Sage Hill settling in for the kill

Barry Faulkner

Smack dab in the middle of a volleyball hotbed, Sage Hill School is

already taking advantage of some available resources.

The Lightning, still in the early stages of its second varsity

boys volleyball season, has already benefited from players seasoned

in the fertile club environment.

And, Coach Merja Connelly Freund reports, the addition of

assistant coach Adam Tomalas, a former Newport Harbor High player,

should help this team continue its progress toward a potential

postseason berth.

“Adam has brought so much to the program,” Connolly-Freund said.

“He’s a natural coach with a positive style and he brings a lot of

experience in the sport.”

Sage Hill has already experienced as much success as it did all

last season, winning its first three matches, including the Academy

League opener, a four-game victory over Pasadena Poly.

“We’re still a relatively young team, but not as young as we’ve

been,” Connolly-Freund said.

Sage Hill does not have a senior, but junior co-captain Kevin

Joyce, a first-team all-league performer a year ago, as well as

junior setter and co-captain Julian Smith-Newman, provide a veteran

foundation.

“Joyce is our primary passer and offensive threat,”

Connolly-Freund said of the 6-foot-3 outside hitter and Balboa Bay

Club player who will see the majority of the team’s sets, including

hitting out of the back row. “He’s our go-to hitter.”

Smith-Newman, a third-year setter, brings his experience to the

role and Connolly-Freund said she has noticed his greater comfort

level at the controls.

“He understands the game and understands how to run our offense,”

Connolly-Freund said.

In addition to Joyce, Smith-Newman’s hitting options will include

6-1 junior outside hitter Max Frederick, 5-9 freshman outside hitter

Zach Singermann and junior middle blockers Marcel Sohl and Alez

Greer.

Frederick, exceptionally quick according to his coach, is

much-improved over last year, since playing club volleyball for the

first time over the summer. He is a returning starter, having helped

last year’s team produce a 3-11 record (2-10 in league).

Singerman, a fiery competitor whose spirited attitude has been

contagious, Connolly-Freund said, is another club veteran.

The 6-1 Sohl was a lineman on the football team, so he doesn’t

figure to back down at the net, and Connolly-Freund said he is

skilled enough that he will complete the entire rotation.

He played on the junior varsity last year.

Greer, also 6-1, is a varsity returner and brings a strong

vertical jump to the front row.

Eddie Huang, a junior defensive specialist, is another varsity

veteran, while 6-1 freshman opposite Jake Lazere, yet another club

player, has been so impressive, Connolly-Freund already terms him the

team’s steadiest performer.

Junior Andrew Dao is a defensive specialist and 5-9 freshman Nick

Gross adds depth at outside hitter for the Lightning, which will be

aiming for a top-three Academy League finish and its first trip to

the CIF Southern Section Playoffs.

Connolly-Freund said St. Margaret’s is the favorite in the Academy

League, a revised volleyball alliance that includes Academy regulars

Oxford Academy, Capistrano Valley Christian and Brethren Christian,

as well as additions Whitney, Pasadena Poly, and Torrance Lutheran.