LJ b VB: Nico the master of versatility

Nico Bardaro (left, face obscured by net)

goes up the ladder to spike a ball in the

Vikings' 3-0 sweep of Mt. Carmel

in the first round of the CIF D2

playoffs May 6.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Nico Bardaro will play on the front line for La Jolla's volleyball team this evening, Wed., May 14, in their Division 2 semifinal match in the CIF playoffs at home against Coronado.

The sophomore, who stands 6'3" and is muscular, yet quick and flexible, has had an outstanding sophomore year at the high school, exhibiting an unheard-of versatility in the sports and positions he has filled.

In the fall, he starred as a tight end on Coach Tyler Roach's football team. The position requires mass and the ability to block, while demanding a soft touch with the hands to grab passes.

In the winter, Nico was listed on the varsity soccer roster as a position player, while being backup to Joseph Crudo in goal. When he filled in at goalie, the results were somewhat spectacular. With his height and reach, Bardaro was able to react with his quick reflexes to shots near or at the goal. Plus his kicks down field to clear the ball and initiate the offense were more than satisfactory.

If Crudo didn't come back, he was in danger of the super soph taking his job away.

Nico Bardaro (far right), alongside 6'8"

Ben Salmon (16), and teammates

celebrate a point during the Vikings'

CIF win May 6.

Which brings us around to this spring. Nico's physique has slimmed down quite a bit from the fall weight-lifting and calorie intake, when he was listed as 6'3" and 190 pounds. Volleyball coach Dave Jones has employed Bardaro more and more on the front line.

The only drawback in any of this is the fact Nico, a quiet and humble guy, can't concentrate on any one sport to develop his skills the way he would otherwise, since he has shown talent in so many areas--jumping, showing a soft touch, colliding, bumping and spiking the ball, and so forth.

His dad, who was a faithful photographer of his son's and his son's team's exploits in football in the fall, said Nico was attending personal workouts each week with someone to develop his blossoming physical assets.

One can only imagine the ceiling for the Viking student-athlete, barring injury, especially some of those he sustained in football.

Versatile soph Nico Bardaro (12) and

senior teammate Myles Plaskonos (7)

walk off the court after a 3-0

thrashing of Mt. Carmel in the

playoffs May 6.