girls, then success
could be in the immediate future for a group that is under its third
coach in as many seasons.
Boyke led the lady Spartans, who entered the season with a wealth of
talent, to the CIF Division III semifinals and the quarterfinals of the
state playoffs.
La Canada’s boys’ team showed signs of being very competitive last
year, but tailed off toward the end of the season, winning only one
league match.
Senior outside hitter Jason Kim led the Spartans with 188 kills and
fellow senior Timmy Lee provides size and strength in the middle.
Juniors James Pickett and David Shanley both saw time as starters last
season and basketball players Phil Swenson and Greg Gaudino add depth and
outstanding jumping ability.
If Boyke can develop a setter in the nonleague part of the schedule,
La Canada may be able to push San Marino and South Pasadena in the Rio
Hondo League.
St. Francis has the unfortunate task of once again competing in the
Mission League, with traditional powers Harvard-Westlake and Loyola
battling for supremacy.
Senior outside hitter Dominick Aranda, who tallied a team-high 233
kills last year and earned second-team all-league honors, is Coach Mark
Frazee’s go-to player with a lot of young, improving players around him.
Glendale and 26th year Coach Jack Trotter will battle for a playoff
spot in the new Pacific League with senior setter Spencer Lazara and
junior outside hitter Charles Kim leading the way.
Hoover and first-year Coach Tami Matteson look to improve on its
one-win total from a year ago and Glendale Adventist hopes to qualify for
the Division V playoffs as a freelance team for the second straight year.
VILLAGE CHRISTIAN
COACH: Bill Schnobrich, fourth year
LEAGUE: Alpha
LAST SEASON: 20-5, 6-0 for first place in league. Lost to St. Monica
in CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Josh Seffel, middle blocker; junior Ken
Benesh, outside hitter; junior Nick Manghelli, outside hitter; senior
Ethan Perry, setter; junior Travis Atkinson, middle blocker.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
COACH: Sean Beattie, third year
LEAGUE: Santa Fe
LAST SEASON: 9-11, 7-7 for fourth place in league. Did not qualify for
playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Dan Kempton; senior Sameer Kumar; junior
Brian Shim; junior Bryan Young; sophomore William Birnie.
LA CANADA
COACH: Kevin Boyke, first year
LEAGUE: Rio Hondo
LAST SEASON: 9-12, 1-7 for last place in league. Did not qualify for
playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Jason Kim, outside hitter; senior Timmy Lee,
middle blocker; junior David Shanley; outside hitter; junior Phil
Swenson, opposite hitter; junior James Pickett, opposite hitter;
sophomore Greg Gaudino, middle blocker.
CRESCENTA VALLEY
COACH: John Nelson, 11th year
LEAGUE: Pacific
LAST SEASON: 10-7, 6-3 for second place in league. Lost to Esperanza
in CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Maulik Patel, setter; senior Cameron Acuff,
outside hitter; senior James Park, outside hitter; junior Anand Vashi,
middle blocker; senior Eric Jeppsen, middle blocker.
GLENDALE
COACH: Jack Trotter, 26th year
LEAGUE: Pacific
LAST SEASON: 8-8, 4-5 for third place in league. Did not qualify for
playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Spencer Lazara, setter; junior Charles Kim;
outside hitter.
ST. FRANCIS
COACH: Mark Frazee, 12th year
LEAGUE: Mission
LAST SEASON: 5-12, 1-11 for last place in league. Did not qualify for
playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior Dominick Aranda, outside hitter.
HOOVER
COACH: Tami Matteson, first year
LEAGUE: Pacific
LAST SEASON: 1-14, 0-9 fr last place in league. Did not qualify for
playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
GLENDALE ADVENTIST
COACH: Robert Castillo, second year
LEAGUE: Freelance
LAST SEASON: 14-3. Lost to Laguna Blanca in CIF Southern Section
Division V first round.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Billy Scott, outside hitter; Albert Tampey, middle
blocker; Royce Young, outside hitter; Will Sabangan, setter; Jason
Gorospi, defensive specialist.