The LBPOSTSports.com crew has put together a preseason poll of the best teams in the Moore League, and J.J. Fiddler was on hand to bring us video highlights from last night’s season opener.
The Wilson Bruins took advantage of the Jordan Panther thin ranks and ran away with the Moore League opener. The Bruins served the Panthers off the court with 13 aces as they swept the match 25-5, 25-6, 25-7.
Outside hitter Mike Wilder led the way with six kills and eight digs while Cory Leckie added 11 assists and four kills. Wilson dominated play early in each set, taking a five-point lead out of the gate and going on long runs with aggressive service.
Head coach Keli Pula and the Panthers are struggling because of grades, and have lost almost half the their original roster due to academic ineligibility.
“We’re not a team that is going dominate physically,” says Wilson coach Susan Pescar. “No one thinks too much of us when we walk into the gym, but our athleticism in the back line, and our smarts, will help… it’s like speed chess out there, and I like how we look.”
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In other Moore League action, Poly (7-4, 1-0) took the opener from Lakewood, 25-22, 28-26, 15-25, 27-25. John La- Rusch recorded 18 kills, six blocks and 10 aces and Taylor Cartagena had 27 assists and nine digs.
THIS YEAR IN THE MOORE LEAGUE
It looks like a one horse race with Wilson slowly climbing up the CIF rankings, but Bruin coach Pescar says ‘not so fast, my friend.’
“You never know, the Moore League has come a long way,” says Pescar, who took over the boys’ team in 2001, and has won the Moore League title three of the last four years, including last season’s undefeated campaign.
“When I took over here, I had to kick guys off the team, and we went out there with six or seven short guys. Now I have a few boys who play club. It used to not be that way. (Some teams) in Orange County have twelve guys on their bench that have played club ball since they were six… it’s not like that in the Moore League… but there are some great coaches in this league. We have to be ready every night.”
The LBPOSTSports.com Moore League Boys’ Volleyball Poll:
1. Wilson– Led by senior captain Mike Wilder, the Bruins will use their experience and smarts to wade through the Moore League.
2. Poly– The coaching staff at Poly has a scrappy bunch of players that can beat anyone on any given night. Not because of their height, but because of their style. The Jackrabbits won’t hit it through anyone, but they can find about four ways to hit it around you.
3. Lakewood– The very lengthy Lancers will be a tough match up for anyone. Long time coach Mike Wadley has stepped down, but filling his shoes is Millikan product Jeremy Moenoa, who shined at the net for the Rams. He will look to help a tall Lakewood team do the same.
4. Millikan– Greg Kautz has been coaching at Millikan for over 20 years, and his experience is on display every night with how his Rams perform. For example, last season the Bruins came into the Howard Lyon Gym and swept the Rams pretty handily. Less than a month later, they Rams visited the Bruins, and according to coach Pescar, “they gave us a run for our money.”
5. Jordan– As mentioned above, the Panthers are struggling with keeping a team together, but coach Pula thinks, “if we can get some kids to stay on the floor, and be dedicated to practice, I think we can hang with most of the teams in the Moore League.”
6. Cabrillo– Coach Chris Williams is trying to build a program over at Cabrillo, but he is known for his incredible training, and should have the Jaguars up and running in no time.