Carmel jumps to it, handles Lakes
Here’s a little tip of the cap to club volleyball. When it comes to high school volleyball, area coaches find out quickly, there are plenty of experienced players around.
Monday marked the first day of boys volleyball, and Carmel High School boys coach Kevin Nylen could sit back and watch his club players in action.
“I’m happy and couldn’t be happier,’’ Nylen said. “We were ready to play as any team I’ve coached.”
Carmel opened the season with an impressive 25-16, 25-17 home win over an athletic Lakes team.
One of those experienced club players, junior Frankie Cohen, helped the Corsairs’ cause with 3 kills.
“I thought we really played well,’’ Cohen said. “We’ve been working very hard in practice.”
Cohen has been playing this indoor sport for five seasons at the Adversity Club. At 5-foot-10, he’s listed as an outside hitter.
“I do have a height disadvantage,’’ he said. “But I try and tool people and play defense.”
With setter Alex Dunlap (15 assists, 2 aces) serving, the Corsairs raced to a quick 4-0 lead in set one. Lakes never led in either set but kept things interesting for the most part.
“We were a little tentative,’’ said Lakes coach Wayne Schultz. “But we are young. We are starting two sophomores.’’
One thing is clear with the Eagles. Lakes has a chance to be very good if they cut down on their errors. Senior Matt Duff had one kill that no one around would ever dig up.
“Matt will be a beast,’’ Schultz said.
Schultz is also excited about the prospects of sophomore middle hitter Mason Solbrig. His varsity debut netted 4 kills and 2 blocks.
“He’s 6-5 and athletic right now,’’ he said. “By the time he’s a senior, he will be one of the top players in the NSC.”
In set two, a Chase Binkley kill pulled the Eagles within 12-11. Carmel slugger Michael Fitzgibbons (3 kills, 2 blocks) took over down the stretch and kept his Corsairs in front the rest of the way.
Jack Butler paced the Corsairs on attack with 5 kills. Henry Dominicis added 3 kills. Lakes setter Eric Metzelaar notched 11 assists, and Duff led the Eagles defense with 9 digs.
Carmel’s sophomores also emerged with a 25-17, 25-22 win over Lakes.