Scouting DuPage County boys volleyball
Top teams: Glenbard West, Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Benet, Glenbard East, Addison Trail, Downers Grove North.
Top players: Addison Trail: Alex Dickmann, OH, sr.; Jack Vrchota, MH, sr.; Kannon Nelms, MH, jr.; Benet: Scott Kleiser, OH, sr.; Ben Mazza, S, jr.; Mark Schuessler, OH, sr; Downers Grove North: Jonathan Poortinga, MH/RS; sr. Mike Mierzwa, MH, sr.; Colin Michels, L, sr. Downers Grove South: Will Tischler, sr.; Charlie Hlavin, RS, jr.; Fenton: Javier Sanchez, OH, so.; Glenbard East: Ben Symonds, L/S, sr.; Nick Symonds, OH, sr.; Glenbard North: Scott Schlacks, OH sr.; Brandon Gorzela, OH, jr.; Glenbard West: Paul Bischoff, S, jr.; Kyler Kotsakis, RS, jr.; Parker Swartz, MH, sr.; Jackson Nagle, OH, sr.; Ryan Condon, DS, sr.; Hinsdale Central: Kian Peterson, S, sr.; Kurt McConnell, MH, sr.; Will Thompson, MH, jr.; Lake Park: Blake Heitman, L, sr.; Austin Patchin, S, sr.; Nick Dakajos, MH, sr.; Kyle Murphy, OH, sr.; Metea Valley: Tom Wieland OH, sr.; Alec McKinney, MH, jr.; Noah Marzuki, L, jr.; Naperville Central: Jack Burton, OH, sr.; Matt Skowronski, MH, so.; Naperville North: Jack Rothmund, S, sr.; Phil Olszewski, L, sr.; Michael Jennings, OH, jr.; Neuqua Valley: Austin Neace, OH, sr.; Brian McKissick, MH, sr. St. Francis: Jon Messa, L, sr.; Timmy Pisarski, S/OH, jr.; Steven Burns, OH, jr.; Waubonsie Valley: Jake Furman, S, jr.; Brandon Pederson, OH, jr.; Andrew Salmon, L, sr.; Wheaton North: Ethan Peterson, S, sr.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Zack Meyer, OH, jr.; John Hildebrand, OH, sr., Jerry Loar, MH, sr.; Kolbie Knorr, L, sr.; Ben Carpio, S, sr.; York: Bobby Krissinger, OH/MH, jr.; Jake Wendell, OH, jr.
Scouting report: The sport of boys high school volleyball has been growing dramatically in recent years, especially in DuPage County. With so many athletes playing club ball all year, many of the teams in this area can reload each year with experienced players even after numerous losses to graduation.
There are more than a half-dozen teams that can legitimately claim to be contenders to qualify for state, and many more that will at least make things uncomfortable for the elite in conference play, in-season invites and the postseason. "This will be one of the toughest years for competition," said Glenbard West coach Christine Giunta, who started the Hilltoppers program and brought it to top-drawer status in less than a decade. "There are a lot of good teams out there."
The Hilltoppers finished third at state last year with a mostly young squad that featured budding then-sophomore superstars Bischoff and Kotsakis and the talented Swartz, a three-year starter who was injured most of the season but came up big in the playoffs. The trio returns this year leading a deep, quick, experienced and intelligent group that has a good chance to return to the state tournament. "We've got good size and the best depth ever," Giunta said. She called Bischoff the most talented player the program's ever had. "He betters every ball," Giunta said. "He's smooth, he's a leader and he's unselfish. When he's on the court we're at a different level." Kotsakis is an aggressive high-jumping opposite who can put the ball anywhere. He's capable of taking over a game. While the Hilltoppers hope to take the state crown, in-season goals include winning the Benet and the Brother Rice tournaments for the first time.
Glenbard West's greatest competition could come from six-time state champ Wheaton Warrenville South, which has been away from state competition for a few years while coach Bill Schreier reconstructed a championship contender. Five starters return including Hildebrand, Daily Herald All-Area last year, and a quartet of standouts who will be in the All-Area mix this time around. The Tigers have finished strong the past two years, but this year they have the talent to rise to their accustomed role as a state contender. "We have excellent leadership, athleticism and we're experienced," Schreier said. "We'll be back with a much quicker offense than last year."
Benet is another local team that is frequently mentioned as having the talent to make it to the final eight at state. "We can be in the mix at the end," said Benet coach Amy Van Eekeren. "We have experience and versatility and we're athletic. We have a lot of young players with a lot of potential. We have to be consistent with our ball control and our defense. We need to perform more consistently at a high level with as few errors as possible." Kleiser is a three-year starter who is capable of playing any position. "He's everything you want as a coach," Van Eekeren said. "He's a leader, makes smart decisions on the court, a good blocker and he always comes up strong in big matches."
Naperville Central lost a lot to graduation, but as long as the spectacular Burton is there, the Redhawks will be a contender. The 6-foot-4 senior hitter, who had 450 kills last year, is one of the dominating players in the state. Burton has a solid jump-serve, great instincts at the net and an improved passing game. Skowronski at 6-foot-9, will be a force in the middle for the Redhawks. "We have a strong offense," said Naperville Central coach Roger Strausburger. "We have to pick up our defense and blocking and find more consistency. "At our best we can compete with anyone."
Lake Park and Downers Grove South made it to state in one of the past two years, but both have some rebuilding to do. However, both have a returning veteran group that should keep the pattern of success moving ahead. Among those who graduated from the fourth-at-state Lake Park lineup is Quin Krisik, the captain of the 2014 Daily Herald All-Area team, and several of his teammates who formed the nucleus of an outstanding team the past two years. But the Lancers are one of those teams that's reloading, and they'll be all right with a somewhat different style. "We'll rely on quickness rather than height," coach Tim Murphy said. "We have the physical talent to be a strong team. Like many other teams we have to find the unity, timing and cohesion needed to be successful." Heitman is one of the top liberos in the state, while savvy setter Patchin can distribute and he has a variety of hitting options.
With five starters returning Naperville North will challenge the top teams for DuPage Valley Conference supremacy. "This is the most physical team we've had in the past five years," said Huskies coach Nate Bornancin. "Once again, our focus will be on strong team defense and transition game."
Tischler gives Downers Grove South coach Kurt Steuer a lethal weapon on the outside, though the Mustangs, state champs in 2013, have some youth that must develop for the team to reach its goals. "We hope to compete for another conference championship, and be competitive with the top teams at the end," Steuer said. "Our young guys are coming along nicely as they gain court knowledge through experience."
If you're looking for some outside contenders for the state tournament, consider Glenbard East, Addison Trail, Hinsdale Central and Downers Grove North. The Rams are always contending in the postseason stingy defense. Ben Symonds is one of the best defenders in the state and there are eight returning players, who give the team firepower at every position.Glenbard East has plenty of competition in the Upstate Eight Conference, as Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley, all of whom will be joining the DVC next year, have young squads on the rise.
Addison Trail renowned through the years for its tenacity and never-give-up defense, is another team with high expectations. Superstar All-Area opposite Dickmann gives the Blazers a dynamic leader to go with a group of accomplished veteran scrappers. The Blazers have won five regionals in the past seven years, and they're looking to join the elite this year.
Downers Grove North is a team to watch. The Trojans have an experienced nucleus that gives them depth at every position. They have height, they're athletic and they can control the ball and the tempo of a match.
Coaches Mike Lynch of St. Francis and Ken Dowdy of York have lost most of their starters to graduation, but the emerging talent is there, and both coaches have put together tough early-season schedules that will speed up the development of their athletic underclassmen.
Hinsdale Central has a balanced attack, strength in the middle and a top-flight setter in Peterson. The Red Devils could be dangerous at the end as their serve-reserve and defense improves
Key dates: April 1-2,4: The Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic; April 11: Springfest at Glenbard East; April 21: Metea Valley at Waubonsie Valley; Naperville Central at Naperville North; April 24-25: Downers Grove South Invite, May 1-2: Benet Invitational; May 5: Wheaton Warrenville South at Naperville Central; May 7: Downers Grove South at Glenbard West; May 13: St. Francis at Glenbard West; May 25-27: regionals; May 29, June 2: sectionals; June 5-6 state semifinals and finals.