Late February marked the beginning of the high school boys volleyball regular season. West Valley Preps asked Surprise coaches to take a look at their teams:

Dysart Demons

4A Skyline Region
Coach: Alma Lindsay (fifth year as head coach)
2023 Record: 10-12, 6-4 region
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? We are an experienced team with nine seniors; they work/play well together and are a tight-knit group.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Our focus this season is on defense.
Who are your team leaders? Emilio Feliciano is a four-year varsity player, our captain and our best overall player. He brings a sense of calm to the court while feeding our team energy with his kills. Jorge Serna is our libero who feeds the team with quiet confidence on defense. Trevor Serafin is our most versital player who steps into any position and is able to perform at a high level.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Sophmores Matthew Erickson and Ryan Shetterly are the future of the program and have made a big impact on this team. We are excited to see them develope further this season.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? To return to the playoffs, we need to continue working hard on offensive and strengthen our defensive play at the net.

Shadow Ridge Stallions

6A West Valley Region
Coach: Daniel Velasquez-Wilson (first year as head coach, fifth year as volleyball coach)
2023 Record: 27-6, 6-0 region (reached 6A quarterfinals)

What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? This group of athletes is talented, with our greatest strength lying in our competitiveness. The team has diligently cultivated an attitude of gratitude towards the game, emphasizing continuous learning and hard work. Our ability to scrap for points and make smart offensive decisions will ultimately define our season.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? For us to achieve success, we must embrace dynamism. Refining our offensive distribution and understanding the balance between risk and reward given the situation.
Who are your team leaders? From a skill standpoint the team’s senior leadership is well-distributed. Team captain and Ball State University commit Ryan Louis offers unparalleled versatility across the net and in all six rotations as an outside hitter. Senior outside hitter Rett Larson brings strength and competitiveness to the Stallions. Senior right-side hitter Gideon Barnes adds solid blocking and defensive grit. Team captain and junior setter Austin Kuehler will also be impactful this season as a leader.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Anthony Gallagher and Breaden Stroh joined the Stallions this season as seniors, bringing experience and competitiveness to the practice gym. Gallagher’s athleticism and dynamic movement contribute to the team’s offensive distribution, while Stroh’s ball control and positional versatility add depth to the roster. Once eligible after their 50% mark, both are anticipated to provide on-court value. Jaisen Brown is new to the program as a freshman and has shown impressive skills on the service line and in defense situations. Brown will be one to keep an eye on this season as he gains experience.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? Our team brings a level of competitiveness that Shadow Ridge hasn’t seen before. With a new head coach and program culture, the team must be open to learning and growing. The group must remain humble and hungry as we strive to reach the state championship tournament. We need to ensure that our risk-to-reward ratio is balanced when necessary and stay consistent throughout the season.

Willow Canyon Wildcats

5A Northwest Region
2023 Record: 19-17, 2-8 region (Reached first round of playoffs)
Coach: Matt Overfelt (sixth year as head coach)
What is your team’s best attribute entering this season? A combination of youth and experience.
What will your team need to improve for the season to be a success? Chemistry on the court.
Who are your team leaders? Landen Armstrong (MB), Keaton Semendoff (OH) and Rylan Hayes (OH) set the tone for our team.
Who are newcomers to the varsity squad that could make an impact? Ben Perkins (S) and Jackson Blair (OPP) are both new to varsity and will step into starting roles.
What needs to happen for your squad to reach the state tournament this season, or reach the goals the program has set? We will need to play with high effort, positive attitudes, and be overly communicative on the court. We will also need to be able to focus on one point at a time and recover from mistakes quickly.