Coach Scott Sweeten knew the potential was there for his Cherry
Hill West volleyball team to have a special season.
The Lions had talent returning.
But Sweeten knew there was a difference between potential and
achievement.
The Lions achieved; it was a season of firsts for Cherry Hill
West. The Lions won a school-record 21 matches this season; they
were the first South Jersey team to sweep powerful Eastern in one
season; and won their first Olympic Conference American Division
title. Cherry Hill West also won a school-record 17 straight matches
this year.
That's why Cherry Hill West is the South Jersey team of the year
in boys' volleyball.
Cherry Hill West's previous best finish was 18-3 in 1997; the
Lions reached the state semifinals that season, the farthest they
have advanced.
"I'm absolutely pleased with what these kids did this season,"
Sweeten said.
"We came into this season knowing we could do some special
things, but the way they came together this season is what really
surprised.
"We were never intimidated in big matches, and that really was
the key."
The Lions were led by junior Matt Parisi, with seniors Mike
Farreny, a three-year starter, Rob Kuoch and Eric Yoon and junior
Liam Howley.
"It was a lot of fun this year, the whole ride was a lot of fun
and they were a good group of guys to work with," Sweeten said. "We
have a lot of our big hitters coming back and next year, we'll
hopefully be able to challenge for a division title again."
Coach of the year. Moorestown's Scott Atkinson turned
around a team that finished 1-15 last year to 13-12 this season.
Moorestown qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in
the program's brief two-year history.
The Quakers lost to eventual state champion East Brunswick in the
first round of the state playoffs.
"Overall, looking at our record, we lost three or four matches
that we really thought we should have won, but just the fact that we
were in as many matches as we were was our goal for the season,"
Atkinson said.
"It was really the kids. They turned this thing around. I saw the
hard work they put in, and the kids in the end were the ones who put
the ball in play. That's why this team performed at the level that
it did."
Atkinson has a good group returning next year. Some of the
mainstays returning will be outside hitter Tony Velott, setter Greg
Knell, and opposite Jeremy Donde.
"These kids are talking about bigger things next year, and
they're organized playing down the beach and they're go-getters,"
Atkinson said.
"I'm absolutely looking forward to it. They're going to be a lot
of fun to coach."
Surprise team of the year. Pennsauken Tech lost its top
eight players from last season, but under coach Rhonda Ritz, the
Tornados still finished 15-10 overall and qualified for the state
tournament.
Pennsauken Tech achieved with a fairly young and - fairly short -
team. Pennsauken Tech's tallest player was 6-foot-1 outside hitter
Lenny Klotz, a senior.
Klotz received strong support this season from senior Luis
Trinidad, another outside hitter, and juniors Ronnan Horm, an
outside hitter, and Lien Thach, a setter.
Best server. Eastern junior Mike Bertucci had one of the
most difficult serves to handle this season. Bertucci's jump-serve
caused opposing teams to rearrange their lineups.
"When he hits it well, it's difficult to pass and run an offense
off of," Williamstown coach Chris Sheppard said.
"He hits the ball with power, and more kids get afraid of jump
serves, because they're not easy serves to hit. He hits the ball
with topspin, and hits it with good power. The ball dives.
"When he's on, he does a nice job. He's intelligent and he's been
around the game. He's one of the top players in South Jersey."
