on a strong first season. Head coach Marv Dunphy, in his 30th season, is the new dean of the MPSF with the departure of UCLA’s Al Scates. The Waves’ first conference match will be against top-ranked UC Irvine.
The contenders
Stanford (22-5) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 3 n Key returnees: Eric Mochalski (MB, Jr., Manhat- tan Beach, Calif.), Brian Cook (OH, Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif.), Steven Irvin (OH, Jr., Pacific Palisades, Calif.) n Outlook: The pain of a five-set loss to eventual national champion UC Irvine in the finals of the MPSF Tourna- ment finals will serve as motivation for the Cardinal in 2013. Heralded recruit James Shaw (Mountain View, Calif.) will give the Cardinal its biggest setter in school history, but he first had to win the job from another prized freshman with impressive lineage. Joe Ctvrtlik (Newport Beach, Calif.) led Coronal del Mar to a CIF section title in 2012 and is the son of past Olympic gold medalist Bob Ctvrtlik. Eric Mochalski is one of the nation’s top middle blockers and was a big reason why the Cardinal posted a gaudy 17-5 record in the rugged MPSF last season. Head coach John Kosty said the 15-12 loss in that fifth set to UC Irvine illustrated how critical each point could be for a team with championship aspirations.
Lewis (26-7) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 5 n Key
returnees: BJ Boldog (S, Jr., Palatine, Ill.), Jay Petty (OH, Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.), Geoff Powell (OH, So., Claremont, Calif.), Greg Petty (OH, So., Downers Grove, Ill.) n Outlook: The Flyers reached the NCAA semifinals in 2012, playing a heavily favored Southern California team on the Trojans’ home floor. Geoff Powell had a big night in the national spotlight, pounding down 17 kills. Powell was the MIVA Freshman of the Year and is one reason Lewis is expected to return to postseason. Accord- ing to the conference coaches, the Flyers are the preseason favorites. The Flyers are the highest ranked non-MPSF team in the AVCA preseason poll. Senior Jay Petty led the Flyers with six 20-plus kill performances in 2012 and was named the MVP of the MIVA Tournament. Setter BJ Boldog was a AVCA All-America Second-Team selection and directs the Fly- ers’ attack.
UCLA (22-8) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 6 n Key
returnees: Gonzalo Quiroga (OH, Jr., San Juan, Argentina), Evan Mottram (L, Jr., Leona Valley, Calif.), Robart Page (OPP, Jr., Roches- ter, N.Y.) n Outlook: New head coach John Speraw takes over for Al Scates after winning the 2012 NCAA national title at the helm of UC Irvine. Speraw called his former team’s fall season dominance “bittersweet” as he began the process of returning his alma mater
to the top of the men’s volleyball collegiate scene. One of Speraw’s first decisions was to move seven-foot Robert Page to the opposite position where he is expected to create havoc for some of the MPSF’s outside attackers. Page’s presence at the net and the steady play of all-conference Gonzalo Quiroga forms the nucleus of what Speraw hopes to get done this year, but he is already winning the recruiting battle as Westwood is once again attracting some of the top junior players.
Southern California (24-6) 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 9 n Key returnees: Micah Christenson (S, So., Honolulu), Henry Cassiday (L, Jr., Honolulu), Robert Feathers (MB, So., Pacific Palisades, Calif.), Tanner Jansen (OPP, Jr., San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Ben Lam (MB, So., Ho- nolulu) n Outlook: Gone is AVCA Player of the Year Tony Ciarelli, who helped the Trojans reach the national championship match in two seasons. Head coach Bill Ferguson has a polished setter in Micah Christen- son and some middle blocking experience in the form of Robert Feathers and Ben Lam.
Loyola-Chicago (19-12) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 10 n Key returnees: Joseph Smalzer (OPP, Jr., Palos Heights, Ill.), Peter Jasaitis (L, Jr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.), Matt Mirick (S., Sr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.) n Outlook: The Ramblers return six start- ers from a team that was in the thick of the MIVA race last season. Joseph Smalzer is an international- sized opposite at 6-8 and led the team with 337 kills and 48 service aces in 2012. Matt Mirick dished out 1,092 assists in 2012 and is second on the Ram- blers’ career assist leaders. Sophomore outside hitter Cody Caldwell (Newport Beach, Calif.) made 19 starts in 2012 and will be expected to elevate his swings in 2013.
ships semifinals, one of the most impressive streaks in men’s volleyball. Aaron Russell emerged during his freshman year as a force in the middle, but the Nittany Lions will have to replace a strong graduating class to return to the national semifinals for the 18th time under the direction of head coach Mark Pavlik.
Ohio State (21-9) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 11 n Key
returnees: Grayson Overman (MB, Sr., San Clemente, Calif.), Peter Heinen (S, So., Wauwatosa, Wis.), Michael Henchy (OH, So., Ventura, Calif.) n Outlook: The Buckeyes are just two years removed from their NCAA national championship as head coach Pete Hanson enters his 29th season. Much of the offensive load will rest with Michael Henchy, who came on strong in 2012 and played his best volleyball late in his freshman season. Henchy, who is one of 11 Californians on the
PETTY POWER: Jay Petty is no small reason the Flyers are expected to win the MIVA title. (Photo: Don Liebig)
Penn State (23-6) n 2013 AVCA Preseason Rank: 8 n Key
returnees: Aaron Russell (MB, So., Ellicott City, Md.), Nick Turko (MB, Sr., Lewisberry, Pa.), Nick Goodell (OH, So., Ambridge, Pa.), Tom Comfort (OPP, Sr., Orchard Park, N.Y.), Connor Curry (L, So., Newport Beach, Calif.), n Outlook: The Nittany Lions have made 14 straight appearances in the NCAA Champion-
Buckeyes’ roster, was named a first team preseason all-MIVA selection. Grayson Over- man will anchor the middle after ranking 10th nationally with a 1.27 blocks per set average. Peter Heinen is a redshirt sophomore with vast experience after playing in all 30 matches for Ohio State in 2012 – including a 57-assist performance against Ball State.
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