SBCC is off to a 2-0 start in men’s volleyball behind the hitting of Miles Evans and Justin Hertlein and the setting of Hawaiian product Kaahukane Leite-AhYo.
Evans, a 6-5 opposite from Dos Pueblos High, is one of six local players on the roster. The Vaqueros will make their home debut on Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Golden West.
Santa Barbara played two matches last Saturday, sweeping San Diego Mesa and rallying to beat Grossmont 3-2. The Vaqueros erased a 2-1 set deficit and won the fifth game 16-14. Hertlein had 26 kills, Evans pounded 18 and Pete Aronchik (Santa Barbara High) added 14.
“We have some very talented freshmen and Mark Hebda, who was No. 1 in the WSC in service aces last year, is back,” said coach Melody Parker, whose team went 5-12 last season. “Miles Evans adds a crowd-pleasing offense with his 6-5 height and powerful arm swing.”
Parker said that Hertlein, a freshman opposite from Castro Valley, has drawn interest from NCAA Div. 1 coaches and has “an intimidating block.” She also had high praise for freshman libero Andrew Thomason.
Thomason had 48 digs in the wins over Mesa and Grossmont, including 30 in the five-gamer.
“He’s the best libero I have seen,” stated Parker, who’s beginning her 13th season. “He is quick with great ball control. His ability to read the hitter and reaction time to dig a ball are exceptional.”
Patrolling the middle will be 6-6 Jonathan Newton (San Marcos) and 6-8 Cody Zoesch (Dos Pueblos).
“I don’t like to make predictions for the season,” concluded Parker. “I will stick to our program’s philosophy that success will come from preparation and knowing that we did our best to become the best we are capable of becoming.
“We have such great depth this year that we will be blessed with strong options.”
