San Marcos boys volleyball coach Roger Kuntz pointed out how close-knit the volleyball community is in the Santa Barbara area.
In his presentation at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon, Kuntz shared his ties with fellow coaches Mickey Caughey of Carpinteria and Chad Arneson of Santa Barbara High, the father of one Arneson’s current players as well as Round Table president Ken Newendorp.
The luncheon agenda at Harry’s Plaza Cafe also included high school baseball, track & field and girls lacrosse, and college track & field.
“The volleyball community has been close in Santa Barbara for a long time,” said Kuntz. “Mickey was one of my (beach) partners back in the early 1980s.
“A few years ago, my son Josh called and said, ‘Dad, I’m in the King of the Beach Tournament down here (at East Beach) and one of my partners is called Kenny Newendorp, and he said that you coached him in two sports.’
“All of a sudden I get to watch Kenny and my son out there owning the beach.”
Kuntz also recalled the days when he and partner Brian Montgomery played against Arneson and his father, Eric, at East Beach. He added that another partner was Mike McCaskey, the father of current Dons’ player Liam McCaskey, whom Arneson brought to the luncheon.
“I’ve loved your dad for 20, 30, 40 years or something,” Kuntz told Liam.
Arneson congratulated Kuntz, whose son got married over the weekend.
“It’s quite an honor and a really awesome thing,” Arneson said.
Things get intense this week on the volleyball court, as San Marcos, Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos meet up in their final rivalry matches of the season.
San Marcos (4-1 in league) will host Dos Pueblos (3-2) on Tuesday night, and first-place Santa Barbara (6-0) on Thursday. All three Channel League teams and Carpinteria will compete in the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara.
Kuntz introduced his “three-headed monster” attack of middle Aiden Paizer and outside hitters Zach Willbanks and Jack Wilson.
The 6-foot-4 Paizer is the team leader in kill percentage. “And if our ball control is as strong as it’s been all year long, then we get to activate him, and he’s pretty unstoppable out of the middle,” Kuntz said.
The 6-4 Willbanks has become a force as a pin hitter, said Kuntz. “Over the last 2-3 weeks, he has shown why he’s our terminator on the outside. Through his growth, we’ve been able to really depend on him as a go-to guy on the outside, and he’s come through for us in a lot of big matches.”
Paizer and Willbanks are senior captains for the 20-6 Royals.
Wilson is a dynamic sophomore who scores points in the front and back row.
Arneson’s Dons are 20-3 on the season and ranked sixth in CIF-SS Division 1.
He introduced setter and back row specialist Diego Arroyo and McCaskey, a multi-position player. Arneson said both players bring a positive vibe and good work ethic to the team.
“It’s a pleasure to have these two guys. This is the reason why I love coaching,” he said. “They create a great atmosphere. This is what a team is all about because of these two players.”
Caughey share his excitement about Carpinteria volleyball, which is currently ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 5.
“We’ve got a really good team this year,” he said. “We’ve got eight seniors on our team, which is unheard of. If I was into astrology, all the stars are lined up just perfectly.”
Caughey brought two members of his strong senior class: setter and floor captain Gavin Lohuis and outside hitter Joaquin Gonzalez..
Caughey called Lohuis his coach on the floor. “I could not even be there and he could run the team perfectly well. Just as well as I’ve done. He understands the game really well,” said the coach.
Gonzalez is the team’s best outside hitter. He averages 10 points per match, in which the majority have been three-set sweeps.
“If you guys ever needed a good outside hitter, you would love to have him on your team because he’s very consistent. He finds the holes in the block and he can hit over a block,” said Caughey.
He noted the team record of 9-3 doesn’t sound impressive, but he doesn’t count matches won in tournaments.
The Warriors will get to test themselves against elite teams this weekend as they accepted an invitation to compete in the Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions at Santa Barbara High.
Here is a rundown of the other coaches and student athletes who attended the press luncheon.
All the coaches’ presentations can be viewed in the video above.
BASEBALL
Santa Barbara coach Steve Schuck, freshman third baseman Kai Mault and freshman pitcher Eric Anthony
Dos Pueblos coach George Hedricks, seniors Dylon Bailey and Gino Darke
TRACK & FIELD
Dos Pueblos coach Sara Richardson, distance runners Lauren Elliott, Phoebe Wolfe Lyons, Samsara Chahine, Ellie Gleason, Katie Hellman
San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin, senior 400-800 runner Jacob Snodgress, junior 400 runner Justin Hess, sophomore sprinter Ava Carter, junior 400 runner Stella Crawford
Westmont College student athletes Matthew Williams, Lily Sweet
GIRLS LACROSSE
Dos Pueblos coach Sam Limkeman, junior Lauren Elliott (the Athlete of the Week)
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