Scouting DuPage County boys volleyball
Top teams: Glenbard West, Benet, St. Francis, York, Naperville North, Wheaton Warrenville South. Downers Grove South.
Top players: Addison Trail: Arlind Rojba, L, jr.; Kannon Nelms, MH, sr.; Colton Noel, OH, jr.; David Zielinski, S, so.; Benet: Ben Mazza, OH/S, sr, Jackson Van Eekeren, S; sr.; Chris Yates, MH, sr.; Logan Ladowski, L, sr.; Downers Grove North: Bryan Eckmann, OH/RS, sr.; Dan Kalmar, OH, sr.; Downers Grove South: Charlie Hlavin, RS, sr.; Parker Connolly, MH, jr.; Bregin DeMarco, L, jr. Fenton: Javier Sanchez, OH, jr.; Freddie Bajo, S, so.; David Gutierrez, MH, jr.; Glenbard East: Tyler Greene, OH, sr.; Adrian Cebula, MH, jr.; Glenbard North: Brandon Gorzela, OH, sr.; Shivam Savani, MH, sr; Trent Weber, S, jr.; Glenbard West: Paulie Bischoff, S, sr.; Kyler Kotsakis, RS, sr.; Will Church, MH, sr.; Zach Norvid, L, jr.; Hinsdale Central: Adam Conklin, RS/OH, sr; Will Thompson, MH, sr.; Lake Park: Jack Fischer, OH, jr.; Nick Martinski, MH, so.; Metea Valley: Alec McKinney, MH, sr.; Noah Marzuki L, sr.; Montini: Michael Orr, OH, jr.; Joe Vogrin, OH, jr.; Charlie Woods, RS, so.; Naperville Central: Jeremy Parker, S, sr.; Naperville North: Michael Jennings, OH, sr.; Casey Hiller, MH, sr.; Phillipe Russian, MH, sr.; Neuqua Valley: Karl Deichman, RS, sr.; Greg Hedrick, MH, sr.; Kevin Kauling, RS/OH, fr.; St. Francis: Timmy Pisarski, OH, sr.; Steven Burns, OH/MH, sr.; Conor Reinke, OH/MH, sr.; Jack McGuire, S, jr.; Tommy LaMantia, L, jr.; Waubonsie Valley: Jake Furman, S, sr.; Brandon Pedersen, OH, sr.; West Chicago: Ross Behr, OH, jr.; Corey Scudder, L, sr.; Wheaton North: Ben Hamsho, MH, sr.; Jon Duncan, OH, sr.; Tanner Birtcher, S, so.; Wheaton Warrenville South: Zack Meyer, OH, sr.; Alex Carr, S, jr.; Dan Higley, MH, jr.; Willowbrook: Ian Walsh, MH, sr.; York: Bobby Krissinger, OH/RS, sr.; Jake Wendell, OH, sr.;
Scouting report: Glenbard West was the story last year from the beginning of the season to the end. The Hilltoppers went 40-2 and won the state championship with a quick, powerful lineup that featured outstanding players at every position. Though there have been significant graduation losses, Bischoff, the captain of The Daily Herald All-Area team, explosive hitter Kotsakis and Church, an athletic three-year starter in the middle, return to defend the crown. And they will be abetted by an impressive cast of new supporting players who are eager to take their places on this year's "big green machine." It all starts with Bischoff, a 6-foot-5 setter with off-the-charts talent, leadership skills and an incredible grasp of the game. He's the only high school player on the U.S. Junior National team, according to Glenbard West coach Christine Mayer. "We believe we've built a tradition here the past few years and our goal is to pass that on to the next team," Mayer said. "Paulie leads the way when it comes to giving the team an air of confidence but not arrogance. His humility and modesty are contagious." Last year's team featured an impenetrable block. While some of the guys who set that up are gone, the returners, led by the three senior co-captains, will be working hard to re-establish that first line of defense. "Our goal is to get better and better every day," Mayer said. "And every guy realizes we have a lot of work to do." While the Hilltoppers are out to repeat, there a number of other teams that are capable of competing for the title.
Benet, which finished 29-8 last year, returns four starters who know what winning is all about, including the heady three-year starting setter Mazza, who is moving to outside hitter, and Jackson Van Eekeren, now the lone setter, who measures over 6-foot-5. "Ben and Jackson give us great consistency," coach Amy Van Eekeren said. "We're an aggressive serving team and we have great ball control. We have some holes to fill, but there are talented young players who just have to get used to the speed of the game and the pressure at the varsity level. When they do I think we'll be ready to challenge anyone."
St. Francis took its lumps last year with a team made up mostly of underclassmen, but the Spartans got invaluable experience, and this year should see them reaching past glories, when a 30-win season was commonplace. Coach Mike Lynch is looking forward to this year's killer schedule which includes an initial appearance in the Chicago Catholic League. "We showed great improvement throughout the season," Lynch said. "And this year almost everyone is back, so there is depth and experience and great team chemistry. Everyone on our team can play. I'm looking forward to these guys showing what they can do."
The expanded DuPage Valley Conference, which saw Lake Park make it to the state Elite Eight, should be a dogfight this year. The Lancers, who always play their best ball at the end of the season, are just one of many potential top-level teams in the league. Perennial contender and seven-time state champ Wheaton Warrenville South is still a major power, led by three-year all-star hitter Meyer and Carr, the latest in a long line of outstanding Tigers setters.
The always strong Naperville North, with its three top hitters returning, is tall, battle-tested and tenacious. These predicted frontrunners will be pushed by a group of quality teams that are capable of contending. Neuqua Valley is taller, deeper and more experienced than it has been in recent years. Glenbard North learned how to win last year before being hit by a string of injuries, but the Panthers are healthy and ready to go this season. Wheaton North is poised to return to DVC contender status and Metea Valley brings back a lineup of hustling, experienced athletes who should have a breakout year. Naperville Central, which lost dominant hitter Jack Burton to graduation, will have a more balanced attack, and Waubonsie Valley, with former Oswego coach Noel Soto taking the reins, is young and rebuilding but already has several key pieces in place. These are impressive squads from top to bottom. It should be a very interesting season in the DVC.
The third DuPage County team that made it to the Elite Eight last year was Addison Trail. Though all-time great Alex Dickmann has graduated, the Blazers will still be playing their trademark Addison Trail never-say-die volleyball that makes this team formidable no matter who is in the lineup. Diving for impossible digs, scoring on acrobatic shots and keeping up the pressure with an emotional up-tempo offense is just a way-of-life for Addison Trail volleyball.
Downers Grove South, which won the state title just three years ago and took the West Suburban Gold crown last year, could be back among the elite with one of the taller teams in the state. The Mustangs are also quick and possess great court sense.
Willowbrook, which is always tough, features Walsh, one of the top middles in Illinois.
Aside from Glenbard West in the West Suburban Silver, Hinsdale Central, which won its first sectional championship ever before getting knocked out of the state tournament by Addison Trail, is on its way to establishing a new boys volleyball tradition. The Red Devils have a lot of lethal weapons at the net, but the key this year, according to coach Mike Konrad, will be to improve on the things that get you to state - serving, defense and passing. "Our vision is to make state qualification a habit," Konrad said. "We have some kids in different positions this year and if they adjust we should be good again." York is another team in the West Suburban Silver with Elite Eight aspirations. The Dukes feature a pair of super hitters in Wendell and Krissinger. "Jake is one of the smartest players I've ever coached," said York coach Ken Dowdy. "His ability to read the defense and the block leads to his high-kill percentage. Bobby is just an explosive attacker with a lethal serve. He's the complete package. And we have a very talented and deep squad."
Downers Grove North will not be huge, but the Trojans will rely on a strong serve-receive game and a host of scrappy defenders and accurate passers.
Glenbard East, which went to the sectional final before meeting the state champs, will have a standout in Greene along with several veterans and a lot of new, promising players filling in for nine graduated seniors. The Rams, who should again vie for the Upstate Eight Conference title, will be learning as the season goes, and as all Marci Maier-coached teams they'll be ready to compete come playoff team. "This is a great group of guys to work with," Maier said. "We're athletic and versatile. The pieces of the puzzle just have to fall in place." West Chicago, led by go-to guy Behr, should provide the Rams with stiff competition.
Montini and Fenton are two growing programs that will make some noise this season while focusing on long-term goals. Keep an eye on both of these young teams as the season goes on.
Key dates: March 31-April 2: Wheaton Warrenville South Tiger Classic; April 3: Glenbard West at York; April 5: Glenbard East at Naperville North; April 9: Glenbard East Springfest; April 19: Wheaton Warrenville South at Lake Park; April 20: Glenbard West at Wheaton North; April 22-23: Downers Grove South Invite; April 26: Metea Valley at Naperville Central; Wheaton Warrenville South at Glenbard North April 29-30: Benet Invite; May 6-7: York Invite; May 10: Neuqua Valley at Naperville North; May 12: Glenbard West at St. Francis; Naperville Central at Naperville North; May 23: regionals begin; June 3-4: state tournament.