Boys volleyball: Scouting Lake County

ANTIOCH

Coach: Jamie Atkinson

Last season’s record: 9-22

Players to watch: Patrick Keefe (Sr. S), Karl Nettgen (Jr. MB), Eric Phillips (Sr. OH)

Outlook: Phillips netted all-conference honors last spring. The 6-5 Nettgen is a good athlete and should help the Sequoits. “We have a strong team with a few returning players who have some great volleyball experience,” Atkinson said. “The boys have been working hard to find success in the NSC.” The Sequoits’ rivalry with Lakes should be a good one. The first meeting of these clubs went to the Eagles 29-31, 25-20, 25-23.

CARMEL

Coach: Kevin Nylen

Last season’s record: 8-22

Players to watch: Michael Fitzgibbons (Sr. Opp), Frankie Cohen (Jr. OH), Jack Butler (Sr. MB), Alex Dunlap (Jr. S)

Outlook: The Corsairs look ready to turn things around with a nice collection of club players. “At this juncture, this group has all the makings of a special team,’’ Nylen said. “We have good athletes, solid leadership, good attitude and a good work ethic. If we can put it all together, it should be a great season.” So far, so good as Carmel opened the campaign with a pair of wins.

LAKES

Coach: Wayne Schultz

Last season’s record: 15-18

Players to watch: Matt Duff (Sr. OH), Mason Solbrig (So. MH), Eric Metzelaar (Jr. S), Chase Binkley (Jr. Opp)

Outlook: Schultz’s latest team is very athletic. Once they sort out the pieces out, this should be a competitive team. Duff can put the ball away in a hurry. Schultz says watch out for the sophomore Solbrig. “He’s 6-5 and athletic,”’ he said. “By the time he’s a senior, he’ll be one of the top players in the NSC.”

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Lesly Ravenscraft

Last season’s record: 3-25

Players to watch: Chris Carmody (Jr. OH), Colton Every (Jr. MB), Mike Savio (Fr. L)

Outlook: Carmody is the real deal with his ability to pound the volleyball. He had 13 kills in the Bears’ season-opening win over Northside Prep. Every added 7 kills and 4 blocks. The Bears will be improved this season. “We are looking forward to a much more successful season than last year,’’ Ravenscraft said. “Our team is led by several returning seniors who are the foundation for our program.” Even during a loss to state power Buffalo Grove, the Bears showed they could match the power hitting of the visiting Bison.

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Steve Rochon

Last season’s record: 12-22

Players to watch: Teddy Kopacz (Jr. S), Matt Tassler (Jr. OH), Bryan Bonamarte (Sr. MB), Eric Handrich (Sr. OH)

Outlook: The Wildcats will be improved. Libertyville will still be young but with a year of court experience should help. Bonamarte made honorable mention all-conference last year. “I believe we’re upgraded at every position,” Rochon said. “The biggest factor is that this appears to be a team that is committed to each other and to being competitive. They are easy to coach, both from the stand point of their effort and their attitude.” The Wildcats opened the season by playing tough against Maine South in a 25-18, 28-26 loss.

MUNDELEIN

Coach: George Dressen

Last season’s record: 27-5

Players to watch: Parker Tortorello (Jr. OH), Corey Flores (Jr. OH), Joey Timmerman (Sr. S), Jamie Jahen (Sr. MB), David Collins (Sr. MB)

Outlook: Every one of Dressen’s starters graduated from the 27-win team. Included were all-NSC choices Mitchell Baumgartner, Patrick Lentz, Andrew Roscoe, Chris Kelly and Brian Chin (honorable mention). But this program has been established and now it’s time for some new faces. Timmerman finally gets a chance to set a 5-1 offense. “We are looking to achieve another 20-win season,” Dressen said. “This team practices and plays well together.”

STEVENSON

Coach: Tim Crow

Last season’s record: 25-13

Players to watch: Nik Antonijevic (Sr. OH), Danny Gescheidle (Sr. OH), Zachary Kravits (Sr. S), Darien Wu (Sr. DS)

Outlook: The Pats peaked late last year and won a regional crown. Antonijevic is close to 6-foot-9 and will scare some foes. Gescheidle is a proven hitter. Kravits is an all-conference setter who played right side as a sophomore. Both Antonijevic and Gescheidle made honorable mention all-conference as juniors. “I love the intensity and the balance of personalities on the team this year,” Crow said. The Patriots graduated all-conference/all-area outside John Baader.

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Chris Curry

Last season’s record: 35-4

Players to watch: Justin Opitz (Sr. S), Garrett Kubacki (Sr. MB), Thomas Robinson (Jr. OH), Martin Niemczewski (Jr. OH), David Swanson (Sr. Opp)

Outlook: The Cougars dominated the area last season. They graduated outside hitter Mike Robinson, the captain of the Daily Herald Lake County All-Area team, as well as middle Pat Stone and libero Spencer Raak. But the returners include Robinson’s brother, Thomas, and 2010 all-conference selections Opitz and Kubacki. Niemczewski was impressive after a late-season call-up and Swanson also was valuable. The Cougars lost their season opener but have rattled off six straight wins, going 5-0 at Maine East on Saturday.

WARREN

Coach: Yun Chen

Last season’s record: 19-16

Players to watch: Eduard Ciobanu (Sr. OH), Dillon Schaefer (Sr. MH), King Gorospe (Sr. L), Drew Crawford (Sr. OH), Sean O’Connor (Jr. RS)

Outlook: The Devils bring back a pair of talented players in Ciobanu (2010 all-conference) and Schaefer (2010 honorable mention all-NSC). Chen has some simple goals for this year’s club. “We would like to be competitive in the NSC,” Chen said. “And to have fun and focus on one match at a time.”