Boys volleyball: O.C.’s top 20 seniors
May 5th, 2009, 12:36 pm · · posted by Chris Tobolski, OCVarsity.com
Orange Lutheran's Maurice Torres (middle) / Rose Palmisano, The Register
The regular season is winding down, and what a regular season it has been.
Exciting upsets and five-games thrillers. Those matches produced fascinating performances by the county’s talented players.
We’ve compiled a list by class of the top individuals, regardless of position, starting with the senior class.
The list of the top juniors will be released Wednesday (click here to see the list of juniors) and the top sophomores on Thursday. (click here to see the list of sophomores)
No list is perfect. It is a difficult task deciding who makes the final list, and a lot of factors — such as what a player has done this year, their potential and coaches comments – were part of the process.
There is sure to be dissent on some of the choices, and hopefully some agreement on others. We encourage everyone to leave a response and let us know how we did, who you liked on the list, and who you would have had on the list.
Top 20 Seniors
(In alphabetical order)
• Harrison Carroll, Mater Dei
• Ian Castellana, San Clemente
• Charlie Condron, Huntington Beach
• Dylan Davis, Corona del Mar
• Paul Goodman, Beckman
• J.B. Green, Newport Harbor
• Cooper Gwaltney, Laguna Beach
•Connor Hughes, Mater Dei
• Tanner Jansen, Santa Margarita
• Dillon Linzmeyer, Servite
• Arik Metzger, San Clemente
• Grayson Overman, San Clemente
• Sean Senozan, Los Alamitos
• Micah Sherman, Calvary Chapel
• McKay Smith, Dana Hills
• Maurice Torres, Orange Lutheran
• Chris Trefzger, Mater Dei
• Brian Warnecke, Esperanza
• Nick West, El Dorado
• Dane Worley, Foothill
More from the boys volleyball blog:
- Boys volleyball: CIF playoffs bracket release times
- Boys volleyball: Three of the Day
- Tobolski: How I voted in the boys volleyball top 10
- Boys volleyball: What’s Ahead (preview of last week of league)
- Boys volleyball: Top 10 poll (Newport Harbor still on top)
- Boys volleyball: Esperanza’s Warnecke headed to UCLA
- Boys volleyball: No. 1 Newport Harbor sweeps past No. 3 Esperanza
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OC H.S. Sports
john caroompas from aliso niguel is a junior
Thanks. We had the wrong year.
It’s been updated.
Chris
chase frischman should be in top 10 without a doubt. reads better than any defensive player out there and along with the abillitiy to anticipate and pass nails, he works his butt off!
Cooper Neser should also be on this list. He as well as Chase have single handely won matches for there schools. There both cosidered top club players and two of the best liberos in the nation. They both have been recruited to top volleyball schools to play next year. Its about time you start giving the Liberos the recognition they deserve.
Hamilton Day and Kyle Lawrence from Newport Harbor..Where are they?
why does it only seem to be schools in the top ten? Maybe if you worked the beat instead of just working with the coaches for input you’d found a much more diverse group of young men who aren’t just the D-1 commits. You should get out more often and take in the games. Your sports page pays more attention to swim, golf, & tennis than volleyball, which is a traditional SoCal dominate sport. Do your what you’re paid to do and start fighting for more print space!
CFE
There are players from other schools other than the top 10 schools. With that said, the top teams usually have the top players.
Not always. But traditionally.
Thanks for your interest.
Chris
I agree with CFE. It’s much easier to be a great MB and terrific setter when you have a great nationally-ranked libero making killer saves and perfect passes and most if not all of your team plays club. It’s a lot easier to be a great OPP or OH when you have a great libero and setter and 10 guys on the bench for relief. It’s a lot easier to be a great libero when you have a huge front line blocking everything and you have serving specialists. Instead of always focusing on the standard “best” guys, how about giving a bit of credit to the guys on teams where no one else plays club, half the team has never even played volleyball before, yet they lead the team to the CIF playoffs. Do your research – then select your “best” players from the context of “not-the-best” circumstances. It’s like coach of the year — rarely from the championship team but always the ones who did the best with the least to work with.
I understand how you feel about the one-sidedness that seems to be involved in this Top 20 Seniors, but there are a lot of guys to choose from and I’m more than positive that not every single player or team could be taken into account. Thus, you must take into account how difficult it is to make a list like this in the first place. Sure, there are some players on this list that are questionable, but if you really wanted to make a list with the BEST seniors this year, then you would only see a few teams, because the top teams do bring in the most talent, and you can’t disregard that. Overall, I’m impressed with the list and glad to see some well-deserved candidates recieve this – in my opinion – high honor.
Sorry your so butt-hurt about the “unfairness” that went on in OC Varsity’s decision, but your complaints won’t change a thing.
I have to disagree. My son was recruited by 3 D1 schools, 7 DII schools, and a busload of others — but he has to play for a no-name high school. I can’t afford to live in Corona del Mar or Newport Beach or afford a private school so I spend every penny I can find to ensure he plays for a top club and gets seen by the scouts. So the best kids aren’t always on the top high school teams. But I understand how hard it is to compile the list. I’m just saying that it’s easier to be a great OPP when you have a great team making the great passes and great blocks you than if you don’t. He has to do it all and his future is brilliant despite not making the list.
Wow! What an honor! Thank you!
No reason for Dylan Emerry from Fountain Valley, the best left handed hitter in the county, to not be on this list. You put him on any team that has a tad more experience, and he is the teams major threat.
I agree. He is easily the best opposite on the county. The only reason he doesn’t get recognition is because FV is not very good this year. He led them last year when they made it to the 2nd round of CIF. Put him on any other team and he is easily the #1 attacking threat.
I agree. He’s a beast. and I should know this. I’m his setter. My hands are ok and he still crushes balls. Plus, I dont get that many good passes which makes the sets worst, but he still makes do. He should be on this list along with Chase.
I agree with Richard, Chase Frishman is the best libero in the county…not sure how he got left off the list.
i just lost a lot of respect for you tobolski
VBaller:
Over a list? That’s alright. I appreciate your interest and response. Keep them coming.
Thanks for the commentary VBParent. I coach at one of those “other” schools. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy taking the kid who has never played volleyball before, and teaching him the game. And this is generally our whole program. But we see so much progress, it really is a pleasure. Our goal is to have our players work hard, be proud of themselves and how they represent their team, family, and school. Ultimately, this is what matters most. Of course, it is also a matter of pride to add a league championship banner to the gym wall, and we have just added our third in a row.
I totally understand how hard this list must have been to compile. VBLover has some great points (too bad the last comment was added!), but maybe if we all could see the list broken down by postion, since that’s how the game is played it would make more sense (or be easier to take). I don’t argue at all that there is a ton of talent in the OC, obviously the best centralized pool to pick from in the nation, but share more of your analysis as we all know that coaches can be focused on thier team’s talent. We also know that you didn’t talk with each and every coach, probably only those you covered through the year. Congradulations to all you on the list for all the great play this year and much more success in your futures!!
CFE
In addition to the top players, we are compiling a list to be released later in the week that breaks down into position. Stay tuned.
Thanks, Chris. Looking forward to it.
Thats good. Hopefully we will get to see more super stars from the not so stellar teams
Thanks Chris for having me on the list. thought you guys didnt know who I was. Keep up the top notch journalism!
Nick West couldn’t lead El Dorado to victory over villa park, who lost to tustin. and cried after being loosing game 3 to el modena, what kind of top 20 player is that? dylan emerry from fountain valley deffinitly deserves it more
Want to put a plug in for Mike Kuelpman from Orange Lutheran at Libero. Played them 2x in league and besides being wowed by Torres, I could not help but notice Mike who had a large number of tremendous digs and extremely high percentage of passes were nails.
Blooper, sorry for loving my sport and losing an emotional game that decided league champs. As for the villa park game, 3 of our starters were benched by our coach and we let our reserves play and mature at the game. And as a side note, I’ll challenge Dylan Emerry any day of the year
Dillon Emery would own you any day of the week. It wouldn’t even be close.
Dillon Emery could be you any day of the week.
And scott peterson, dont call someone a faggot. It really isn’t necessary. Charlie condron is an amazing libero, but he is unconventional. I agree that Chase deserves to be on the list but so does Charlie. I think they are both better than Brian Warnecke.
What a list! Nick West you’re a dreamer. Be sure to watch my shows on TBS. Very Funny!
What club does brian warnecke played for? i’ve never even heard of or seen him?
He’s on Balboa’s three or four team
Here’s your list for the top seniors in each position imho.
Libero: Chase Frishman(UCSD), Cooper Neser(BYU), ?, ?
Middles: Dylan Davis(UCSB), McKay Smith(LBSU), Ian Castellano(UCI), Grayson Overman(OS)
Outsides: Connor Hughes(UCI), Paul Goodman(UCSB), Dane Worley(UCLA), Harrison Carroll
Oppos: Maurice Torres(Pepperdine), Tanner Jansen(USC), Dylan Emery, ?
Setters: Sean Senozan(UCLA), Chris Trefzger(USC), Arik Metzger, Connor Bannon(UCLA)
I would add Charlie Condron (CSUN) for liberos.
And from what I hear, Sean Senozan isn’t going to set at UCLA. They told him he was to short to set, so I don’t know what he will play there.
Wow, that’s a roster any coach at any level would love to have! Dillon Emery will be attending OCC, then. . . .
Explain to me why the O-Lu Middles #22 & #21
owned both of the San Clemente Md’s & when they palyed Dana Hills they blocked their Big Guy Smith numerous times, all night long! O-Lu has the best middles in the Trinity League “hands down” and not one of them made your list?
Hoopsfan
My understanding is both OLu’s middles are juniors. They made that list.
Chris
The list is for top seniors. Isn’t #21 a junior? What club team does #22 play for? Not sure about Sean’s situation at UCLA but he still deserves to be on the list. Great hands and can block the big outsides too.
#22 is on 18′s OC Riptides
The comment from Scott Peterson did not need to be deleted, it’s always interesting to see what players from other teams have to say about me. However Scott, I was not the one who created this list. If that were the case, Chase Frishman would definitely be on it. He is a phenomenal libero, and I wish him the best of luck for his years to come at UCSD.
And by the way, it’s spelt Huntington.
It’s to bad that HS volleyball has turn in to a “win at all cost sport”..! Players are not being developed….JR. & So. players are given priority over Sr. players because of past family members or who’s their last names…Kids with better skills are always aloud to play…even though their “head cases”, poor leaders and just overall disrespectful, not only to their coaches and refs, but other students and schools! I know it’s life and life isn’t fair, but as adults the coaches should know their kids, who’s the suckups, Why are they played over kids with the same talent but is quite kid and always there…Why???…Because it’s All for the very poor reason of having a perfect record or a certain amount of league championships! Some coaches never learn! They think they “know their kids”…BUT REALLY THEY DON”T…Welllll…What goes around comes around!
I don’t see any El Modena players listed in the top 20 list. You young men need to get a grip on reality.
El Modena has a total of 2 seniors, only one of which actually plays consistently. For a team of mostly juniors and sophomores, we sure did an excellent job dominating Century League.
Chris; O-Lu has 10 seniors on their V-ball roster. They start one Jr. (1st yr player) # 21, Jordan Rutledge and one Sr. (3rd yr varsity player) Brett Pickens.
Actually, Mike Cate started every game and Chris Gibbons started a majority of them. Both are juniors.
One of the reasons that Dyllan probably does not get some recognition is because he rarely if ever lines up as a passer. However, his hitting percentage is good and he receives 70% of the sets, most of which are through necessity. He rarely sees a 1 on 1, and can hit around blocks well. Charlie from HB is stellar, he should do very well at Northridge. I agree he is unconventional, with a tab more fundamental development, he could end up being the top libro in the country.
He doesn’t line up to pass because he plays opposite. He frequently does step in for one of the outsides though.
This is another case of the unknown. If you’d taken in a FVHS game you would have seen Dillon (his name is Dillon Emery, all!) passing also through necessity. The Barons were is a transition year, with Dillon the only returning starter, and he had to pass for 3/4′s of the season. Thanks for the kind words otherwise!!
Attn Chris Tobolski-
Was this list also published in the OC Register? If so, when?
Thanks so much!
Where is Dillon Emery going to college?
He should go to Hawaii, they have alot of young talent and a new coach and will be good in the near future.