BOYS' VOLLEYBALL: SYNERGY IS SEEKING TITLE.

Byline: SEAN CEGLINSKY Staff Writer

The Synergy Volleyball Club is loaded with some of the area's most talented players, a veritable who's who list of the best, which includes Valencia's Teddy Goetz, Kevin Ker and Sean Carter and La Canada's Mike Gaudino.

While the roster looks good on paper, the assembling of this all-star group was done with a purpose and anything less than a championship at the 2006 U.S. Junior Olympics -- which begins today and runs through July 12 in Minneapolis -- will be looked upon as a disappointment.

``We're considered one of the favorites this year,'' SVC coach Walt Ker said. ``Our goal is to win the title. It's something we've talked about all year long. The whole season is built around winning this tournament.''

SVC has had success in the past, winning the gold medal at the 2004 U.S. Junior Olympics and following up with a bronze in 2005 with the same corps of players, most of whom have played club volleyball alongside one another for the better part of the past four years.

They would like nothing more than to return to the championship-winning form this time around in the 18-under Open Division in what figures to be their last time playing on the same side of the net before moving on to college.

Goetz and Ker will play at UCLA next year and Carter and Gaudino will join forces at Cal State Northridge.

``This is it for us. We've worked hard to get to this point. There's no turning back now,'' Goetz said. ``We want to bring the title back home to California.''

SVC isn't the only area team with a chance to make an impact. Santa Monica Beach Club figures to be in the mix, with Thousand Oaks' Cole Reinholm, Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Alex Walker, Oak Park's Justin Burridge, Westlake's Joe Zuziak and Montclair Prep of Panorama City's Gil Weintraub.

Balboa Bay poses a threat in the 18-under Open Division, too.

``The only thing holding us back is us,'' said SMBC coach Beau Daniels, a Pierce College and Pepperdine product. ``Once these guys realize that were a contender, this team is going to take off. Everyone else knows that we're a legitimate program. It's just a matter of time before we truly figure it out.''

SMBC and Balboa Bay also have teams competing in the 16-under Open Division, as does front-runner SVC, which is led by Valencia's Jamey Ker, El Camino Real of Woodland Hills' Ryan Perryman, Oak Park's Adam Quinn and Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Dominic Denham.

``Both of our teams, the 18s and the 16s are going to be in the hunt,'' Walt Ker said. ``We've built a tradition and are very proud to be so well represented again this year.''

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