WHS netters on a mission

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers POWER GAME- Jake Gregorie, a junior outside hitter for the Warriors, blasts a return against Newbury Park. WHS won eight of its first nine games this year. It's a new season, but the results haven't changed for the Westlake High boys' volleyball team.

Marmonte League champions in 2006, the Warriors are off to a fast start once again. Before last night's matchup vs. Agoura, WHS had a record of 8-1 overall and was 3-0 in league play.

Unlike a year ago, however, Westlake isn't winning with only a few star players contributing each match. This Warrior squad is well-balanced and more of a team-oriented group, said fourth-year head coach Doug Magorien.

"The key for us is our allaround game," Magorien said. "Last year we had two pretty strong attackers (Adrian Guthals and Joey Zuziak), and we were a little bit lopsided on offense.

"Now all the players on the team contribute, and that forces us to stay focused and ready to play because we need every guy, every second."

With Guthals and Zuziak having graduated, the Warriors' leadership role was passed to senior setter Matt Ramos, a second-year varsity player who's serving as team captain.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers SERVING UP A WINNER- Westlake senior setter Matt Ramos hits a serve during last Friday's three-game victory over Newbury Park. The Warriors are the defending Marmonte League champions and have already defeated Thousand Oaks and Royal. "He's really the quarterback of our team," Magorien said of Ramos. "He runs a good, deceptive offense for us and keeps everyone involved in the match."

Ramos agreed with his coach that Westlake is a group devoid of big-name stars, but, he said, if the Warriors play up to their capabilities, a lack of star power shouldn't make too much of a difference in the league standings.

"We have a few returning guys, but it's much more of a team effort to get wins," Ramos said. "Everyone contributes on this team, and it's working out well."

Joining Ramos in the WHS starting lineup is libero Jordan Craig, outside hitter Jake Kneller, outside hitter Jake Tracy, middle blocker Scott Kevorken and opposite Dan McKernan. Craig and McKernan are seniors. Tracy is a junior, and Kneller and Kevorken are both sophomores.

"These guys stepped into some pretty big shoes, but they've all done a great job," Magorien said.

At 6-foot-7, Kevorken is a force near the net, but he remains somewhat of a work in progress on the floor.

Kevorken is only in his second year playing competitive volleyball. He was a member of the WHS frosh/soph team last season and played a little bit of club volleyball as well.

"Every day I'm trying to do the best I can to improve," Kevorken said. "Making varsity as a sophomore was huge for me. Now I'm just pushing myself every day. The whole thing is sort of surreal to me because I never thought I'd be playing on the varsity team this soon."

During Westlake's first Marmonte game of the season against Royal, Kevorken served five consecutive winning points with the Warriors down 14-11 in Game 5, helping WHS narrowly escape with a hard-fought victory.

"The winning serve was an ace that picked up part of the backline," Magorien said.

"For a sophomore to come in under that type of pressure and jump serve some tough balls, it really says a lot about his character. That was a very important step for our team."

Alex Akers, Tim Rothwell, Thomas Gaulke, Michael Chen, Yan Shi, Nathan Joe, Ian Cafferty, Matt Seyhun and Jake Gregorie round out the remainder of the Westlake roster.

The Warriors' next match is at 6 p.m. Friday night at home against Simi Valley.