BOYS' VOLLEYBALL: VALENCIA, KER RELOAD FOR ANOTHER RUN.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer The improbable run through the Southern Section Division I playoffs fresh in its collective memory, the Valencia Valencia, region, Spain Valencia (välān`thēä), autonomous region (1990 pop. 3,902,429) and former kingdom, E Spain, on the Mediterranean. It now comprises the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia. boys' volleyball volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2. team will try to do it again. The Vikings Vikings, Scandinavian warriors who raided the coasts of Europe and the British Isles from the 9th cent. to the 11th cent. During the Neolithic period the Scandinavians had lived in small autonomous communities as farmers, fishermen, and hunters. (30-5 last year), posted three dramatic five-game victories in reaching the final last year. They have many of the same personnel returning, including the most important ingredient: Walt Ker KER Kernel (mathematics) KER Kerman, Iran - Kerman (Airport Code) . Ker last year assisted Kevin KEVIN Keepers of the Eternal Vigilance of the Islamic Nation (fictional, from White Teeth by Zadie Smith) Kornegay, but anyone who saw the Vikings knew who was coaching the team. Kornegay stepped down after four seasons, and Ker has stepped in as official coach, in part because his son, Tony, is a sophomore on the team. But like last year, he won't have to handle any administrative duties. Dody Garcia will do that and assist Ker on the bench as Kornegay did last year. This is the same Ker who led Cal State Northridge to three NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II women's national championships before leaving in 1992. He also coached the now-defunct L.A. Athletic Club to last year's USA Volleyball under-15 national championship. ``I was sort of back in the saddle last year,'' he said. He's hoping to get Valencia back to the Division I final. He's got the setter setter: see sporting dog. setter Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. in senior Brian Edwards, an All-Southern Section honoree hon·or·ee n. The recipient of an honor. Noun 1. honoree - a recipient of honors in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments recipient, receiver - a person who receives something , the middle blockers in 6-foot-3 senior Chris Savage and 6-5 senior David Pauls, and an outside hitter in Tony Ker. Ker played opposite hitter last year but moves into the spot held by Chris Haigh, Valencia's kill leader who graduated. Six-foot-1 junior Alex McEwan will take over at opposite hitter, and 6-0 Clay Timmons will step in for the graduated Corey Feldt, Valencia's second-best hitter. However, the lineup A criminal investigation technique in which the police arrange a number of individuals in a row before a witness to a crime and ask the witness to identify which, if any, of the individuals committed the crime. is far from set. Walt Ker wants to move Pauls to outside hitter to take better advantage of Pauls' arm (``He's got the best arm but is a little raw,'' Ker said). For that to happen, 6-5 senior Ryan Zike must develop into a middle. Zike has never played before and began practicing just last week. There's also soccer player Ryan Dean, who could be used as a second setter or a back-row player. Ker has plenty of options. But one thing is sure: ``We won't be as polished, but we will be bigger and stronger.'' Ker already has two lineups: a polished and an unpolished. The polished lineup has Timmons and Tony Ker outside, Pauls and Savage in the middle and McEwan opposite the setter Edwards. The unpolished look puts Pauls in Timmons' spot and Zike in the middle. A third lineup has Dean setting and Edwards playing only back row and Zike playing only front row. AT A GLANCE Team: Valencia boys' volleyball Coach: Walt Ker, first season 2001: 30-5, 8-1, Foothill League champions; Southern Section Division I finalist Top returnees: Brian Edwards, Sr., S; Chris Savage, Sr., MB; Tony Ker, So., David Pauls, Sr., MB. Top newcomers: Ryan Zike, Sr., MB; Ryan Dean, Sr., S/OH. CAPTION(S): box Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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