55 players to watch as YAIAA boys' volleyball season kicks off
Last year Central York and Northeastern slugged it out for the division and league boys' volleyball tournament titles.
The Panthers ended up reaching the District 3 Class 3A finals and PIAA semifinals. And it looks like they are preparing for another long run.
While the Central York boys' basketball team was in Hershey winning their first state title, the boys' volleyball team was at the other end of the state defeating top-ranked teams to win the North Allegheny Invitational. The weekend's success moved the Panthers, the only YAIAA team in the top 10 in either class, up the coaches' state rankings from fifth to third.
The Panthers bring back nearly all of their players from last year's squad, which could spell trouble for the rest of the teams that came into the season with big holes to fill.
Northeastern is one of those teams.
Gone is last year's player of the year, three all-star hitters, an all-star setter and their coach. But the Bobcats' well is not dry. They bring back junior outside hitters Hugh Rogers, a first-team all-star, and Koltrin Forry, an honorable mention all-star, to lead the team for former long-time assistant coach George Miller.
Miller was on the bench for nine Northeastern state titles and decided to retire in 2021. But when the renovations to his new house were complete, he got bored. And the Bobcats were looking for a coach.
Miller said he had no plans to return to the high school level when he left and didn't really watch many matches in the few years he was out of the game. But he got the break he needed and is excited to be back on the varsity bench.
York Suburban and York Catholic finished behind Central York and Northeastern last year, but lost more than most teams. They are replacing all-star setters and middle and outside hitters.
Red Lion could be the team that tries to displace the giants at the top. The Lions return first-team all-star Tyler Good, an outside hitter who registered the most kills among all returning players, and a number of offensive and defensive players. They will also feature basketball star Joe Sedora, who already leads the league in blocks.
Here's a look at returning all-stars and starters, as well as newcomers reported by league coaches. (Note: York High's volleyball team is exhibition. The Bearcats' volleyball team joins the league next season).
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YAIAA volleyball returning all-stars and starters
Chase Almes, Northeastern, jr.: setter
Ryan Bennett, Red Lion, sr.: setter
Jayden Bethel, Dallastown, sr.: YAIAA first-team all-star, outside hitter
Christian Bucks, Central York, sr.: YAIAA third-team all-star, outside hitter
Seth Conover, Eastern York, jr.: outside hitter
Blake Downs, Red Lion, sr.: outside hitter
Nathan Efiom-Ekaha, York Suburban, sr.: YAIAA honorable mention all-star, outside hitter
Luke Flickinger, New Oxford, sr.: defensive specialist, libero
Koltrin Forry, Northeastern, jr.: YAIAA honorable mention all-star, outside hitter
Justin Fry, Red Lion, sr.: YAIAA honorable mention all-star, libero
Tyler Good, Red Lion, jr.: YAIAA first-team all-star, outside hitter
Eli Grandas, York Catholic, jr.: setter
Rylan Hahn, New Oxford, jr.: middle hitter
James Hammel, Eastern York, sr.: middle hitter
John He, Central York, jr.: outside hitter
Jonathan Hernandez, York High, sr.: defensive specialist
Aaron Hildebrand, Eastern York, so.: YAIAA honorable mention all-star, outside hitter
Asher Hortman, York High, jr.: setter
Trevor Ketrick, Central York, sr.: YAIAA second-team all-star, outside hitter, middle hitter
Mitch Kilgore, York Catholic, sr.: middle hitter
Riley Krantz, York High, jr.: outside hitter
Eddie Laracuente-Ruiz, West York, jr.: libero, defensive specialist
Ryan Moore, Eastern York, sr.: setter
Richard Morel, West York, sr.: setter, libero
Jack Mummert, Spring Grove, sr.: outside hitter
John Ondek, York High, sr.: setter
Bryton Peterson, York High, jr.: middle hitter
Ryan Roberts, Central York, sr.: YAIAA third-team all-star, libero
Hugh Rogers, Northeastern, jr.: YAIAA first-team all-star, outside hitter
Austin Schuchart, New Oxford, sr.: outside hitter
Lance Shaffer, Central York, jr.: YAIAA second-team all-star, setter
Evan Strausbaugh, New Oxford, jr.: setter
Evan Tanner, Eastern York, jr.: setter
Theo Tome, Spring Grove, jr.: middle hitter
Noah Watkins, New Oxford, sr.: libero
Izea Webber, York High, sr.: outside hitter
Jackson Wolfe, New Oxford, sr.: outside hitter
Newcomers
Luke Bair, Spring Grove, so.: setter
TJ Bieneasz, Eastern York, so.: outside hitter
Jakob Bohannon, Central York, sr.: middle hitter, outside hitter
Levi Breswell, Northeastern, fr.: outside hitter
Caleb Dinges, Spring Grove, so.: outside hitter
Luis Garcia-Moreno, Spring Grove, so.: middle hitter
Porter Getner, Northeastern, jr.: middle hitter
Ryan Guillaume, Eastern York, so.: middle hitter, outside hitter
Tanner Haugh, New Oxford, so.: middle hitter
Zane Lawrence, Spring Grove, so.: outside hitter, defensive specialist
Chris Price, Red Lion, sr.: middle hitter
Joe Sedora, Red Lion, sr.: middle hitter
Jared Shirk, Northeastern, jr.: libero, defensive specialist
Patrick Siewert, Central York, jr.: outside hitter, setter
Aiden Swartz, Central York, jr.: outside hitter
Gavin Taylor, York High, sr.: outside hitter
Fabian Valdez, York High, jr.: outside hitter
Lincoln Wertz, Northeastern, jr.: middle hitter
Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email mstallsmith@ydr.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter @ShelStallsmith.