2016 Boys Volleyball Capsule Previews
ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: John Gibbons, fifth season
2015 record: 14-9 (7-1 Northwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (four)
Top players: LIB Michael Prescia (Sr.), S Brenden Gougeon (Sr.), OH Treven Clizbe (Jr.), MB Brenden Wagner (Jr.)
Outlook: The Aggies bring back four starters from last year’s Northwest League champions.
“We have a good core group of returning starters with a mix of athletic underclassmen,” Gibbons said. “With hard work, we feel that this group can compete for a Northwest League title and have an opportunity to make it into the state tournament.”
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BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Kyle Krauss, fifth season
2015 record: 9-18 (1-7 Southwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (four)
Top players: OH Jacob Taylor (Sr.), OH Charlie Pollnow (Jr.), S Trevor Papock (So.), OPP/OH Will Hafen (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gaels struggled last season, but are hoping for big improvements this year.
“This is a hard working, good group of returning players and leaders who missed the playoffs last season but they do plan on making a much better run at it this year,” Krauss said. “As we have a very young, but talented team with only one or two possible senior starters and the majority being sophomores or juniors, our expectations are still high.
“I believe they will come to practice every day to work hard, grow as players and teammates and keep focus on our main goals throughout the season, and that will help us become the best we can become. This is one of the deepest teams I’ve coached in this program, and I believe that will help with the intensity of our practices, which will help this team get to where we want to go.”
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BONANZA
Head coach: Jamie Charles, third season
2015 record: 15-11 (5-3 Northwest, 3rd)
Returning starters: Three
Top players: OH Robby Adair (Sr.), OH Bronson Duckworth (Sr.), S Luis Raygoza (Sr.)
Outlook: With three senior starters back to lead the way, the Bengals will look to return to the playoffs.
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CENTENNIAL
Head coach: Scott Nelson, 10th season
2015 record: 30-10 (6-2 Northwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (two)
Top players: S Grant Nelson (Sr.), MB Justin Dietrich (Sr.), MB Kevin Henricksen (Sr.), OH Tommy Felt (Sr.)
Outlook: Henricksen and Felt are beginning their third season on varsity and are expected to be among the team’s leaders along with Grant Nelson and Dietrich.
“We will have a mix of older and younger players, which should provide for a fun, interesting year,” Scott Nelson said.
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CHEYENNE
Head coach: J.D. Armstrong, fourth season
2015 record: 3-15 (2-8 Sunset, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Two (two)
Top players: S Lanson Keomaka (Sr.), MH Devante Hammond (Sr.), OH Tyler Buchanan (Jr.)
Outlook: The Desert Shields will have a new look with only two lettermen back.
“This team is going to make sure we have an enjoyable year,” Armstrong said. “They are a group that truly loves the game and is willing to work to improve every day.
“With confidence and a positive attitude, this team has the potential to win a lot of games and go deep into the playoffs. We truly expect to have fun this year.”
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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Vilay Thao, first season
2015 record: 1-23 (0-8 Northwest, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Two (two)
Top players: OH Erick Forbush (Jr.), MB Fred Tito (So.), LIB Cody Brown (Jr.), OPP Utah Mika (Sr.)
Outlook: Thao inherits a team that struggled last year and brings back only two lettermen.
“I have a young team with only two seniors,” Thao said. “Our goal is to make it to playoffs, which has not happened here since 2009. I have a group of talented boys and expect them to do well this season.”
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CORONADO
Head coach: Matt Johnson, seventh season
2015 record: 22-18 (8-2 Southeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (three)
Top players: MB Trey Hunter (Sr.), OH J.J. Meath (Sr.), OH Ryan Garlick (Jr.)
Outlook: The Cougars bring back only three starters from a team that captured the Southeast League title last year.
Meath (164 kills, 31 blocks), Hunter (54 kills, 70 blocks) and Garlick (53 kills) should be among the leaders this season.
“We have a nice mixture of experienced seniors and athletic newcomers to the varsity team,” Johnson said. “With focus and effort, we look to be right in the middle of the hunt for the region title and an opportunity to get back into the state tournament.”
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DEL SOL
Head coach: Walter Tum, first season
2015 record: 12-5 (6-2 Sunrise, second)
Returning starters: Two
Top players: Blaine Quitog (Sr.), Anthony Nehme (Sr.)
Outlook: Tum inherits a team coming off a successful season, but one with only two returning starters.
“This team is looking to compete with the best teams in our conference for a playoff spot,” Tum said.
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DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Nick Porter, first season
2015 record: 7-16 (2-6 Northwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (four)
Top players: OH Billy Cameron (Sr.), LIB/DS Bryson Sadama (Jr.), OH/S Jacob Dufour (Sr.)
Outlook: Porter takes over a team that returns four starters after qualifying for the postseason last year.
“They’re athletic as a group, and a few are particularly talented at their positions,” Porter said. “They lacked discipline and defined roles on the court, which we’re hoping to implement with this team and bring them into much more competitive situations.
“This team has the potential to surpass expectations. They’re tired of scraping to just make the playoffs and are hungry to compete for a higher seed in our league.”
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DESERT PINES
Head coach: Sopheap Khuon, third season
2015 record: 4-11 (2-6 Sunrise, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Three (three)
Top players: S/OH Tam Lansangan (Sr.), OH Ortega Wiltz (Sr.), MH Carlos Flores (Sr.)
Outlook: The Jaguars bring back three lettermen from a team that qualified for the Division I-A playoffs.
“The team has good leadership at its core to be a cohesive and competitive unit,” Khuon said. “Our goal is to come together as a complete team and compete at a high level and work hard toward winning the league and making a playoff run.”
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DURANGO
Head coach: Nicole Adarme, second season
2015 record: 8-19 (1-7 Southwest, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: S Andre Shabazz (Jr.), OH Jaylen Clark (Jr.), MH/OH Michael Diggins (Sr.)
Outlook: The Trailblazers bring back seven lettermen, including six starters from a team that qualified for the postseason last year.
Shabazz (512 assists, 186 digs), Clark (214 kills, 179 digs) and Diggins (188 kills, 83 blocks) should be among the team’s leaders.
“We see ourselves working hard to place better in regionals than in the past,” Adarme said. “Our motto is one practice, one game at a time because we need to focus on each step in order to be successful overall in our highly-competitive league.
“The team is eager and enthusiastic as to what our path holds for us, and we believe that our hard work and learning knowledge of the game will pay off in our favor.”
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ELDORADO
Head coach: Phil Olsen, seventh season
2015 record: 5-14 (2-8 Southeast, fifth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Three (two)
Top players: MB Hunter Stack (Sr.), LIB Logan McMahill (Sr.), OH Justin Martin (Sr.)
Outlook: Only three lettermen return for the Sundevils.
“This year’s team is very inexperienced but is working hard to get better,” Olsen said. “If we can play as a team to the best of our ability, it will be a successful year. We’re looking forward to competing every game.”
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FOOTHILL
Head coach: Chris Sisson, fifth season
2015 record: 23-18 (6-4 Southeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Eight (six)
Top players: S Shilo Chow (Sr.), MB/OH Eric Szukiewicz (Sr.), MB/OH Mason Hansen (Sr.), OPP Tyler Jacob (Sr.)
Outlook: The Falcons return six starters from a team that advanced to the Division I state tournament last year.
Chow (540 assists, 94 digs), Szukiewicz (66 kills) and Jacob (20 kills) are beginning their third season on varsity, and Sisson expects the trio to have a big senior year.
“We have a team with a lot of talent and experience, including nine seniors, eight of whom had significant roles ast year,” Sisson said. “This year’s team is focused on improving every day so they can surpass the success that the Foothill teams before them have achieved in the playoffs.”
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GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Emily Baracco, fourth season
2015 record: 14-11 (7-3 Southeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Seven (six)
Top players: MB Chase Larson (Sr.), OH Dustin Elliott (Sr.), S Zachary Hewitt (Sr.), OH James Reed (Jr.), LIB Tyler Dancel (Sr.)
Outlook: The Gators return six starters from a team that was in contention for the Southeast League title last year.
Elliott (289 kills, 46 aces, 146 digs), Larson (231 kills, 82 blocks, 28 aces) and Reed (220 kills, 156 digs, 24 blocks) return to man the net. Hewitt (741 assists, 78 kills, 145 digs, 48 aces) returns as the team’s setter, and Dancel (181 digs, 24 aces) is back as the libero.
“We have an experienced group of starting seniors who are looking to lead the team into the postseason,” Baracco said. “We are focused on working hard and using our team chemistry to achieve our goals.”
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LAS VEGAS
Head coach: Justin Graham, second season
2015 record: 14-11 (6-2 Northeast, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (three)
Top players: S Luis Wong (Sr.), MB Ronell Sueno (Sr.), OH Brandon Kampshoff (Jr.)
Outlook: Wong, who had 636 assists and 172 digs last year, is back to guide an offense that also returns Kampshoff (191 kills, 27 aces) and Sueno (146 kills, 69 blocks).
“Our group is just a bunch of scrappy kids from the east side working hard to put ourselves in a position to make an impact in May,” Graham said.
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LEGACY
Head coach: Ray Lewis, fourth season
2015 record: 19-7 (6-2 Southwest, second)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (two)
Top players: RS/OH Omari Wheeler (Sr.), OH Anthony Guevara (Jr.)
Outlook: The Longhorns won the Sunset Region title and finished second in the Division I state tournament last season.
“We are returning two starters from a team that made a run and lost in a state final last season,” Lewis said. “Although less experienced, this team is hungry and looks to make another deep postseason run. Winning state is our goal again this season.”
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LIBERTY
Head coach: John Cress, first season
2015 record: 14-13 (5-3 Northeast, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Two (zero)
Outlook: Cress inherits a team that had success last year, but graduated 12 seniors.
“Liberty will start the season with all new starters and a young, athletic team,” Cress said.
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MOJAVE
Head coach: Erik Davis, fourth season
2015 record: 27-3 (10-0 Sunset, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (five)
Top players: S Jason Zambrano (Sr.), OH Alex Carvalho (Sr.), OPP/OH Clayton Fontano (Sr.), MB Absalon Williams (Sr.), LIB/DS Anthony Reed (Sr.)
Outlook: The two-time defending Division I-A champions return nine lettermen, including five starters.
Among those returning for the Rattlers are: Zambrano (883 assists, 215 digs), Carvalho (253 kills, 182 digs), Fontano (208 kills, 187 digs, 61 aces), Williams (155 kills, 73 blocks) and Reed (367 digs).
“We bring back a lot of experience and are excited to develop new talent,” Davis said. “As is always the expectation, we anticipate nothing but great things out of this group and hope to make a run for our third consecutive Division I-A state championship.”
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PALO VERDE
Head coach: Phil Clarke, 10th season
2015 record: 32-11 (6-2 Southwest, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Five (two)
Top players: LIB Jacob Scheer (Sr.), OH Chandler Juilfs (Jr.)
Outlook: The defending Division I state champions bring back only two starters.
Scheer (283 digs) and Juilfs (233 kills) will be among the leaders on a young team.
“This group is less experienced than last year,” Clarke said. “This is the first year on varsity for many of the guys. There are some big shoes to fill with the group that graduated last year; we lost five key starters.
“It’s a hard-working group, and the expectations are still high going into this season.”
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SHADOW RIDGE
Head coach: Travis Underwood, fourth season
2015 record: 20-8 (6-2 Southwest, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (two)
Top players: MB/OH Cody Heathcock (Sr.), OH Brendan Harville (Sr.), OH Cutler Leavitt (Sr.), S C.J. McInnes (Jr.), MB Tanner Franklin (So.)
Outlook: Traditionally one of the top programs in Southern Nevada, Shadow Ridge has some work to do this year with six lettermen back.
“Although Shadow Ridge returns only two starters from last year’s team, the Mustangs have very athletic sophomores and juniors to fill in the holes,” Underwood said.
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SIERRA VISTA
Head coach: Camille McComas, 15th season
2015 record: 9-15 (6-4 Sunset, third)
Returning lettermen (starters): Nine (six)
Top players: OH Nik Fava (Sr.), OH Christian McCoy (Sr.), MB Joey Harvanek (Sr.)
Outlook: With six starters and three other lettermen back, the Mountain Lions could be poised for a big season.
“This team has really matured,” McComas said. “They have high standards for themselves and are putting in the time and effort necessary to make it their best career season.
“We have all of our returners and some new talent that has given us new dimension to our overall game. This group will be dynamic and fun to watch.”
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SILVERADO
Head coach: Elvin Bower, first season
2015 record: 3-12 (2-6 Northeast, fourth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Four (three)
Top players: S Cody Steckel (Jr.), OH Taz Goon (Sr.), OH David Toole (Jr.), MH Kris Coe (Sr.)
Outlook: Bower inherits a program that is hoping to rebound from a pair of down seasons.
Four lettermen return to help guide the team.
“Silverado is looking forward to a competitive season,” Bower said. “We, as a program, expect to give our all in our games. Our main focus is to take one day at a time and one game at a time.
“We are going to be measured by our growth as a team and as a program and not by wins and losses.”
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SPRING VALLEY
Head coach: Michael Lee, second season
2015 record: 2-11 (1-9 Sunset, sixth)
Returning lettermen (starters): Two (two)
Top players: OPP Troy Lance (Sr.), OH Stevan Paukovic (Sr.), LIB Syed Husain (Jr.), OH Jared Tremblay-Barris (Sr.), OH Jeremiah Teems-Robinson (Jr.), Jacob Teems-Robinson (Jr.)
Outlook: The Grizzlies return just two starters from last year’s team and hope to show improvement.
“With four starters graduating last year, this looks like another rebuilding year for the Grizzlies,” Lee said.
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VALLEY
Head coach: Matt Porter, 12th season
2015 record: 13-8 (7-1 Northeast, first)
Returning lettermen (starters): Six (four)
Top players: OH Marty Heavey (Sr.), OH Jared Marchello (Sr.), MB Noah Sutton (Jr.), LIB Austin Smith (Sr.)
Outlook: Heavey, last year’s Northeast League player of the year, is among four returning starters for the defending league champion Vikings.
“He will be counted on to carry the load on offense as well as the team’s passing responsibilities,” Porter said.
Porter also expects big contributions from Marchello, Sutton, Smith and setter Justin Sandoval.
“Justin Sandoval is our new setter who will need to quickly get acclimated to running our offense,” Porter said. “The team has good balance and should play solid volleyball.”
