Coach says the best is yet to come for Mtn. View boys volleyball team

By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer

R. Alan Hwang/special to the town crier Mountain View High middle blocker Erik Kaestner jumps to strike the ball in last week’s home match vs. Los Gatos as teammate Greg Klatt looks on. The Spartans lost in straight games.

As a relatively new sport at Mountain View High, boys volleyball hasn’t approached the popularity of football, basketball or baseball at the school.

Coach Jonathan Luu expects that to change.

“It’s a really good thing Mountain View picked it up,” he said. “It’s a quickly growing sport. In years to come, the program can be a big sport that packs the gym in the springtime.”

Packing the gym will likely require the fifth-year program to pack on the wins. As they say, everyone loves a winner. Luu knows that success will attract more fans and players, and he relishes the opportunity to do both.

“We can put boys volleyball on the map and give players a chance to have some fun,” the team’s second-year coach said.

Luu seems to have the Spartans pointed in the right direction.

Coming off a year in which it qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time, Mountain View is again contending for a postseason spot. The Spartans entered this week with an 8-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the challenging SCVAL De Anza Division.

“We’re trying to surprise one of the top two teams,” Luu said, referring to perennial CCS powers Los Gatos and Homestead. “If we pull it off, it’s a possibility we could make the playoffs.”

Mountain View finished just below both teams in 2004, yet nabbed the final at-large berth based on its CCS power points. The Spartans faced top seed Mt. Madonna in the first round, losing in straight games.

Mountain View garnered crucial power points this season by going 5-1 at last month’s Leland Charger Classic in San Jose. The Spartans captured the tournament’s Silver Division with a win over Sacred Heart Cathedral in the final.

“That could be a deciding factor,” said Luu, who also coaches a girls club team in Santa Cruz. “Hopefully, it’s a good sign of things to come.”

Luu anticipates Mountain View only getting better as the season wears on. Despite carrying just nine players, he likes the makeup of the team.

“We have a good mix of older, experienced players and younger ones who are coming along very quickly,” he said. “It’s a wide spectrum - the older players are leading by example and I’m impressed with the younger kids and how they’re maturing.”

Seniors Brian Azzopardi and Brett Stricker are the captains of the squad. The 6-foot-1 Azzopardi, a fourth-year varsity player, starts at outside hitter; the 6-2 Stricker starts at right-side hitter.

“Brian is the strongest leader on the court. He’s the glue of the team and does whatever it takes to get the job done,” Luu said. “Brett is a very vocal player and he’s very competitive. Whatever needs to be done, he’ll do it.”

Sydney Kim mans the setter position. Another fourth-year player, Kim “has good hands and an even-keeled personality that’s great for a setter,” Luu said.

Two other seniors also start: outside hitter Michael Giron and middle blocker Danny Bishop. The 6-2 Giron is “super athletic; he’ll jump through the roof,” Luu said. The 6-6 Bishop “has very good ball control for a big guy,” the coach said, and is also developing a nice jump serve.

John Fisher rounds out the starting lineup. The 6-2 sophomore is a defensive specialist/middle blocker playing his first year of varsity volleyball.

“He has good ball control and great body control,” Luu said. “He’s doing a great job of doing what’s asked of him.”

Ben Douglas is usually the first player off the bench. The 6-5 sophomore plays outside hitter and right-side hitter.

“He’s our biggest young star,” Luu said. “He’s coming along very nicely and is becoming a go-to player. His future is bright.”

Erik Kaestner, a 6-5 senior, bolsters the middle blocker position. Like Douglas, Kaestner is in his second varsity season.

“He’s not the loudest guy on the court, but he leads by example,” Luu said. “He’s made big blocks in key moments.”

Greg Klatt spells Kim at the setter spot. The 5-11 junior is “learning the ropes,” Luu said, and making great strides.

Luu is confident his team has what it takes to place in the upper half of the seven-team SCVAL De Anza Division. He also knows what Mountain View will need to do to finish in the top two and secure an invitation to the CCS playoffs.

“The biggest thing right now is to be consistent with the way we play,” he said. “When we’re there, we’re spectacular.”

The Spartans were less than spectacular March 29 against Los Gatos, which beat them 25-21, 26-24, 25-13. Douglas and Stricker led host Mountain View with six kills each, while Azzopardi added five.

The Spartans will try to rebound Thursday when they host Fremont at 6:45 p.m. in league action.