Lake Shore builds around veteran core, full offseason entering 2026 boys volleyball season

Overview

• Lake Shore graduated six seniors, but coach Zach Gerken says this group has been eager to learn after a full offseason together.
• Finnigan Zybala, an ECIC D3 Second-Team all-star last season, leads a veteran group that also includes Griffin Rohde, Joe Nemec and Evan Stonitsch.
• Karsen Hazard steps into the setter role after playing a handful of varsity matches last year and making offseason strides.
• The schedule opens Sept. 9 against Iroquois and includes home dates with Cheektowaga, Maryvale, East Aurora/Holland, St. Francis, West Seneca East and Depew.

Lake Shore enters 2026 with a young group and a clearer runway

Lake Shore enters 2026 after graduating six seniors, with coach Zach Gerken looking to a veteran core to guide an eager younger group.

“We are young after graduating 6 seniors last year,” Gerken said. “However these young guys are really eager to learn and hungry to win. This has been the most hardworking team I have seen at Lake Shore in my 5 years with the program.”

The program is coming off a 2-12 season in the 2025-26 published results on HighSchoolSports.org, and Gerken said the goal is to move up in ECIC III after finishing at the bottom last year. His view of the group is shaped by continuity, too. Gerken took over the varsity team shortly before last season began; this year, he enters with a full offseason behind him.

“I took over the team last year 2 days before the first day,” Gerken said. “I am excited what we can do with a full year of offseason with these guys.”

Veterans set the tone

Finnigan Zybala is the headliner. Gerken pointed to Zybala, an ECIC D3 Second-Team all-star last season, as Lake Shore’s leader and primary point-scoring threat entering the fall. Zybala is listed as an outside hitter/middle blocker and is part of the Class of 2028.

Gerken also named Griffin Rohde, Evan Stonitsch and Joe Nemec as key experienced players helping bring along a younger roster. Rohde is listed at outside hitter, Stonitsch in the middle and Nemec at libero.

Karsen Hazard steps into the setter role with some varsity experience. Gerken said Hazard played a handful of varsity matches last year and “took big strides in the off season” to prepare for this season.

Lake Shore’s attacking ceiling is part of the optimism. Gerken said the team has “a lot of guys who can jump high and hit hard,” and that when the ball is in the hitters’ wheelhouse, “they can put it down.” Passing and defense are the daily points of emphasis.

The identity Gerken wants is simple: “I want us to be known as the hardest working team in WNY. We may not have the best players but we can still be the hardest workers.”

Schedule landmarks

Lake Shore opens the listed schedule Sept. 9 at home against Iroquois, then travels to Sweet Home on Sept. 11. The early home slate continues with Cheektowaga on Sept. 15 and Maryvale on Sept. 22 before trips to Eden/North Collins, CSAT, West Seneca East and Canisius.

October brings a return match at Iroquois on Oct. 6, a visit to Cheektowaga on Oct. 8 and a home date with East Aurora/Holland on Oct. 9. The final stretch includes home matches against Eden/North Collins, St. Francis, West Seneca East and Depew, with road trips to East Aurora/Holland and Frontier also listed.

For Lake Shore, the season’s story is less about age than response: how quickly a young group can defend, pass and grow around a veteran core that Gerken is counting on to lead.