As difficult as it was for Sobrato boys volleyball to win its first conference title in 2011, an accomplishment seven years in the making, coach Todd Anderson said it will be an even taller task to repeat as Santa Teresa Division champs this spring.
His Bulldogs have the talent, led by first-team all-league setter/hitter Drew Mammen and second-team hitter Scott Mercado. What they don’t have is senior leadership, or seniors period.
“It’s been difficult, tons more difficult,” Anderson said. “We’re just as talented this year as we were last year. But so far, we have no leaders, no killer instinct.”
The 2011 Bulldogs brimmed with both during their run to the a 15-10 finish (9-1 in league) and their first Central Coast Section playoff berth; they lost three games to one to Pacific Collegiate in the first round of the Division II tournament. They had Estevan Santiago, the league MVP and Sobrato’s Athlete of the Year; Miles Mammen, a first-year player who became an overnight success; and the right mix of selfless, complimentary players needed to win a championship. Plus, they were hungry after winning four games from 2009 to 2010.
“Last year, it seemed like we wanted it more,” said the 6-foot, 2-inch Drew Mammen, who had 70 assists and a team-high 61 kills through Sunday. “This year, we’re kind of relaxed in games. Losing’s not a big deal. That might change, though.”
It has to soon if the Bulldogs hopes to make it back to sectionals, Anderson said. They plunge into the heart of the regular season at home Tuesday against a talented Prospect squad, led by the 6-foot-5 Telfer brothers, Russell and Kris.
“I think we’re going to have a lot more competition this year,” said Anderson, who shared the Santa Teresa Division’s 2011 Coach of the Year honor with his assistant, Mike Nydam. “We’ll find out next week.”
Sobrato opened league play Thursday at Lincoln, following an up-and-down nonleague stretch in which the Bulldogs went 3-6.
“We’ve learned we need to work on our pass-receive and just talk more, because we’re kind of quiet in games,” Mercado said. “We have a good time here at practice. I think we just need to step up as leaders. Everyone needs to motivate each other.”
An 8-2 finish in league would make for a “great season” to Anderson, but he would be just as happy to see his players come together and light a spark for next year.
“We built up (in 2010), so the next year we’d have that cohesiveness, and that really paid off,” he said. “We’ll have some good games and some terrible games, but by this time next year, we should be ready to do it again.”
As a freshman, Drew Mammen was key to the Bulldogs’ success. The mop-topped lefty led the team with 58 digs and 28 aces, and scored 59 kills. Mammen improved his hitting this offseason – it helped that he grew a couple inches.
“He’s even better, like, wow,” Mercado said. “Drew kills it.”
Anderson’s 6-2 alignment, which calls for five hitters and two setters, allows the Bulldogs to get optimal use of Mammen and freshman Andre Vigano, who set as well as they hit. Vigano has come on strong with 58 kills, 73 assists, 11 digs and 10 aces.
“He’s a really good player. I can see it already,” Mammen said. “It’s nice having him there.”
Ryan Mitchell is another first-year player with great potential. The 6-foot-4 junior middle has 24 blocks to go with 10 kills and six aces and has been a good replacement for Sergio Mihai, Sobrato’s top blocker a year ago.
“If we can get Ryan to execute like Sergio did, he’ll be a great all-around player,” Anderson said. “Next year, he’ll be even better.”
The Bulldogs have decent size with Mitchell, Mammen, and juniors Logan Mosher (6-foot-3), Darren McElvy (6-foot-3) and Tyler Carpenter (6-foot-2).
Although passing has been a problem, Sobrato defends well in the back behind junior Kevin Montano, freshman Riley Vandagriff and Mercado, who leads the team in serves received (57).
Somewhere in there, Anderson hopes a different kind of leader will emerge.
