Chris Kukosky is the latest to take a shot at reviving the struggling Lake-Lehman boys volleyball program.

Kukosky, the fourth coach for the Black Knights in the last four seasons, is preparing a young and inexperienced group for the start of the Wyoming Valley Conference season.

“What we basically are doing is rebuilding the whole team,” said Kukosky, who played for Lake-Lehman in the 1980s when it was a force in the Wyoming Valley Conference and District 2.

Lake-Lehman kept building to the point when it won eight straight district titles from 1993 through 2000.

Times have been much tougher for the Black Knights in recent years. They were winless in 2014 and 2015, then picked up a single WVC win last season under Jim Hummer.

Lake-Lehman opens at home March 28 against Hanover Area, the only team it defeated a year ago.

Many of the players are gone from that team, however.

Kukosky has one senior and one junior, each with experience, to lead a team of nine sophomores and freshmen.

In many cases, he is introducing the sport to the players.

“Volleyball is an orphan sport any more,” said Kukosky. “There are so many other sports that kids are playing.

“They are as green as you can possibly get. There’s no youth volleyball. Everybody can play field hockey, Little League (baseball) and football from the time they’re 5 years old. A lot of these boys don’t see a volleyball until ninth grade. It’s a very quick learning experience for them.”

Kukosky said there will be some learning involved even for the few who have already played the sport.

“I broke it down and switched the whole offense for them,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of learning for these guys right off the bat. So, basically, we’re starting over.”

Justin Lansberry is the team’s lone senior.

“He’s going to be a key player, a team leader,” Kukosky said.

Chris Ash is the junior who Kukosky said is “going to be our main front row hitter and blocker.”

By TOM ROBINSON

For the Dallas Post

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