Panthers score net win over Agoura
By Steve Ames
Special to The Acorn

Newbury Park scored a 3-1 boys’ volleyball victory over Agoura last week, an indication that the Panthers are starting to improve their game right when it counts.

Panther head coach Jorge Ostrovsky credits senior outside hitters Casey Fleher and Jeff Lyman and senior setter Aaron Schneider with playing a big part in his team’s success.

After the game, Ostrovsky evaluated each player and described their strengths.

• Fleher, a leading scorer for team: "If you don’t go after them pretty hard you are going to make mistakes sometimes. There’s a lot of plusses to what this game is and he drops a lot of aces also."

• Lyman: "Probably my most consistent player. He does a great job for me defensively, offensively and also as a team leader."

• Schneider: "He always does a good job for me. He’s kind of an unsung hero because he never gets the statistical kill thing or anything like that, but assists all the time in making the plays and helping our team win."

The Chargers had lost to Newbury Park March 24 on scores of 25-18, 23-25, 25-18 and 25-18.

Agoura head coach Melissa Fabulich said that her team has been forced to recover from "a rocky start" with three ankle injuries.

"We really pulled it together this game (versus Newbury Park), playing intensely with a lot of heart and that’s what I ask them for, is heart," Fabulich said.

The Agoura coach said she’s especially pleased with the play of junior middle blocker Curtis Cohen and junior setter Noah Raynor.

"Curtis really stepped it up in the middle. (He) really ran the ones like crazy." About Raynor, she said, "He really stepped it up and led the offense.

"We have a lot of individuals on our team and we need to take our individuals and form a unit, a working unit. Once we do that we’ll be very successful."

Fabulich said she’s happy with the game-to-game improvement of her team. "This is the best they’ve played. I was very impressed. Overall, I just ask my team to give their whole heart. They really did and that’s why we stepped it up. I’m looking forward to great things this season."

Ostrovsky said he’s been impressed with the Chargers’ improvement as well.

"That’s probably the best I’ve seen Agoura play," Ostrovsky said. "They’ve always had a little struggling program. It looks like they’re coming around this year, so they’re doing a lot better than in years past.

"Melissa is coaching and doing a good job. The kids seem to be real enthusiastic. I was pretty impressed that they made such a good effort."