Boys volleyball: Scouting Lake County

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Lesly Ravenscraft (third season)

Last season: 17-17

Players to watch: Sr. MB Coulton Every (6-5), Sr. OH Chris Carmody (6-1)

So. L Michael Savio (5-9)

Outlook: This Bears team surprised a few folks a year ago. Senior outside hitter Chris Carmody may not look daunting at 6-foot- 1, but he’s a major hitter. Coulton Every is a fixture in the middle for Lake Zurich. And remember this is only the fourth season in which the Bears have fielded a varsity team. “We are looking to surpass our season from last year,” said coach Lesly Ravenscraft. “We have four returning starters who are keys to our success.” Added to the headliners Carmody and Every are libero Michael Savio and setter Jeremy Anderson. “In addition, we have some very talented sophomores and a freshman who are rounding out our team,” she said.

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Casey Aubin (first season)

Last season: 21-15

Players to watch: Sr. S Teddy Kopacz, Sr. OH Matt Tassler, Sr. RS Brandon Leatherwood, Sr. MH Rob St. Claire

Outlook: The Steve Rochon era is over at Libertyville. The new coach is Casey Aubin. And his resume includes playing both volleyball and football at Carl Sandburg. He’s not new to coaching as Aubin has coached at both Lincoln-Way East and Central High Schools. His new Wildcats won 21 matches last spring and return a gifted setter in Teddy Kopacz. He’ll have some weapons to work with as veteran hitter Matt Tassler returns on the outside. He’ll be joined by Brandon Leatherwood and Rob St. Clair. “With a nucleus of senior leadership and talent, we are hoping to have a great season,” Aubin said. “And get over the hump to make a run at state. We have worked hard in the off-season and early part of our regular season. I expect our hard work to translate into success on the court.”

MUNDELEIN

Coach: George Dressen Jr. (11th season)

Last season: 15-16

Players to watch: Sr. Parker Tortorello (6-0), Sr. Corey Flores (6-1), Sr. Owen Wilcox (6-0), Jr. Blake Burton (6-4), Fr. John Lentz (6-1), So. Samuel Nelson (5-9), So. David Everding (5-10)

Outlook: There are some familiar names here. Parker Tortorello and Corey Flores are back. Coach George Dressen Jr.’s lineup will have a mixture of classes on the floor. Another Lentz has joined the program following in the footsteps of tall Pat Lentz. Dressen is hoping the freshman John Lentz will also grow taller. “We will probably go with three seniors, two sophomores and a freshman to start,” Dressen said. “If we really get rolling toward the end, we could do something.” The Mustangs will likely be scrappy. Those two sophomores include libero Samuel Nelson and David Everding. Dressen is hoping his team emerges in the tough NSC. “This is one of those teams that doesn’t look great on paper,” he said. “But you really need to see this team and see how much fun they are having.”

LAKES

Coach: Wayne Schultz (fifth season)

Players to watch: MH Mason Solbrig (6-4), L Sean Donovan (6-0),S Eric Metzelaar (6-0), OH Chase Binkley (6-2), OH Richard Galant (6-0), OH Alex VerHagen (6-1)

Outlook: A big sigh of relief went through the Lakes program after it was announced that this Eagles spring program had dodged budget cuts. Imagine getting rid of boys volleyball? What about the career of middle hitter Mason Sobrig, whose 6-4 frame provides the Eagles will plenty of highlights? It will be setter Eric Metzelaar’s job to make sure Solbrig gets his fair shots at pounding volleyballs. “We should be strong this season,” said coach Wayne Schultz. “We have the most talent since I started at Lakes five seasons ago.” The outside hits should go to Chase Binkley this spring.

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Chris Curry (12th season)

Last season: 37-5

Players to watch: Sr. OH Thomas Robinson (6-6), Sr. OH Martin Niemczewski (6-5) So. MH Evan Borden (6-2), So. OH Michael Heinz (6-2)

Outlook: What’s the state’s third-best team do for an encore? Chris Curry’s latest team lost seven seniors from a 37-match winner. But there are two seniors who will be recognized as two of the better players in Lake County. Thomas Robinson will be in his third varsity season. A year ago, he had 311 kills. He’ll be joined on attack by Ball State University-bound Martin Niemczewski. His junior season produced 257 kills with a .423 efficiency, which is second in Vernon Hills history. “With all the guys we graduated from that team that made it to the state semis, this really would seem like a rebuilding year,” Curry said. “But when you’ve got two of the better players in the state returning in Thomas and Martin, I think we expect to be in the fight for the NSC race and, hopefully, the sectional, too.” Vernon Hills brings in 10 new players. “We’ll have some growing pains early as we settle on positions,” Curry said. “I really believe they’ll be a tough group once we get some experience.”

STEVENSON

Coach: Tim Crow (10th year)

Last season: 31-6

Players to watch: Sr. RS Jason Fleischman (6-3), Jr. MH Aaron Zalewski (6-3), Jr. S Jonah May (6-1)

Outlook: It was another 30-win campaign for the Patriots a year ago. At Stevenson, they seem to reload. Both Jason Fleishman and Aaron Zalewski were regulars last year. And the next club will have plenty of candidates for the open jobs. “We have a strong junior group,” coach Tim Crow said. “And a lot of flexibility in a number of positions. I love the energy I have seen and their commitment to the defensive end of the floor.” Like many Crow teams from the past, it’s best to keep an eye on this club come postseason time. That’s when the Pats seem to make the most noise.

WARREN

Coach: Yun Chen (eighth year)

Last season: 23-13

Players to watch: Sr. S Tyler Smith (6-2), Sr. MH Sean O’Connor (6-9)

Outlook: They are encouraged at Warren. Setter Tyler Smith has settled into his post. The Blue Devils welcome back middle hitter John Kroc, who was lost to a sprained ankle a year ago. Two sophomores bear watching in the middle. Both Max Bongratz and Mitch Maan Dekok should make the varsity. “We lost some big offensive players,” coach Yun Chen said. “But our prospects this year have better ball control and are more focused on defense.” Warren should have good depth in the outside hitting department. The Blue Devils did not have a problem attracting players to the program. “We’re excited to see who earns the starting spots because we have a lot of depth,” Chen said.

GRANT

Coach: Jon Schaap (first year)

Outlook: It’s a brand-new team at Grant. Coach Jon Schaap is eager to get started. For starters, he’ll look to juniors Tom Blanchette and Frank Tokarz. In this first year, Grant is not part of the NSC nor will the Bulldogs compete in the regional.

ANTIOCH

Coach: Jamie Atkinson (sixth year)

Last season: 6-21

Players to watch: Sr. MH Karl Nettgen (6-5), L Ian Keller (6-5),OH Christian Schuardt (6-3)

Outlook: The Sequoits will be looking down at most teams. There are several tall players. And any team with an athlete like Karl Nettgen can compete. “We have a few returning starters, but we’ll be young with several juniors and sophomores making the starting lineup,” Atkinson said. “The team will be aggressive, but is still learning to play together. That will be our biggest focus.”

CARMEL CATHOLIC

Coach: Kevin Nylen (fifth season)

Last season: 17-16

Players to watch: Sr. S Alex Dunlap (5-11), Sr. MH Will Collazo (6-7), Sr. OH Anthony Rengers (6-1), Sr. OH/L Frankie Cohen (5-10), Sr. OPP Kevin Fitzgibbons (6-3), Jr. MH Zach Rappe (6-5), Sr. OH/OPP Henry Dominicis (6-2)

Outlook: The Corsairs won 17 matches last season, despite being a young squad. Led by senior setter Alex Dunlap, 6-7 senior middle hitter Will Collazo and senior outside hitter/libero Frankie Cohen, the Corsairs will feature a veteran attack this season. Dunlap and Collazo both earned All-East Suburban Catholic Conference honors last season, while Cohen is playing his fourth season on varsity. Coach Kevin Nylen’s other “talented and tall” players include seniors Anthony Rengers (6-1), Henry Dominicis (6-2) and Kevin Fitzgibbons (6-3) and junior Zach Rappe (6-5). “There is quite a bit of depth up front in that group as well, and they will be vying for playing time,” Nylen said. The defense will be anchored by a rotation of seniors: Matt Michalak, Graham Misak, Damyan Kolomayets and Jon Wloch. Others competing for playing time include junior setter Matt Campbell, opposite Steve O’Block and middle Mike Orlowski. “This is a senior-laden, deep and talented team,” Nylen said. “They have worked very hard in the off-season to prepare and have been looking forward to this season for some time. They get along great with each other and a really wonderful young men. They are a lot of fun to be around, and the practices have been intense and spirited. We have an excellent schedule and will be battle-tested by the time the postseason comes around.”