Boys volleyball: Top players by position (with lists)

Talent.

It's a word commonly associated with high school volleyball in Orange County.

Year after year the crop keeps yielding quality players after quality players.

Case in point, here's a short list of CIF player of the year award winners from the past:

It includes Mark Anderson (San Clemente), Lance Stewart (Laguna Beach), Danny Hanan (Edison), Hugh Foster (Newport Harbor), Adam Keefe (Woodbridge), Ty Price (Corona del Mar), Eric Seiffert (Capo Valley), Paul Nihipali (Esperanza), Nick Ziegler (Huntington Beach), Mike Grave (Huntington Beach), Travis Pinick (Orange Lutheran), Tom Pestolesi (Edison) and Phil Bannan (Corona del Mar) among others.

This year is no exception. The county boasts a deep field.

Coming up with the top players at each position was no easy task.

Here's a look at the lists (click on the positions for slide shows of the players):

Outside hitters

1. Cody Caldwell, Newport Harbor, junior
2. Spencer Rowe, Mission Viejo, senior
3. Joey Booth, Corona del Mar, senior
4. Weston Nielsen, Corona del Mar, senior
5. John Caroompas, Aliso Niguel, senior
6. Ryan Baine, Santa Maragarita, junior
7. Nick Iorfino, Huntington Beach, senior
8. Spencer Buckley, Santa Margarita, senior
9. Tyler Russie, Esperanza, senior
10. James Drury, Dana Hills, senior
11. Marshall Kinnison, Mission Viejo, senior
12. Parker Kalmbach, Tesoro, senior
13. Zak Beard, San Clemente, senior
14. Scottie Chapel, Laguna Beach, senior
15. Ben Hunt, Servite, senior
16. Kevin Smith, Esperanza, senior
17. Rusty Sary, Newport Harbor, junior

Liberos

1. Sam O'Brien, Dana Hills, senior
2. Connor Curry, Newport Harbor, senior
3. Mike McMahon, Santa Margarita, senior
4. Ryan Windisch, Servite, junior
5. Cody Sakurao, Esperanza, senior
6. Michael Brinkley, Edison, junior
7. Jeff Mathis, San Clemente, senior
8. Joey Eggers, Mater Dei, senior

Setters

1. Connor Olbright, El Modena, senior
2. Brett Anderson, Esperanza, senior
3. Jackson Carmack, Newport Harbor, senior
4. Robbie McKnight, Laguna Beach, junior
5. Kevin Kustura, Servite, junior
6. Taylor Hammond, Santa Margarita, junior
7. Hudson Glover, San Clemente, senior
8. Jeff Newell, Edison, senior
9. Kory Kiraly, St. Margaret's, junior
10. Sean Nakada, Trabuco Hills, sophomore

Opposites

1. Chris Hartig, Esperanza, senior
2. Torey Darin, Edison, senior
3. Evan Dean, corona del Mar, senior
4. Nick Siegle, Huntington Beach, senior
5. Travis Woloson, Laguna Beach, senior
6. Ian Jabour, Servite, senior
7. Zack La Cavera, Mater Dei, junior
8. Chris Long Beckman, senior
9. Cole Evans, Tesoro, senior
10. Mitch Vallis, Santa Margarita, sophomore
11. Matt Marsh, Mission Viejo, junior

Middle Blockers

1. Tyler Kulakowski, Huntington Beach, senior
2. Tim Frydendall, Orange Lutheran, senior
3. Chris Dreim, Esperanza, senior
4. Will Connelly, Newport Harbor, senior
5. Kevin Campbell, Mater Dei, senior
6. Ryan Smith, Edison, senior
7. Nick Capriccio, Edison, senior
8. Spencer Haly, Corona del Mar, senior
9. John Christian, Corona del Mar, senior
10. Steven Coulson, Servite, senior
11. Brian Beith, Esperanza, junior

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