The Mustangs, certainly the tallest team in school history, are off to a fast start. They have won their first three Santa Clara Valley Athletic League contests and 10 of their first 13 matches overall.

"Our goal is to win league, make it to the semifinals of the Central Coast Section playoffs with an eventual goal of winning the CCS," explains Hoffman, a 1999 Homestead graduate who was a freshman when Roger Edwards started the program in 1996.

The Mustangs, who tied for fifth in the CCS after going 9-3 in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (second place) and 17-11 overall, will need to beat out defending champion Los Gatos for the league crown. Hoffman figures the Wildcats, Aptos and Bellarmine will be the favorites in the CCS tourney in late May.

Homestead is led by 6-foot-5 senior Jake Rosener, who has accepted a volleyball scholarship to UC-Santa Barbara. Other returning veterans are 6-foot senior outside hitter Scott Baird and 6-foot-8 junior middle blocker Sam Kridl.

Rounding out the starting line-up are three sophomores, 5-foot-10 outside hitter Weston Bucker, 6-foot-4 setter Ryan Bridge and 6-foot-6 middle blocker Ryan Dedrick.

"These are three of the five very talented young players on varsity," Hoffman says. "Bridge is a very talented setter, who has great hands and poise for someone his size and age, and runs a very talented offense.

"Having such a variety of offensive weapons and a setter to deliver the ball, we can be a very fun team to watch."

With an average height of 6-foot-4, Homestead also can be intimidating.

"We are looking to be strong at the net, with a defense to dig around it," Hoffman says.

Securing the back row is a trio of defensive specialists, seniors Matt Le and Michael Yoo and sophomore Dale Park. Dmitriy Krichevskiy, a 6-foot-3 senior, is a versatile hitter coming off of the bench, capable of playing outside hitter or middle blocker.

Other team members are 6-foot-4 senior Russell Hill, juniors Louis Kim and Steven Rogers, and 6-foot sophomore Andrew Blazensky. Assistant coaches are Barry Ivers and Jon Fong.

The Mustangs, who visited Saratoga on March 29, will travel to Los Gatos for a big showdown on March 31. Match time is set for 6:45 p.m.