1994 BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW : Boys’ Volleyball at a Glance

Top Players: Mark Alleman, Esperanza, Sr.; Mike Allison, Esperanza, Sr.; Beau Bianchi, Laguna Beach, Sr.; Mark Cruz, Foothill, Sr.; Jeremy Darner, Dana Hills, Sr.; Gabriel Gardner, San Clemente, Jr.; Phinney Gardner, San Clemente, Sr.; Mike Grave, Huntington Beach, Sr.; Bob Hefty, Dana Hills, Sr.; Brooks Hoppe, Corona del Mar, Sr.; Jason Hyde, Whittier Christian, Sr; Szlar Kovacs, Laguna Beach, Sr.; Craig LeSeur, Foothill, Sr.; Ryan Mariano, El Toro, Sr.; Mitch McCoy, Newport Harbor, Sr.; Idris Nolan, St. Margaret’s, Sr.; Josh Rasmussen, Tustin, Sr.; Philip Schildts, Calvary Chapel, Sr.; Robert Schildts, Calvary Chapel, Jr.; Todd Steinert, Sr.; Dan Styles, Laguna Beach, Sr.; Brandon Taliaferro, San Clemente, So.; Kiet Tran, Los Amigos, Sr.; Eric Vallely, Newport Harbor, Sr.; Tim Willey, Whittier Christian, Sr.; Mike Wirthlin, Marina, Sr.; Austin Woffinden, Trabuco Hills, Sr.; Nick Ziegler, Huntington Beach, Sr.

League Favorites: Century: Foothill; Empire: Esperanza; Garden Grove: Los Amigos; Olympic: Calvary Chapel; Pacific Coast: Laguna Beach; Sea View: Newport Harbor; South Coast: San Clemente; Sunset: Huntington Beach.

1993 Final Poll: 1. Capistrano Valley; 2. Huntington Beach; 3. Esperanza; 4. Laguna Beach; 5. Whittier Christian; 6. Irvine; 7. Foothill; 8. Newport Harbor; 9. La Quinta; 10. San Clemente.

1994 Preseason Poll: 1. Huntington Beach; 2. Laguna Beach; 3. San Clemente; 4. Dana Hills; 5. Newport Harbor; 6. El Toro; 7. Capistrano Valley; 8. Tustin; 9. Esperanza; 10. Calvary Chapel.

Others to watch: Canyon, Corona del Mar, Edison, Foothill, Irvine, La Quinta, Valencia, Woodbridge, Whittier Christian.

Key Dates: Orange County Championships, Marina High, March 11-12; Southern Section Playoffs begin May 13. Southern Section finals, all divisions, Cerritos College, May 28.

Notes: The South Coast League figures to be the toughest in the county. Only three of the four teams ranked in the top 10 will automatically qualify for the playoffs. . . . Coach Mike Jagd returned to El Toro after spending two years coaching Colorado’s top club team. On March 10, the Chargers will get their first severe test, playing at second-ranked Laguna Beach. . . . The Artists and the Oilers are heavy favorites to win the Pacific Coast and Sunset leagues. Edison and Marina could challenge Huntington Beach, which begins the season with a 23-match winning streak. . . . Tustin, Corona del Mar, and Irvine could give Newport Harbor fits in the Sea View League if the Sailors don’t recover quickly from key injuries. “There’s not one dominant team in the county, but there are six or seven really good teams,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “It should be really interesting.”