LOCKPORT —
With a victory at the North Tonawanda Tournament last weekend and the Clarence Tournament the week before, the Lockport boys varsity volleyball team is already turning a lot of heads.
Head coach Joe Whalen's defending Niagara Frontier League co-champion Lions (tied with Grand Island) open their 2012 Niagara Frontier League season at 5 p.m. today hosting Kenmore East.
Whalen's roster features not only 10 outstanding junior prospects and two sophomores, but most significantly, no seniors.
Despite their youth, losing seven senior starters to graduation, the Lions have already impressed teams and coaches throughout the area with two winning non-league tourney performances.
“We turned a lot of heads in the ECIC with our (Silver Pool) win at the Clarence tournament and we probably turned a lot of heads in the NFL with our win over the weekend at NT,” Whalen said.
“We didn't lose a match. Even though we don't have any seniors, we've got kids who are playing positions they're used to and all the kids are picking up the system real fast.”
Lockport finished 11-1 in the NFL and 13-3 overall last year.
Key losses to graduation include Nate Schneider, D'Antre Cullens, Ryan Giles and Nick DiMartile.
Among the key returners are juniors Jack Whalen, a setter, and Eamon Yates, libero. Both are three-year varsity starters. Another returning third-year player is outside hitter Bryce Perry.
Among the sophomores on the roster this year are two players who have plenty of club experience, Brad Schneider and Jason Donorovich, both of whom have older siblings who were standout players in the LHS boys and girls volleyball program.
Rounding out the LHS roster are juniors Ryan Guyton, Joel Larson, Shawn Moore, Jonah Ribbeck, John Traversone, Bryan Wojcinski and Jeff Wojcinski.
”We're not as tall, maybe, as some of the other teams, but we're big in the middle,” coach Whalen said.
“And we've got players in the right positions. The challenge will be next year when we have four of five sophomores moving up.”
Among the teams to beat this year in the NFL are Grand Island, Niagara-Wheatfield and Kenmore East.
LOCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL
BOYS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT TIME
Today KENMORE EAST 5 p.m.
Fri. @ Niagara Falls 4:30 p.m.
Mon. KENMORE WEST 5 p.m.
9/19 @ Starpoint TBA
9/21 @ Grand Island 4:30 p.m.
9/24 ST. FRANCIS 5 p.m.
9/27 N. TONAWANDA 5 p.m.
9/29 @ Will South TBA
10/1 @ N-Wheatfield 4:30 p.m.
10/3 @ Kenmore East 5 p.m.
10/5 NIAGARA FALLS 5 p.m.
10/6 LHS TOURNAMENT TBA
10/9 @ Kenmore West 5 p.m.
10/11 GRAND ISLAND 5 p.m.
10/16 @ Williamsville N. 5 p.m.
10/18 @ N. Tonawanda 4:30 p.m.
10/19 WILL SOUTH 5 p.m.
10/22 N-WHEATFIELD 5 p.m.
LIONS' 2012 ROSTER
NAME GRADE
Ryan Guyton 11
Joel Larson 11
Shawn Moore 11
Bryce Perry 11
Jonah Ribbeck 11
John Traversone 11
Jack Whalen 11
Bryan Wojcinski 11
Jeff Wojcinski 11
Eamon Yates 11
Jason Donorovich 10
Brad Schneider 10
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