Local volleyball players named to Dream Team

DOWNEY - The Long Beach Press Telegram has selected its 2012 Dream Team for boys' volleyball, and Warren and Downey High Schools are well represented.Warren placed three players on the first team and one player on the second team. Cross-town rival Downey didn't have a first team selection but placed one player on the second team. Nick Alvarez, senior and outside hitter for the Bears, was selected Co-M.V.P. of the S.G.V.L., first-team All-C.I.F. Division III and the Dream Team player of the year. Dean Kendall, senior and opposite for the Bears, stands 6 ft. 4 inches tall and played a vital role for the Bears in reaching the C.I.F. Division III championship match. Kendall was named first-team All-S.G.V.L. as well as first-team All-C.I.F. Division III. Brian Oh, junior and libero for the Bears, is considered one of the best at his position in the area and was the S.G.V.L. M.V.P. last season. Oh was named Co-M.V.P. of the S.G.V.L. this season, along with Nick Alvarez, and was a first-team All-C.I.F. Division III selection. Oh will be back next year as Warren attempts to re-load and make another run at a league title and perhaps, another nice run in the C.I.F. playoffs. Warren High School also placed senior and middle blocker Josh Nehls on the second team. Nehls combined with Alvarez, Kendall and Oh to present a solid core of Bear players. Nehls certainly helped lead the Bear squad to a league title and the Division III championship match. Nehls collected eight kills in that game to keep the match close. Nehls was also named to the first-team All-S.G.V.L. team. Downey High School's selection on the second team was standout setter Patrick Waters. Waters helped Downey to an 8-2 record in league play and a second place finish. For his efforts, Waters was named the Downey High School team M.V.P. and was a first-team All-S.G.V.L. selection. Meanwhile, Warren boys volleyball coach Brad Simons and outside hitter Nick Alvarez have been selected as the Dream Team coach of the year and player of the year, respectively. Coach Simons guided the Bears to a 10-0 undefeated record in league play and the S.G.V.L. championship. Simons also guided the Bears to the C.I.F. Division III Final against South Torrance. Warren finished their season with an overall record of 31-4 and were a set away from the Division III Title. The Bears were defeated by the Spartans, three sets to one on May 19 at Cypress College. The Bears were led by Co-S.G.V.L. M.V.P.'s Nick Alvarez and Brian Oh, Dean Kendall and Josh Nehls. Alvarez, Oh and Kendall were first team Dream Team selections and Nehls was the lone Bear second team selection. Nick Alvarez, a senior outside hitter for the Bears, is 6 ft. 2 inches tall and can jump "through the roof." Alvarez was Co-M.V.P. of the S.G.V.L., a first team All-C.I.F. Division III selection and led the Bears to the Division III championship match. Alvarez will continue playing volleyball at Long Beach City College next season and has an excellent chance of playing Division I when he transfers to a four-year school.

********** Published: July 12, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 13