The Neuqua Valley boys volleyball team will miss Jake Blackman, Brian Clark, Brad Stout, Collin Adler and Sean Harmon next season. This senior class won two conference titles, two regional titles and finished third at the state finals the past two years.
But the Wildcats will be in good shape next year with outside hitter Rob Bauer and middle hitter Derek Menendez. The two juniors were vital to the team's success this season.
"There's no doubt in my mind that those guys are going to be our leaders next year," Neuqua coach Erich Mendoza said. "They played on a team that took third in the state, they started and it's not like they had minor roles. They were major contributors to the team all year."
Other returners that will be a factor in 2009 will be Kevin Begley, who served well in the state finals and is likely the starting libero, setter Alex Onsager, who played a lot in the regular season before Mendoza scrapped the 6-2 offense, and outside hitter Tim Brackett, who has a lot of lift in his legs and made contributions when asked.
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