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Berwick
Head coach: Sarah Warner
Last year’s record: 2-10
Key returners: Ethan Potter, Harshit Patel, Zach Fish
Key losses: Garret Potter, Nick Switzer, Dan Galffy, Reece Musselman, Dayton Broyan, Bryce Kersey
Season outlook: It’s like a new start in 2015 for the Bulldogs. The team lost six seniors off last year’s team, and only return Ethan Potter, Harshit Patel and Zach Fish. Berwick will also have a new head coach as Sarah Warner takes the reins of the program. Warner is no stranger to volleyball as she’s been the girls’ head coach for the last several seasons. “With only three returners back, we are extremely inexperienced,” Warner said. “This provides great room for growth throughout the next few years within the program. If we can maintain a level of consistency and maturity with such an inexperienced group, we will be able to compete well throughout the season.”
Coughlin
Head Coach: Shayne McGrady
Last year’s record: 10-2
Key returners: Sal Purpura, Robert Zbierski
Key losses: Danny Sales, Tyler Davis, Kenny Werkheiser
Season outlook: Arguably, the team hit hardest by graduation is the Crusaders. Head coach Shayne McGrady returns setter Sal Purpura and middle hitter Robert Zbierski, but must replace the offense of Danny Sales and Tyler Davis. “I really like this group,” the head coach said. “This group is very focused. There is no clowning around. I love their focus, and their approach to the game. But we are going to have a lot of new faces. We are going to rebuild a little this season, but we will learn and continue to improve each day and each match.”
Crestwood
Head Coach: Mike Williams
Last year’s record: 8-4
Key returners: Chet Manship, Corey Manship, Chris Dexter, Kyle Price, Gavin Lewis
Key losses: Luke Casey
Season outlook: If there’s one thing Mike Williams won’t need to look hard for, it’s leadership. “I have 10 seniors on the roster, and a lot of these kids have been playing together for a long time now,” Williams said. “Leadership shouldn’t be a problem.” The Comets lost Luke Casey, who recorded more than 120 kills last season. But Williams’ squad returns players like Chris Dexter, Kyle Price and Corey Manship, who each had good games in a district quarterfinal loss to Holy Redeemer last season, plus the power of Chet Manship, who had 18 kills in the season opener against Tunkhannock. “We have a lot of experience, and that’s a good thing. This group does have some pretty high expectations,” Williams said.
Dallas
Head coach: Nick Diaco
Last year’s record: 4-8
Key returners: Brian Drouse, Colin Ryniec, Steve Darling
Key losses: Bryce Mattson, Patrick Madaya
Season outlook: The biggest question for head coach Nick Diaco heading into the 2015 season is trying to find enough offense from his entire team to compensate for the loss of Mattson, one of the top players in the WVC last season. “We are really young,” he said. “A lot of our kids played JV ball last season. And it will be tough to replace Bryce. I don’t know if you can because he was such an important part of this team. I think the league will be young this year, so we will have an opportunity to grow as the season goes along.”
Greater Nanticoke Area
Head coach: Debbie Gavin
Last year’s record: 9-3
Key returners: Matt Winters, Eddie Lukowski, Robert Burke, Jake Bevan
Key losses: Jordan Williams, Austin Siegal, Joe Shimko
Season outlook: Fresh off a state tournament berth in 2014, Nanticoke Area head coach Debbie Gavin returns a good portion of her starting lineup, including setter Eddie Lukowski. The expectations are pretty simple. “Last year, I think the state tournament was an eye-opening experience,” Gavin said. “This group, they are a good group of kids. They want to win because they are competitive kids. I just wish we would have a little more leadership. I thought our senior class last year were just great leaders.”
Hanover Area
Head coach: Bill Kane
Last year’s record: 4-8
Key returners: Jason Leiphart, Derek Brodginski, Chris Herrera, JJ Murphy, Dylan Luzny, Rob Brenner
Key losses: Tommy Bogarowski
Season outlook: Coming off a four-win season in 2014, Bill Kane returns five players with experience, but lost strong hitter Tommy Bogarowski. “Having that experience back is a good thing,” Kane said. “I like this group. They are a good group to be around. They are fairly athletic, but passing is the key in volleyball, and right now, it’s one of our weaknesses. We have kids that can hit the ball, but we have to work on passing. It’s something we will focus on as the season continues on.”
Hazleton Area
Head coach: Greg Cechak
Last year’s record: 5-7
Key returners: Carlos Rodriguez, Tomas Dovicak, Christian Cordero, Matt Michelin, Shane Jordan, Brandon McNeal
Key losses: Alex Gregoire, Brett Barron
Season outlook: It could be a rebuilding season in Hazleton as head coach Greg Cechak returns just three guys in 2015. One of those is Carlos Rodriguez, a libero who will be counted on largely to hold down the back row. “We are going to be taking each game one at a time and try to improve,” Cechak said “We should be competitive because we have a bunch of athletes. They all are taking to the game really quickly, considering 20 are brand new to the sport. I look forward to seeing them grow this season. If we can gel together, I think we may surprise some people.”
Holy Redeemer
Head coach: Jack Kablick
Last year’s record: 12-0
Key returners: Mike Conlon, Mike Gatusky, John Carr, Alex Kotch, Kenny Rexer
Key losses: Mike Prociak
Season outlook: Heading into the 2015 season, there’s no doubt that the coaches would place the preseason favorite tag on Holy Redeemer. And why not? The Royals lost Mike Prociak, but return players like Mike Conlon, Mike Gatusky, John Carr, Alex Kotch and Kenny Rexer. “I’m pretty upbeat heading into this season,” veteran head coach Jack Kablick said. “For most of these kids, this is the third year they’ve been playing together on varsity. We are already in sync in the back row. We are ready.” Redeemer won the Wyoming Valley Conference and then captured a District 2 Class 2A title. The Royals beat York Suburban and Garden Spot in the state tournament before bowing out to eventual champ Northeastern.
Lake-Lehman
Head coach: Mike Kostrobala
Last year’s record: 0-12
Key returners: JK Karlowicz, Zack Corey, Charles Hennebaul
Key losses: Joe Wojcik
Season outlook: Lehman, under new head coach Mike Kostrobala, has one positive heading into the 2015 season. “We have about 12 kids on our team,” he said. “Last year, the team barely had enough kids to practice.” Sledding could be rough in the early season as the first-year head coach has a lot of new players and must find a setter to replace Joe Wojcik. “We are coming off a winless season, but the kids have a good attitude. I think the kids that were here last year are starting to see some growth. We have a lot of first-year players, so it will take some time for them to get into the swing of things.”
Tunkhannock
Head coach: Jeff Howell
Last year’s record: 6-6
Key returners: Daulton Cavanaugh, Trevor Dunning, Alex Clark, Hunter Prevost
Season outlook: After finishing so close to the playoffs in 2014, it’s no surprise Tunkhannock has set one specific goal heading into this year. “We missed it by one game last year, so we are pretty determined to make it this season,” head coach Jeff Howell said. Of course, it will be difficult after graduating five seniors off that 6-6 squad. “Our team is always doing things together outside of volleyball to become a close-knit group. They are like a family. Being so young, some of these kids don’t have that game experience. We hope some of the early tournaments will help them to get ready when we hit some of our league teams.”
Wyoming Valley West
Head coach: Joe Czopek
Last year’s record: 6-6
Key returners: Hunter McGrane, Dave Richards
Key losses: Mark Burridge, John Butchko
Season outlook: With a schedule backloaded with the top teams, WVW head coach Joe Czopek will get a chance to watch his team gel together early in the season. And the Spartans may need some time as the team lost five of six starters from last year. “As a group, they are pretty close knit,” the head coach said. “It’s just going to take some time. As a team, you can tell there are times where we are struggling. But we will continue to work through that. We have some of the tougher teams later in April, so our schedule will give us a chance to come together.”