Scouting DuPage County boys volleyball
Top teams: Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard East, Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley, St. Francis, Benet, Hinsdale Central.
Top players: Addison Trail: Chris Vazquez, S, sr.; Benet: Kevin Massura, OH, sr.; Billy Aukstik, L, sr.; Downers Grove South: Pat Soukop, L, sr.; Glenbard East: Mark Jones, S, sr.; Piotr Dabrowski, MB, sr.; Tim Lovik, OH sr.; Glenbard North: Tyler Gustafson, OH, sr.; Kyle Schwetz, MB, sr.; Glenbard West: Kevin McGinnis, L, so.; Scottie Glotzbach, S, sr.; Hinsdale Central: Alex Andre, MB, sr.; Jordan Williams, OH, sr.; Justin Diaz, S, sr.; Lake Park: Kyle Olszewski, OH, sr.; Naperville Central: Victor Lei, S, sr.; Dan Dierking, OH, sr.; Naperville North: Colin Ball, MB, sr.; Neuqua Valley: Rob Bauer, OH, sr.; Kevin Begley, L, sr.; Derek Menendez, MB, sr.; St. Francis: Mike Segneri, S, sr.; Dave Metzler, OH, sr.; Waubonsie Valley: Traeger Penicook, OH, sr.; Connor Dougherty, MB, sr.; Wheaton North: Keenan Ovitt, MB, sr; Wheaton Warrenville South: Joe Kelly, S, sr.; Rob Samp, MB, sr.; Neill Nystrom, OH, sr.; York: Steve Ogden, OH, sr.
Outlook: Wheaton Warrenville South is trying to make it three state championships in a row, and there are a lot of reasons why the Tigers may just do it. They're tall, talented and there's a solid group of seniors - including Kelly, Nystrom and Samp - who know how to win. They're backed by a supporting cast that could not only start but probably go deep into the playoffs for most other schools. And there's that tradition. The orange and black considers anything short of a state title a bad season.
But before we put the crown on the Tigers' heads, there's a worthy challenger to Wheaton Warrenville South right there in the DuPage Valley Conference. Glenbard East has built a little tradition of its own, having qualified for state in two of the past three years. And while All-Area team captain Dan Mader has graduated, the Rams have a group of three-year starters who are determined to challenge the Tigers in conference and sectionals for the right to advance to the Elite Eight. Jones is a candidate for All-Area captain. And the DVC isn't even a two-horse race. With four-year starting setter Lei and a powerful hitter in Dierking, Naperville Central will be heard from, while Glenbard North, which returns All-Area player Gustafson, and Naperville North are improving.
In the Upstate Eight, Neuqua Valley finished third in state, and there's a savvy senior class that wants to take those last few final steps to the championship. Bauer is outstanding, but there's plenty of talent around him. Waubonsie Valley is tall and could have its best team in years, and Lake Park, featuring the multitalented Olszewski, is always in the mix for the conference title.
Hinsdale Central lost a great class of seniors, but the Red Devils are still big, agile and skilled with a hungry bunch of veterans determined to defend the West Suburban Silver title. Coach Len Serwat has hopes of coming out of the killer Willowbrook sectional that also features Wheaton Warrenville South, Glenbard East, the Napervilles, York, St. Francis and Benet.
And, speaking of York, St. Francis and Benet, the Dukes are looking to challenge Hinsdale Central in conference, while the Spartans, who have quietly grown into a major power over the past few years, will be tough again, with all-star setter Segneri leading the way and the graduates of a strong JV team coming up. Benet, in only its fourth year as a varsity program, is fast approaching that top level. Massura, who's finally back at full strength from a major knee injury suffered two seasons ago, and the scrappy Aukstik are outstanding.
Two years ago, Downers Grove South got a taste of the state final eight, and coach Tony Nevrly is hoping that his promising though still young Mustangs can come together to win back the West Suburban Gold title and make a run in the postseason. Addison Trail will continue to play its typical dig-for-everything style under new coach Tim Murphy.
- Neil Shalin