Aviano’s Xavier Fox tips the ball over the net and past a Rota block in a match against the Admirals on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. (Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes)
Boys volleyball continues to grow in DODEA-Europe.
For the third straight season, the sport will have new entrants to the competition north of the Alps – Division I squads Ramstein and SHAPE. The additions bring the total number of programs to 13.
Whether that changes the landscape remains to be seen. Everybody still is chasing two-time defending champion Black Forest Academy, which lost one match all of 2023.
It will come down to the European championships held in Vicenza, Italy, on Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Here’s a team-by-team analysis based on responses from coaches:
Aviano
The 2023 Saints had a great regular season in which they lost two matches, but when it came to tournament time, they didn’t advance to the semifinals and finished fifth.
Aviano won’t settle for another such end this season, with Logan Riley and Moriah Barthold’s charges looking for the ultimate prize – a title.
The Saints have a good core with which to run. Outside hitter Xavier Fox averaged 14.83 kills per match last fall, setter Cristiano Peterson produced 22 assists and libero Micah Guerrero had 13.2 digs.
Also back is senior middle hitter Jules LaSalle-Bryant.
The Walker brothers Andrew (outside hitter) and Deon (middle hitter) transition from football to volleyball. Alando Brown (middle hitter) and Andre Sunia (outside hitter) also are new to the team, while Toby Canales transferred from Japan.
Hohenfels
The Tigers understandably struggled in their first varsity season, winning one match.
Coach Michael Weston said the school has experienced a culture shift, though, and the program has grabbed the attention of athletes. So, despite having a roster still new to the sport, things are looking positive for Hohenfels.
For the 2024 squad, Jaylen Greene, Tkoa Kaisa, Lucas Gibbs, Jayden Ruelas and Jacob Berkau are expected to be key pieces.
Ramstein
The largest school in the DODEA-Europe system makes its debut under Eric Kotzar.
The Ramstein coach said the team is setting the program’s foundation for years to come.
Despite being a new team, the Royals can boast some experience. Senior Jovan Paucar transferred from Lakenheath, which had its boys team go varsity in 2023.
Other seniors are Micah Lambert and Nicholas Tunjano.
The junior class makes up the largest part of the roster with Reese Black, Ryan Cassem, Ivery Coleman, Nathanael Levingston, Ari Lucas and Jayden-Shelton Murphy. Sophomores Hayden Negrillo-Lopez and Daniel Torres and freshman Reed Arnold round out the team.
Rota
The Admirals are in rebuild mode this year after losing most of last year’s runner-up team to graduation.
In fact, coach Edward DeMeritt said his team basically is starting over with players who have little knowledge or experience in the sport. Still, the Rota mentor pointed out the promise of those athletes stepping onto the courts for the first time.
Just two players are returning this fall. Christian Smith is transitioning from libero to outside hitter, while Leo Torres will slot in as a defensive specialist.
SHAPE
The Spartans begin their first-ever march across Europe this season after spending last year as a club team.
Coach Erika Aquino said the hope is to win a few matches.
Five players picked up experience as an intramural team in 2023. Evan Aquino will play libero, Logan Kimbrough will continue at outside hitter, Wilson Steward will set for the Spartans, Rogan Mossop possibly is moving from setter to right-side hitter, and Jan Wysocki is transitioning from middle blocker to outside hitter this fall.
New to the team are right-side hitters/defensive specialists Flavio Nanni and Francesco D’Errico; middle blocker/right-side hitter/defensive specialist Kasper Dygula; middle blockers Joshua Spires, Eugy Zermeno and David Ioane; setter Chase Lattemore; right-side hitter Szabolcs Szilagyi; and right-side hitter/middle blocker Tomasz Komaus.
Sigonella
The Jaguars had high hopes to build upon last season’s seventh-place finish, but losing top players to graduation and injury has tampered expectations.
Still, coach Salvatore Iozzia has plenty of option at his disposal. Junior hitters Bodhi McElree and William Thompson will be the top two attacking options, while senior Jonathan Failk will don the libero jersey.
Junior Cooper Harrison and sophomore Colfax McKown will deploy in the middle, sophomore Robert Gibbons will be an opposite hitter and sophomore Jacub Pniewski will set up his teammates.
Senior newcomer Ian Gonzales joins the team as a defensive specialist, and freshmen Caiden Roche and Ace Panzer Vitale will try to carve out roles.
Vicenza
The Cougars pushed eventual champion BFA to five sets in the semifinals last year before clinching third place.
Carliena Rivera’s charges are hoping to take another step this year, and they believe they have the right balance of veterans and newcomers to challenge for the title.
Six players return this fall for Vicenza – senior outside hitter Isaac Dube, senior middle Zach Alderson, junior opposite hitter Philip Cirilo, sophomore setters Karl Kukk and Kai Goodfellow, and sophomore outside hitter Benedict Morton.
New to the team are senior middles Jace Herron and Andrew Jordan, sophomore outside hitter Eli Carrasco, sophomore libero Raul Carrillo-Rivera, freshman middle Jacob Leon and freshman libero Edward Funston Treadway.
Vilseck
The Falcons are hoping to carry over their upward trajectory from the end of 2023, when they finished seventh in their first European championships.
In fact, coach Ellen Fox set the bar as a place in the top 3.
Vilseck can count on eight returners to lead the way. It starts with senior outside hitter Rohail Jan, a European all-star last fall. Other seniors include right-side hitter Americo Contreras, outside hitter Ethan Worby and middle blocker Zuri Bollinger.
Juniors Isiah Gilmore (setter) and Drake Neville (middle blocker) and sophomores Kyler Fonteno-Tolo (setter/defensive specialist) and Deigo Garcia Barrios (defensive specialist) round out the returners.
The varsity squad also can turn to five newcomers. Right-side hitter Johnathan Talbot and middle blocker Jeremiah Dorf are juniors, outside hitter Mikale Meador joins as a sophomore, and setter Liam Cogan and defensive specialist Benson Lorcher join as freshmen.
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