Boys Volleyball: Top 10 teams, top 50 players

Updated: March 21, 2012 7:23PM

Top 10 Teams

1. Wheaton Warrenville South – Ten players return from the 35-3 team that was upset in the sectional finals, including 6-7 Penn State recruit Matt Callaway, 6-7 Thomas Jaeschke, 6-5 MH Matt Nussbaum, 6-6 OH Tim Zyburt and L Dan Eastman.

2. Glenbard West – Six-foot-7 junior Ian Lawson amassed 440 kills in 2011 and is being touted as the best outside hitter in the state by coach Christine Giunta-Mayer. Also back are setter Alex Emanuel, L Mikey O’Dea, MH Scottie Thomas and OH Alex Kahn.

3. Barrington – Big, athletic and experienced, the Broncos are led by 6-8 MH Tommy Leonard (USC), 6-5 OH Jeff Hochstein, 6-6 MH Peter Van Fossan, L Austin Czarnecki and S Taylor Ganzer. One of only three teams to beat state champ Sandburg in 2011.

4. Glenbard East – The Rams always rank among the best in the state and 2012 will be no different with 5-9 L Matt Finder, 5-8 S Mike Heim, 6-3 OH Matt Ploke, 6-5 junior OH Joe Farrell and 6-5 MH Tim Shenkin leading the way. Watch freshman S Ben Carpio.

5. Lincoln-Way East – Four starters return from a 30-8 team including OH Nate Royer, sophomore setter Austin Royer, L Jake Tomaras and 6-5 RS Jason Garnett. Six-foot-4 OH Kevin McClafferty, a former libero, is a player to watch.

6. Benet – Bobby Wehrli, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter, was one of the best juniors around in 2011. Seniors Luke Ladowski and Kevin Weithers and juniors Sawyer Yeazel and Pat Dougherty also return. Watch 6-5 sophomore Garrett Metzger.

7. Downers Grove North – Setter Zack Parik is recovering from an ACL tear suffered during the soccer season, but Chris George is a better than adequate replacement. Morton transfer Paul Novosyolov provides another weapon.

8. Providence – Six-foot-9 Marty Ross (U. of the Pacific) should see the ball early and often. Also back from last year’s regional winner are L Tim Becker, junior MH Brendan Surane and OH Zac Magaliones. A season opener at Marist should tell a lot.

9. Plainfield North – There are few better athletes on a volleyball court than 5-10 setter Matt Guerreri, who was named the Suburban Prairie MVP in 2011. Also back from last year’s 28-5 team are attackers Jake Barber, Peter Bednarz and Eric Rash.

10. Vernon Hills – The four-time defending North Suburban Conference champions return 6-6 Thomas Robinson and 6-5 Martin Niemczewski from last year’s 37-5 third-place finisher, but will need help from sophomores Ryan Opitz, Michael Heinz and Max Spiglanin.

Top 50 players

Mario Asencio, 6-1, Sr., S, Loyola

Scott Adamczyk, 5-10, Sr., L, Maine South

Patrick Bedford, 6-4, Sr., OH, Glenbrook North

Peter Bednarz, 6-1, Sr., OH, Plainfield North

Nick Bendell, 5-10, Jr., S, Sandburg

Dustin Borenstein, 6-3, Jr., OH, Highland Park

Chris Bulava, 6-7, Sr., OH, Loyola

Matt Callaway, 6-7, Sr., MH, Wheaton Warrenville South

Tom Caputo, 6-2, Sr., MH, Addison Trail

Alex Cook, 6-1, Sr., OH, New Trier

Austin Czarnecki, 5-8, Sr., L, Barrington

Jason Dolinski, 6-7, Sr., MB, Lyons

Alex Emanuel, 5-11, Sr. S, Glenbard West

Joseph Farrell, 6-5, Jr., OH, Glenbard East

Scott Fifer, 6-2, Sr., S, Sandburg

Matt Finder, 5-9, Sr., L, Glenbard East

Jason Fleischman 6-4, Sr., RS, Stevenson

Luke Furman, 6-1, Jr., S, Waubonsie Valley

Taylor Ganzer, 6-0, Sr., S, Barrington

Matt Guerrieri, 5-9, Sr., L, Plainfield North

Marc Hansen, 6-1, Jr., OH, Oak Lawn

Okello Hope, 6-3, Sr., OH, Whitney Young

Thomas Jaeschke, 6-6, Sr., OH, Wheaton Warrenville South

Alex Kahn, 6-2, Sr., OH, Glenbard West

Ian Lawson, 6-7, Sr., OPP, Glenbard West

Tommy Leonard, 6-8, Sr., MH, Barrington

Gert Lisha, 6-6, Jr., S, Naperville North

Freddy Miller, 6-5, Sr., MB, Oswego

Wesley Morioka, 6-1, Sr., OH, Northside Prep

Tony Natalino, 6-3, Sr., MH, Marist

Martin Niemczewski, 6-5, Sr., OH, Vernon Hills

Paul Novosylov, 6-3, Sr., OH, Downers Grove North

Matthew Nussbaum, 6-4, Sr., MH, Wheaton Warrenville South

Ryan Paull, 6-7, Jr., MH, Brother Rice

Piotr Rafalo, 6-8, Sr., MH, Glenbrook South

Bobby Renaud, 5-11, Sr., OH, Andrew

Thomas Robinson, 6-6, Sr., OH, Vernon Hills

Diego Rodriguez-Guerrios, 6-3, Sr., S, Oak Park

Patrick Ronan, 5-8, Sr., L, Aurora West

Marty Ross, 6-9, Sr., MH, Providence

Nathan Royer, 6-1, Sr., OH, Lincoln-Way East

Spencer Sauter, 6-6, Sr., OH. Naperville North

Jacob Schmiegelt, 6-6, Sr., MH, Willowbrook

Tim Shenkin, 6-5, Sr., MH, Glenbard East

Jake Tomaras, 6-0, Sr., L, Lincoln-Way East

J.P. Tulacka, 6-7, Sr., MH, Downers Grove North

Sam Wacker, 6-7. Sr., MH, Buffalo Grove

Bobby Walsh, 6-7, Sr., MH, Mt. Carmel

Bobby Wehrli, 6-5, Sr., OH, Benet

John Yerkes, 6-1, Sr., OH, Marist

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