Scouting Cook County boys volleyball teams

Mid-Suburban West

Barrington

Coach: Rob Ridenour

Roster to include: Seniors Randy Lorenz (OH), Max Deevy (L), Nick Leiding (OPP), Christian La Bar (S), Eric Clement (M/OH), Brian Zalay (DS), Jason Batliner (M); juniors Jake Nixon (M), Joe Davidson (OH), Rob Weidner (M/S) Chris Ganzer (DS), Mike Massimino (S), Omar Gamboa (OH), Juan Mendez (OPP); sophomores Matt Logue (OH), TJ Shanahan (M).

Coach's comments: "I'm excited about the upcoming season. We're smaller than we have been in past seasons, but have some excellent ball control and defensive players. We should play with high energy and be exciting to watch. We are returning four starters who have significant experience and have displayed tremendous leadership in the preseason."

Conant

Coach: Steven Peter (first year)

Roster to include: Seniors Dan Dewar, Drew Fisher, Colton Ford, Peter Lauterbach, Matt Crail, Evan Lejman, Chris Kim, David Kim; juniors Sean Engelbreit, Vince Petrella, Matt Schimel

Coach's comments: "We have eight senior players returning, four of which (Dewar, Fisher, Ford, Lauterbach) will be sharing the role of captain. All of our players are dedicated to the game and are driven to succeed, and as a first-year varsity coach, I'm very excited to work with such a strong and charismatic group. Look for the Cougars to be tearing up the courts this year with big hits and a strong defense."

Fremd

Coach: Curt Pinley

Roster to include: Seniors Trevor Clark (OH), James Issacs (DS), Calhan Nolan (OH/DS), Michael Smearman (S), Jason Sohn (DS), Ian Sykes (M/OH), Eric West (S/DS), Michael Williams (OH); juniors Steve Maring (OH/M), Brian Allen (M/OH), Jeffrey Chappell (OH)

Coach's comments: "We have a young team in terms of years on varsity, but we'll make up for our inexperience with a strong work ethic. As the season progresses, our team will improve. As usual the Mid-Suburban League will be tough - Palatine and Barrington look to be the toughest competition in the West and I hope to compete with their talent when conference play starts. Hopefully we can build upon our success of last season."

Hoffman Estates

Coach: Dan Hutton

Roster to include: Seniors Priyesh Patel, Shrey Parikh, Rafael Fernandez, David Perez; juniors Jacob Uhmanwango, Patrick Pugasi; sophomores Kyle Caldwell, Franco Fumagalli

Coach's comments: "The boys are excited to start our season. They've worked hard in the weight room, and with their club teams in the off-season. They're motivated, positive and hard working. We've been dealing with some lineup adjustments, and we look forward to some great MSL matchups this season. We're hoping to continue to improve on our record as we have done in each of the last four seasons."

Palatine

Coach: Frank Stark

Roster to include: Brian O'Shea (Sr., OH), Nat Pearson (OH), BJ Boldog (S), Kevin Friske, Adam Hebein (Jr., L), Sash Patel (Jr., M/RS), Pat O'Shea (Jr., OH), Colin Williams (Jr., M).

Coach's comments: "We lost 10 seniors from last year, but we're extremely excited about our returning and new varsity players. Kevin is the type of kid that everybody wants on their team because he does anything you ask and you never have to question his dedication or attitude. Nat was our kill leader from last year and is an unreal athlete who is ready to continue a great year for himself. And BJ in my opinion was one of the best setters in the conference last season. We have a group of extremely hardworking kids with outstanding values, morals and work ethic."

Schaumburg

Coach: Kyle Reid

Roster to include: Seniors Kyle Boyer (DS) Joe Robie (OH), Neal Goyke (S), Francisco Valdes (OH), Kyle Schroder (L), Brad Dunn (RS), Tim Kanoon (S); juniors Glenn Frost (M), Nathan Andre (OH), Jason Wojcik (M), Sanup Desai (M/RS).

Coach's comment: "I'm thrilled to have a chance to coach this group of hardworking, positive athletes. Our offense will be led by the strong attacking of Glenn, Joe and Brad, and we'll also get dynamic back row play from Kyle, our libero. Neal has come back from the club season showing great improvement at the setter position. This year's team has a large number of players with high volleyball IQ's, which makes them very coachable."

Mid-Suburban East

Elk Grove

Coach: Dan Windholz

Roster to include: Senior John Weiland (S), Garrett Greaves (MH); juniors Scott Siwicki (RS), Szymon Geirut (OH)

Coach's comment: "We have only one returning starter from last year, Garrett Greaves, who is a three-year starter. We'll be relying on his leadership, and we will have the tallest team I have had since I've been here. There are many talented seniors throughout the conference that have graduated, so this year's Mid-Suburban League race should be exciting, and I feel we'll again be in the mix after finishing second last year."

Hersey

Coach: Jodi Blazek

Roster to include: Seniors Jack Welter (OH), Kevin Wenceslao (DS), Cody Matchen (L), John Magdziarz (OPP), DJ Carroll (OH), Drogos Phyal (OPP), Nick Witte (S); juniors Sam Cotey (S), Anthony Moreno (OH), Brandon Klein (OH), Bobby Dolan (MB), Paul Kolesar (MB), Greg Torvik (OPP); freshman Matt Cayton (S).

Coach's comments: "We have a great group of guys who have been working really hard. I like the fact that we have a good combination of experience along with some talented newcomers. They've been working really well together and I look forward to see how we stack up against the competition. I'm excited about the upcoming season."

Prospect

Coach: Mike Riedy

Roster to include: Seniors Jordan DePalma (DS), Dan Cigrang (MH), Sean Lynch (RSH), Kevin Reed (RSH), James Hoffman (OH); juniors Sean Baltowski (L), Kevin Wolter (S), Mike Gemkow (OH), Ben Moxley (S/DS), Jake Suckow (MH), PJ Benson (MH), Mike Hammersley (OH)

Coach's comment: "We've got a number of returning players, however, most of the crew has no varsity experience. Still, I have high hopes for our team this year. This is the first year we've been in the Bison Battle at Buffalo Grove and that early tournament will help us work out first-game jitters. I'm hoping that the experience of Kevin Reed and James Hoffman and the enthusiasm of Kevin Wolter (all returnees) will lead us to great things this season."

Rolling Meadows

Coach: Janet Opels

Roster to include: Seniors Ryan Kedzie (OH), Tyler Vinezeano (MH), Nick Marek (S), Joe Nigliazzo (L/DS), Brian Mulvihill (OH), Weston Genovese (MH), Matt Houser (DS), JJ McCarthy (OH), Parth Patel (MH); juniors Brian Bourn (S), Kyle Weiner (OH), Steven Judson (DS/L)

Coach's comments: "The nucleus of the team returns from last season. I think we'll be a strong contender for the Mid-Suburban East title. The biggest concern I have, which is every year, is the serve receive. We are very capable of running a strong offense, but we have to be able to get the ball to our offensive players. We've been working hard and the results are showing."

Wheeling

Coach: Ed Uhrik

Roster to include: Seniors Dan Hehn (OH), Tim Kang (OH); juniors Mitch Lewis (OH, RS), Alex Tapas

Coach's comment: "We're in a rebuilding year. We graduated most of our varsity squad from last season, and although we're young, many of our players have been playing year round and have made huge improvements in the off season. Dan (Hehn) is my only returning starter, Tim (Kang) will be our other outside hitter, Mitch is looking fundamentally sound and will be a role player, and Alex will be our number one setter."

CSL North

Maine West

Coach: Randy Tiller (first year)

Roster to include: Seniors Jim Voy, Brendan Joyce, Pat Spom, Ian Fitzgerald, Larry Heneghan, Joe Belville, Danny Nitahara; juniors Ron Gajewski, Brian Duckmann, Brendan Devine, Greg Kusch, Jim Walsh.

Coach's comments: "I'm new to the team, and I'm learning what each of our players can do, and how they play as a team, Jim (Voy), Brendan, and Greg give us a very experienced nucleus, and we have great speed in the backcourt. With experience, height and speed, we should be able to play exciting volleyball. My challenge is to teach them as much as I can."

ESCC

St. Viator

Coach: Chris Boyland (first year)

Roster to include: Senior Mike Czopek (OH), Tyler Anderson (L), Lucas Underys (OH); juniors Eric Schulget (S), Jonathan Coath (MH), Mike Rast (UT); freshman Michael Leazer (OH).

Coach's comments: "We're replacing six of seven starters to begin the season. Our players have worked hard over the off-season and the first two weeks of 2009 in preparation, and we will compete in every match and hopefully overcome some of our inexperience."

WSC Gold

Leyden

Coach: Dave Sebald

Roster to include: Seniors Ralph Ramirez (DS), Robert Viktor (OH), Anthony Pilolla (DS), Sean Copher (S), El Duarte (M), Kevin Quinlan (S); junior Julian Moreno (OH), Mitko Houbev (M); sophomores Matt Kowalczuk (OH), George Boykov (OH).

Coach's comments: "We're a young team in experience in the middle, but we have a lot of experience on the outside, at the libero position and at setter. We hope to be able to control the ball and get a good showing from our middles. Last year we were third in conference but did not perform well in the state tournament - we have very good leadership this year and hope to give the conference a run for it's money. We'll use the early schedule to get a good indication on how the year will start and what we need to improve on. We have the attitude of hard work and being better every day."