Another boys volleyball season is upon us and once again it is an open landscape in the PSAL.
Academy of American Studies, with its returning core and the experience of being in the PSAL city championship match, seems to be the favorite on paper, but teams like Bronx Science, New Utrecht, Bryant and Cardozo will be adept challengers. Regis, on the other hand, seems to be the odds-on choice to win a third CHSAA title in four years with three strong players returning.
There will be plenty of opportunities in tournaments for teams to prove themselves. Here’s how the preseason rankings look, though:
1. Academy of American Studies
Emotional leader Nino Hot has graduated, but the remaining core – outside hitter Michal Kasza, outside/libero Ricky Myint and middle hitter Conrad Zajkowski – are all back for a team that went to the PSAL city championship match. The Eagles have a chance to get back there and win the whole thing.
2. Bronx Science
Despite his team being stunned in the second round last year, coach Jeremy BasSie feels like his team is the favorite to win the PSAL city title. Bronx Science returns All-City caliber Jerry Henriquez, budding opposite Nate Chin and a pair of huge middle hitters in Preet Singh (6-5) and Alex Barbulescu (6-3).
3. New Utrecht
The Utes will look to build off their first trip to the PSAL semifinals in coach Jennifer Lopez’s 10 years on the bench. Middle hitter Kwok Tang Wong, setter Jon Jiang and libero Ming Ho Zheng lead New Utrecht, which is undergoing something of a volleyball renaissance in Bensonhurst.
4. Bryant
Troy Gaugler, the Post All-City Player of the Year last year, has graduated and Bryant’s expectations might not be to win a second straight PSAL city title. But with libero Godwin Sequeira returning and the emergence of some inexperienced players, coach Steve Hagenlocher is pleasantly surprised.
5. Cardozo
A young core led by outside hitters Isaac Hwang and Tyler Gaugler returns after a very young team fell last year in the PSAL second round. Previously, the Judges had won three straight city championships and they could be in that conversation once again in 2012.
6. McKee/Staten Island Tech
One of the premier programs in PSAL boys volleyball will undergo another retooling this season after graduating seven seniors who lead MSIT to the quarterfinals, where it fell to New Utrecht. Senior outside hitter Yo Sep Bak returns and senior setter Sibi Selvarajah will try to replace Justin Dumadag.
7. Regis
Middle hitter Tom McLaughlin and setters Brian Cavaluzzo and Will Salter return off a team that won its second CHSAA title in three seasons. Regis will play in a myriad of tournaments and scrimmages – and product of its recent success – and it thoroughly enjoying its new gym after the old one burned in a fire.
8. Brooklyn Tech
Noreen Begley has done a wonderful job with Brooklyn Tech, making the PSAL semifinals two of the last three years – both times unexpectedly. Perhaps it’s about time the Engineers got some respect, though they will be relying on unsung players like Dukhyun Ko, Ariel Evers and Young Woo Lee.
9. Seward Park
Middle hitter Ke Quan is the most experienced player back from Seward Park, which made the PSAL quarterfinals a year ago. The Bears graduated their versatile one-two punch of Bryan Hu and Glenn Vargas and will look to retool under coach Sonia Colon.
10. Hunter College HS
Kadeem Nibbs, a 6-foot-8 terror in the middle is back, and 6-foot outside hitter Ivan Levin has emerged as a budding star. But Hunter is going to be extremely young and inexperienced under second-year coach Jason Dibelius and could end up peaking as the season wears on.
On the bubble: St. Francis Prep, Midwood, Newcomers, Long Island City, Francis Lewis and John F. Kennedy
mraimondi@nypost.com
