Boys volleyball: Scouting Lake County

Players to watch

Nikola Antonijevic, jr., RS/MB, Stevenson; John Baader, sr., OH Stevenson; Eric Banduch, jr., OH, Libertyville; Mitchell Baumgartner, sr., OH, Mundelein; Andrew Bitta, jr., OH, Libertyville; Brian Chin, sr., OH, Mundelein; Eduard Ciobanu, jr., OH, Warren; Danny Gescheidle, jr., OH Stevenson; Eric Handrich, jr., S, Libertyville; Patrick Keefe, S/RS., Antioch; Chris Kelly, DS, Mundelein; Kevin Kneeland, sr., MB, Carmel; Zachary Kravits, S/OPP, Stevenson; Patrick Lenz, sr., MB, Mundelein; Mark Molloy, S., Lakes; Travis Naftzger, sr., MB, Stevenson; Dan Nield, sr., MB, Libertyville; Eric Phillis, OPP, Antioch; Andrew Roscoe, sr., S, Mundelein; Nick Russo, sr., L, Carmel; Justin Opitz, jr., Vernon Hills; Dillon Schaefer, jr., OH, Warren; Kyle Schwede, sr., S, Warren; Andrew Sippy, MB., Antioch; John Sieracke, OH, sr., Lakes; Alex Spike, sr., OH, Carmel; Pat Stone, sr., MB, Vernon Hills; Mike Robinson, sr., OH, Vernon Hills; Stefan Vidovich, soph., OPP, Libertyville; Jake Wolfe, sr., OH, Carmel; Ryan Zawacki, MB., Antioch

Scouting report

Middle blockers Andrew Sippy and Ryan Zawacki will have to set the tone for Antioch to make significant improvement. Outside hitter Jordan Schumer had impressed in the early going. - Carmel is off to a slow start, but the Corsairs are not without talent. Senior outside hitters Jake Wolfe and Alex Spike give the Corsairs a nice pair to build their attack around. Senior middle blocker Kevin Kneeland has made tremendous strides since last year and can jump with anybody. Senior Nick Russo's passing is essential to the Corsairs' success. - Lakes has a solid foundation for this year's team. The Eagles return starting setter Mark Molloy and top outside hitter John Sieracke. - Libertyville features only one returning starter off last season's successful squad in senior middle Dan Nield. "When his teammates pass and set well enough to give our offense middle attack options, Dan will excel offensively," coach Steve Rochon said. "As a blocker, he's extremely quick and will play the middle blocker's position as though it were middle linebacker." Although the Wildcats are young and may be a year away, they should be a team to watch by the middle of the season." - Mundelein has been pointing toward this season for several years. The Mustangs already have impressed, going undefeated to win the Hoffman Estates Tournament. In the tourney, seniors Patrick Lentz (47) and Mitchell Baumgartner (42) combined for 89 digs. - Stevenson is hopeful John Baader, a key reserve last year, will shine in his senior season. Nikola Antonijevic, a 6-foot-8 junior opposite, is an explosive talent and has as much potential as anyone in the state. Zack Kravits will split time at setter and on the rightside. Senior Travis Naftzger, a fixture in the middle last year, will be counted on even more heavily this season. Coach Tim Crow said the team's most improved player is probably junior outside hitter Danny Gescheidle. - Vernon Hills will build its team around its three talented returning starters. Senior middle blocker Pat Stone's .327 hitting efficiency last season was the fifth-best in program history. With Stone in the lineup, the Cougars went 24-3. When they lost Stone to an injury for the last 10 matches of the season, Vernon Hills was just 4-6. Senior outside hitter Mike Robinson contributes in all phases of the game and will be among the team leaders in just about every statistical category. Junior setter Justin Opitz shared the setting responsibilities as a sophomore. Now, he is charged with running the offence the whole way. At nearly 6-foot-4, Opitz also is one of the Cougars' top blockers. - For Warren, senior setter Kyle Schwede and junior outside hitters Eduard Ciobanu and Dillon Schaefer return to the starting lineup. The Blue Devils recently returned from a team-building trip to Arkansas, where the Blue Devils went backpacking and camping.