Six Teams To Watch : Huntington Beach

Coach: Rocky Ciarelli (12th year).

1995: 17-3, 9-1 in the Sunset League; lost to Los Angeles Loyola in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Key returners: Greg Markham, 6-2, setter, Sr.; Evan Hook, 6-3, outside hitter, Sr.; Dennis Masuda, 5-9, setter, Jr.; Corey Gremel, 6-1, outside hitter, Sr.; Tadd Wooton, 5-9, back-row specialist, Sr.

Key newcomer: David McKienzie, 6-3, middle blocker, Jr.

Outlook: Ciarelli sounded perplexed when told the rest of the county’s teams are gunning for his: “I don’t know why. I mean, we lost five starters,” he said. “We didn’t win last year, so they should be looking at somebody else.” The Oilers’ biggest loss was Jeremy Bart, the league’s most valuable player last season who currently is playing for Stanford. They also lost Jody Cook-Fisher, another first-team all-league selection. The return of Markham and Hook, both second-team all-league selections, as well as a deep bench will keep Huntington Beach in the race for a Southern Section title. McKienzie, younger brother of former Long Beach State standout Joy McKienzie, transferred from Long Beach Wilson.