Region Crowns
Boy’s 2010 Champions
Molten Sweeps 18 and 16’s
Molten cemented its place
atop the 2010 boy’s Arizona Region season by winning the gold
medals in both the 18’s and 16’s divisions, played December 19th.
 |
| Boys
18 Champions: Molten 18 Black - Team Members: Karson Andersen,
Jordan Clare, Robert
Esser, Zachary Hales, Brooks Johnson, Jeff Kraegel,
Chase LeBaron, Kevin Morrison, Richard Peterson, Jacob Sawyer,
Brett Sevy, Paul Workinger. Coaches: Matt Lasconia, Cody Sunderhaus |
The Molten 18
Black squad, coached by Matt Lasconia topped the Fear Volleyball
Club’s 18 Red squad in the final.
“The team was on fire from
the first serve.” Lasconia said. “We had anticipated playing
Arizona Premiere Volleyball Club but they were upset by Fear
in the semi-finals. Club Fear had an amazing run at the Regional
Tournament but Molten was ready to do battle. We served tough
against Club Fear and shut down Fear's middle attackers and out
side hitters right away.”
“Behind the brilliant setting
of Robert Esser, Molten fired away at Fear's huge blocks and
hitters Brett Sevy, Jacob Sawyer, Kevin Morrison and Chase Lebaron
found much success.” Lasconia recounted. “ Jordan Clare who was
out injured for most of the season found his way back into the
starting line up and came up big with huge blocks and clutch
kills during long rallies enabling Molten to get closer to its
goal.”
“Our defense
led by senior libero Zachery Hales and defensive specialists
Taft Peterson
and Jeff Kraegel, out dug Fear and was able to convert on points
that brought us to match point.” Lasconia remembers vividly. “Molten
never trailed in both sets. Once the last hit had hit the ground
for Championship point the goal that we had set in the beginning
of the season was accomplished and boy did it feel good!”
 |
| 2010 Boys 18 Finalist: AZ Fear 18 Red - Team Members: Kevin
Balzer, Nicholas Benson, Timothy Ciurdas, Michael Crotty, Adam
Gerads, Austin Karr, Mitchell Neilson, Dustin Odorcic, Matthey
Pohlman, Jeffrey Wilmoth, Devin Zotovich. Coaches: Kyle Brainard,
Taylor Griffin |
Lasconia’s realization came
from day one, when he and the team set the goal to win a Region
title. “This team had heart and the belief that our goal would
be accomplished.” He says, adding, “Never mind the numerous second
place and occasional third place finishes at each of the power
tournaments. What this team did at Regionals was memorable and
unforgettable.”
Coach Lasconia credits the
team’s unity. “I never once had to question their intentions
as each and everyday they came to practice ready to work hard
and get better. Their chemistry is something most coaches would
dream of having. Each player played an important role on this
team and each of them were interchangeable which makes it easier
on the coaches when submitting in a line up as we can depend
on anyone of them. If one player has had an off day another player
can step in and contribute right away. Every player got better
as the season wore on. What was impressive to me was the leadership
that each person took on himself to help motivate each other
when practice or games was not going the team’s way. That is
something you can not teach.”
 |
| 2010 Boys 16 Champions: Molten 16 Black - Team Members: Alex
Davis, Connor Dickson, Jared Greene, John Hatch, Sean Hughes,
Brenton Jeffs, Van Johansen, Kellen Law, Jacob Nuneviller,
Blake Pendleton, Collin Ward, Sean Zwenger. Coaches: Beth Nuneviller,
Todd Davis |
Molten’s 16-Black Coach Beth
Nuneviller saw her Finals match against Fear’s 16-Red team as
the footnote to a competitive season for both. “This match had
been anticipated all season.” Nuneviller remembered. “Fear 16's
is a very talented team and I'm very thankful we were able to
pull out the victory. The previous time we faced them each game
was decided by two points with one going 34-32. We were fortunate
to pull out the win then too, but we knew we would see them again
in the finals. The Fear coach, Troy Dueling and I would jaw back
and forth in the tournaments leading up to Regionals about the
future results. After we lost to their 18-1's team in tournament
#5 he mentioned ‘that would not be the last time this season
we lose to Fear’ with a smile. However, my boys fought hard and
found a way to pull through another tough 3-gamer.”
Dueling saw the handwriting
on the wall as well. “The difference in the final match came
down to passing like all close matches do. We battled with that
team all season and I knew we would be seeing each other in the
finials.” Dueling said.
Nuneviller put the fragmented
group together and enjoyed the mix. “This was a great group of
boys.” She says. “I had 5 boys from last years Molten 16-Blue
team that finished Arizona Region 16's runner-up to our 16-Black.
Four boys played on last year's Molten 14-Black team, who were
the 14's Region Champions, and one new player to Molten and one
new player to volleyball. They formed a good chemistry together
and I didn't face any personality problems which is very nice
for a coach. We had to grow quickly as most of the matches we
played were against 18's teams...beside Regionals we only played
3 matches against teams 16 and under.”
 |
| 2010 Boys 16's Finalist: AZ Fear 16 Red - Team Members: Brandon
Barrett, Jackson Burge, Drew Davis, Tyler Gable, Weston Howse,
Austin Kopas, Jedidiah Luster, Jackson Meyers, Kyle Mowry,
Christian Nix, Daniel Villela. Coaches: Troy Dueling, Brennan
Zotovich |
Dueling
was equally impressed with his squad. “This was a great season.” He says. “This
was a young team with out a lot of court time but they got in
the
gym worked hard and got after it. I am very proud of this team.”
For Molten, the future seems
very bright indeed as the 2011 season rolls around next fall.
Lasconia is anticipating
a great spring for his boys. “I look forward to this team’s high
school season as many of them play at Highland High School but
I did have a few that attended other schools like Red Mountain
and Mesquite High. It will be amusing to see them play against
each other. I am sure they will all be supporting one another's
success during the high school season.” He
adds, “I am so excited to see where volleyball takes the seniors
after their high school seasons are over as each and every one
of them have the potential to play collegiate volleyball.”
For Nuneviller, the future
isn’t as surefooted. “My older boys all go to Corona del Sol
except for one, most of the younger boys are all Highland players
so some of them will be playing together during their High School
season.” Nuneviller says. “Next club season they will be split
by ages, so we'll see how it all turns out next September. They
all do love this game, so I'm sure they will be back.” Dueling
sees a huge upside as well. “The future is very bright for these
boys. All will be big contributors to their high school programs.
I am really excited to see these boys progress in the next couple
of years,” he says.
Congratulations
also go out to the AZ Fear Volleyball Club’s 14 Red team which
took ninth place in the Southern California Jr Boy’s Invitational
held January 16-17 which qualified them for 14 Open Division
at Boys JNC in Austin, TX next July.
2010 Region Champions
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