BOYS' VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: SAUGUS GETTING SENIOR BACK.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer The Saugus boys' volleyball team will get a boost with the return of senior outside hitter Dan Kurtz, who has been sidelined since the first match of the season with a badly sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. . Kurtz rolled the ankle during practice two weeks ago and had been on crutches until this week, when he resumed workouts with the team. Centurions coach Zach Ambrose said Kurtz should be able to play against next week. ``We're a thin team as it is, so when one player goes down it really affects us,'' Ambrose said. ``We don't have much experience behind him, so when he's in there things just run a lot smoother.'' Saugus has won just one of four matches, but Ambrose has hope the Centurions will be peaking at the right time once he gets his full compliment of players back and they have time to mesh. He is especially pleased with the continued development of offensive standouts David Smith and Casey Wood. Smith and Wood provide a much-needed dose of height on a team lacking depth. Smith, 6-foot-6, had 28 kills in a recent match against Chaminade of West Hills and 21 against Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. ``He's been unstoppable,'' Ambrose said. Wood, 6-4, had 12 kills against Chaminade and 18 against Notre Dame. --Viva Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. : The Foothill League will be well represented at the upcoming Las Vegas tournament April 14-15, with Canyon, Saugus and Valencia all making the trip. The teams are approaching the tournament differently, though. For Canyon, a veteran team with serious aspirations aspirations npl → aspiraciones fpl (= ambition); ambición f aspirations npl (= hopes, ambition) → aspirations fpl of a deep playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. run, the goal is to win it. ``That's what our mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. is,'' Canyon coach Dave Gutierrez said. ``We want to leave with the championship.'' For Saugus, it's a chance to solidify so·lid·i·fy v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies v.tr. 1. To make solid, compact, or hard. 2. To make strong or united. v.intr. a new system under Ambrose, who is in his first year. The Centurions want to be peaking during league play in hopes of reaching the playoffs, and their experience in Las Vegas could be beneficial in reaching that goal. ``I really think this team has a lot of potential, and now it's just a matter of us putting things together and rounding into form,'' Ambrose said. It's imperative Saugus is clicking when league play rolls around. With a .500 record needed to reach the playoffs, every match is important. ``You don't want to wait until the last part of the season to start playing well because it might be too late by then,'' Ambrose said. --Impressive Viking: One Valencia player who is shining under first-year Vikings coach Mark Knudsen is junior 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. Tony Ker, the son of former Valencia coach Walt Ker. The younger Ker is in his third year with the varsity team In the United States and Canada and UK, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, or high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of . ``He's an outstanding passer and hitter, just a really good all-around player,'' Knudsen said. ``And with so much experience, he's definitely a leader on this team.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Valencia's Tony Ker, right, the son of former Vikings coach Walt Ker, has come into his own this season as a junior setter. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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