Jarman, Bengals on rise

From his position on the bench last year, Price Jarman had a fine view of the Southwest League champion Bonanza boys volleyball team's fine season.

But the bench wasn't where Jarman wanted to be.

"They had a really great season, and I was happy for them," said Jarman, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second match of the year. "But it was frustrating to be out and have to watch.

"It was frustrating, but I still came to every practice, tried to stay involved. The more involved I was, the less frustrating it was."

Jarman doesn't plan on being frustrated as a senior. With seven returning players with starting experience and a healthy Jarman, Bonanza is poised to build on last season's success.

As a junior, Jarman had 25 kills and seven blocks in two matches before suffering his season-ending injury going up for a block against Silverado.

After signing with Brigham Young in the fall, the senior middle blocker is ready to lay all the cards on the table.

"This year isn't really a personal year. I know where I'm going to school," Jarman said. "It's just all about winning state, and that's all there is.

"I don't see a point in having any lower goal. It's my last year, so what should I be shooting for other than the top?"

Equally important to Bonanza are the returners who stood out on last year's team, including senior setter Cru Leavitt and senior outside hitter Jared Hyer.

"The returning guys got a taste of the regional tournament and what it felt like to play against those high-profile teams like Centennial and Arbor View and Shadow Ridge," second-year coach Joe Cap said. "That'll be an asset to us. We know what to expect."

Knowing what to expect is no guarantee of success, however.

"I know it's a different year, and there will be some really good returning squads," Cap said. "Hopefully we can put all the pieces together and advance in the tournament. Every coach wants -- once you make it -- to go all the way.

"That's one of our goals, but it's a long, bumpy road to May."

Still, the road could be considerably less bumpy with a healthy Jarman, a player Cap compares to Coronado's Chris Andrulis and Bishop Gorman's Bobby Houser, two other future Division I volleyball players.

"We were six or seven guys playing as one unit. That's still carrying over to this year," Cap said. "And I won't lie: It doesn't hurt having Price back. He's a versatile weapon, and we're going to use him a lot."

As a junior, Jarman saw the season from a coach's perspective. He'll need to use what he learned to pace the Bengals this spring.

"I learned a lot more about volleyball, about the way the game looks when you're not on the floor," he said. "That has helped me to improve and play more intelligently once I got better."

Contact reporter Sean Walker at swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.