Head Coach: Brendan Wang

2017-2018 record: 13-3 in  the De Anza League, 18-7 overall

2017-2018 recap: The Falcons finished third out of the eight teams in the De Anza league. The boys made Division III CCS, but were eliminated in the first round by Pacific Collegiate.

Key additions: Junior Cameron Chow

Key Matchups: Monta Vista, Harker

Star players: Junior setter Mohan Duvvuri, senior hitters Derek Chiou, Joshua Lee and Usman Khan

League: De Anza

Key Losses: middle blocker Harrison Fong, outside hitters Collin Hovey and Evan O’Brien

* Due to the lack of signups, there will be no JV team. *

Prognosis:

After winning NorCal in 2015 and 2016 and placing 1st and 2nd respectively in CCS Division II during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, respectively, the boys struggled to keep up with their lofty expectations last season. They dropped one division in CCS and failed to advance past the first round in the CCS playoffs after losing alumnus Joel Schneidmiller to graduation in 2017. This season, the team will face a similar challenge in learning how to play without alumnus Evan O’Brien, who had been a staple on the team.

An additional challenge the boys will have to face is connecting with their new coach, Brendan Wang, a 2017 alumnus from Homestead High.

In spite of these challenges, junior captain Mohan Duvvuri believes the team still has potential, provided that seasoned players step up and lead the team.

“The upperclassmen that have experience are going to have to step up and take more of a leadership role.” Duvvuri said. “This is our second straight year with a new coach, so the people who have been there are going to have to use their experience to help the team.”

Tryouts concluded on Feb. 12, and the boys’ first game will be on Feb. 27 against Lynbrook at home.