Varying expectations for Tri-Cities volleyball

There are only three boys volleyball teams in the Tri-Cities Area, and only one of them -- St. Charles North -- won a regional last year.

The North Stars were also the lone team to have a winning record last year, as they capped coach Brad Mitchell's first year with the program 22-16 overall.

A winning record and a regional title. Those are two things Mitchell wants the North Stars to have every year from here on out.

"I want it to be commonplace," said Mitchell, whose North Stars have won two regional titles in school history.

While the North Stars may have had a good season, rival St. Charles East finished 14-16 last year under new coach Stephanie Gooden.

That record for the Saints was pretty standard, but for Gooden, she hopes better days are on the way, now that the boys are used to the way she coaches and runs things.

"I definitely feel this is more like my team, my guys," Gooden said. "They know what to expect, which is nice."

As for West Aurora, it hasn't had a winning season since 2005, when the Blackhawks made it to the state quarterfinals and finished 25-14 behind Matt McKee (who now plays at Pepperdine) and David Swigart (now at Loyola).

Only one player remains from that team -- Mike Her, who is a senior Libero for the Blackhawks.

"He played with Matt and Dave, so he has the knowledge," said third-year Blackhawk coach Jen Towers. "He's quiet at first, then breaks out of his shell. He's a go-getter."

St. Charles North's go-getter this year is no doubt Rusty Lavaja. The senior middle blocker/outside hitter is 6-foot-7 and improved from last year.

"He's ridiculously good," Mitchell said. "A lot of our offense is going to revolve around him."

Other returning North Stars include senior outside hitter Austin Collingborne, junior libero Ben Marquez and senior middle hitter Grant Livingston.

Senior right side hitter Brett Ellis is back, but Mitchell is not sure when he will play (if at all). Ellis, who will play for St. Ambrose next year, is out with a stress fracture.

"It's a huge loss," Mitchell said. "Our state run depends on him coming back."

Kegan Haesli (junior setter/right side hitter) and Pat Sullivan (sophomore setter) are St. Charles North's top new players.

The North Stars, who lost 4 seniors, finished 7-2 in the Upstate Eight Conference (third place) last year. The 22 wins was also a school record. Mitchell thinks this squad has the potential to break the record for wins.

"I'd love to hit 30 wins," Mitchell said.

As for the Saints, who lost 8 seniors from last year's team, just three varsity players are back -- a pair of seniors in Shawn Courtney (middle hitter) and Christopher Brucher (outside hitter) and junior Jeff Jones (setter).

Eleven new players grace this year's roster, which has a total of 8 juniors.

"This is a young team that is hungry to win," said Gooden, who had a baby girl, Gianna, in the off-season with her husband, Ray, who coaches the NIU women's volleyball team.

The Saints went 6-4 in the Upstate Eight Conference last year, which was good for fourth place.

West Aurora went 5-31 overall and winless in the ever-so-tough DuPage Valley Conference last year. Towers hopes to change that.

Towers thinks her group this year can -- and will -- top last year's record.

"They are very knowledgeable of the game, but they know there is more work to do," Towers said.

In addition to Her, West Aurora has 5 other players returning after 4 seniors graduated and a few more graduated early this year.

Vinni Soto, a senior setter, was on the DVC's honorable mention last year. He's also a state-qualifying diver.

"He's a great kid to coach and a great coach for other kids," Towers said.

Other returning players include Mason Walgrave (senior outside hitter), Adam Williams (senior middle/outside hitter) Enrique Figueroa (senior right side/outside hitter) and Jim McGill (senior middle hitter).

There are six new players, including Kyle Pilmer, the lone freshman. He's a 6-foot-3 middle/outside hitter who is expected to make a big impact.

"He's tall, athletic and coordinated," Towers said. "He's great to have."

Ben Franscisco (sophomore defensive specialist/libero), Brian Wesley (sophomore middle/outside hitter), Jordan Harold (junior right side/outside hitter), Josh Sniezek (junior right side/outside hitter) and Chad Hedrickson (senior defensive specialist) are the other new players on this year's roster.