By Pete Borello

The Mountain View High boys volleyball team isn’t in contention for the league title and is a long shot to make the playoffs.

Yet coach Peter Kim said the program has made great strides in this, its second year.

“Last year, we were pummeled. This year, we’re holding our own,” Kim said. “Other coaches have said we’ve really improved, play great defense and hustle. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Since the team lacks what Kim calls “a huge hitter,” he has stressed defense and blocking to his players.

“Those are our strengths,” he said. “Defense, blocking and hustling are what keep us in matches.”

Kim said no player has done a better job in these categories than senior Ross Fischer. The 6-foot-2 middle blocker leads Mountain View in blocks and kills.

“He’s very active,” Kim said. “He gets a lot of touches on other people’s hits and is also a very solid hitter.”

Kim also praised Hal Ellison, a junior who plays alongside Fischer at middle blocker.

“He’s very active and a good blocker,” Kim said. “He’s definitely really improved.”

But the Spartans’ most improved player may be senior setter Scott Read.

“He’s improved a lot,” said Kim, noting that Read played club volleyball in the offseason. “He knows all our sets and runs the offense well. And he’s definitely the vocal leader of the team.”

Another player to watch, according to the coach, is Matt Ronconi, a sophomore who plays opposite the setter.

“All the guys are working hard in practice and want to get better,” Kim said. “I’ve seen a lot of improvement.”

Although Mountain View has yet to win a SCVAL De Anza Division match - the team is 0-5 - Kim said it’s only a matter of time.

“We’d like to get at least a few wins in league - that’s one of our goals,” he said. “Our league is very tough. Homestead is a great team and Los Gatos is a great team. Fremont and Saratoga are tough, too. And that’s the whole league.”

Mountain View took visiting Fremont to five games last Thursday before falling 15-11, 7-15, 15-12, 13-15, 15-11.

Since the league title is out of reach, the Spartans’ only chance of reaching the Central Coast Section playoffs would be through an application for an at-large berth. With a 5-8 overall record, Kim said Mountain View would need to win its final three matches even to consider the postseason.

“I don’t know about CCS,” said Kim, who also coaches the school’s girls volleyball team. “But if we’re close to .500, we might apply for it.”

The Spartans biggest win of the season, according to Kim, came last month against Willow Glen, a team that won its league a year ago.

The Spartans play a 7 p.m. match at Los Gatos on April 26.