By Bobby Narang –
The Neuqua Valley High School boys volleyball team nearly made program history last season.
The Wildcats advanced to the program’s first State championship game, but dropped a thrilling three-set decision to Lincoln-Way East. After winning the first set, the Wildcats were on the verge of a State championship before Lincoln-Way East stormed back to win the State championship. The Wildcats, though, brought back the bulk of the players from last season’s 33-8 record, which was the fourth team in program history to make the State tournament.
The Wildcats, led by setter Kevin Kauling, are one of the top contenders for the State championship this season. Kauling, a Lewis University recruit, is the headline player, but the Wildcats will rely on senior middle hitter Jeremy Cardenas and junior outside hitter Gabe Scharosch.
“We return a number of players that got great experience in our run as State runnerup,” Neuqua Valley head coach Erich Mendoza said. “We’ll have good height on this year’s team, so we’ll have a number of options to get a kill…. Based off of our returning players and the new additions to varsity, I feel that we can make another run at State.”
The season will begin next week. The traditionally-competitive Wheaton Warrenville tournament March 28-30 will be revealing.
• Naperville North will seek to challenge for a championship. After an 18-19 record last season that included a lot of growing pains, the Huskies return five starters from a team that suffered a three-set loss to Neuqua Valley in the regional finals. Senior outside hitter John Jaworski, who had 322 kills, 250 digs, and 32 aces last season, committed to Clarke University. He will be joined at North by junior outside hitter Zach Vaughn, 104 kills; Connor Wojcik, 873 assists, 200 digs; Henry Zhous, 78 kills, 33 blocks; and Dillon Bramlett, 63 kills, 24 blocks.
“We had many close losses last year because we lacked experience more than anything,” Naperville North head coach Nathan Bornancin said. “Now we are one of the most experienced teams in the area…. There is plenty of be excited about heading into the season.”
• Benet Academy is another team to watch after a 27-victory season. Senior libero Sean Becker, senior middle hitter Kevin Drazba, junior setter Matthew Degnan, and sophomore outside hitter Augie Mazza are the key returnees.
“Our boys will need to be willing to step up and work hard as a team with all the new faces that will be on the floor this year,” Benet head coach Jeff Steinberg said.
• Metea Valley will have to do without two key pieces in Andrew Kohut and Matt Nealon, but after coming off the best season in program history, the Mustangs will lean on Ryan Owens and Matt Connor Murphy to attempt to win a second straight regional tournament championship.
“We have a challenging schedule, so we must grow up quickly in order to translate talent into success,” Metea Valley head coach John Aister said. “We’re looking to build on what 2018 brought to the program and continue toward a deep playoff run.”