Scouting DuPage County boys volleyball

St. Francis

Coach: Mike Lynch (10th year).

Last year: 31-8, lost to Wheaton Warrenville South in the sectional semifinals.

Top players: OH Joey Murnane, sr.; L Jay Hayes, sr.; MH Bob Vonderhaar, sr.; S Mike Stegneri, jr.; MH/RS Jake Rio, sr.; MH/RS Steve Howe, so.; OH Jeff Dixon, sr.; S Mark Hale, jr.; DS Steve Hewitt, sr.; OH Dave Metzler, jr.; RS Colin Brown, jr.; DS Andrew Rutkowski, sr.; RS Aaron Metzler, sr.

Outlook: The Spartans have 10 players returning from last year's best St. Francis team ever, including all-stars and leaders Murnane and Hayers. Murnane is bigger, stronger and more confident, while Hayes is simply one of the best liberos in the area. The team isn't as big as last year, but it's quicker and deeper. "This is the most balanced we've been," Lynch said. "And we're clicking as a team sooner than we have in the past. The passing and the setting is there and we're playing better defense." The Spartans will be hosting a sectional for the first time, so they'd love to go deep into the tournament. They have the horses to do it. Vonderhaar, Rio and Howe give them a strong presence in the middle.