Highschool boys volleyball, one of many quickest rising sports activities in America, is both underway or begins play quickly across the nation. That is our two-part take a look at the 28 states enjoying boys volleyball across the USA, and we all know there are extra to come back.
The First Level Volleyball Basis is on a mission to get all 50 states to sanction boys highschool volleyball by the Olympics in 2028.
“Extra boys are getting an opportunity to play highschool volleyball largely because of the dedication of volunteers across the nation,” mentioned Wade Garard, the CEO and founding father of First Level. “What we’re discovering from the work being performed by members of First Level’s highschool development committee is that when a passionate group of volunteers relentlessly advocate for official standing it may well occur.
“Nobody thought we might have the ability to get 10 states to vote sure for sanctioning in a seven-year interval.”
However that has occurred, in fact. Since First Level started its efforts,the next states have change into sanctioned or at the moment are rising standing:
Colorado
Delaware
Indiana
Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
Ohio
Oregon
South Carolina
Utah
What’s extra, lively efforts are underway in 22 remaining states, and going effectively in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas.
We contacted a number of coaches, directors and membership administrators to collect data on the upcoming season with a postseason recap to comply with in a number of months. Please e-mail kevinpratte6@gmail.com to offer data or suggestions.
Arizona
Sandra Day O’Conner is the favourite, led by reverse Finn Kearney, exterior Carter King and setter Keagin Christenson. Trevell Jordan of Desert Ridge, one of many high middles within the nation, who frolicked within the USA gymnasium final summer season with Kearny. Difficult Sandra Day O’Connor might be Higley, Highland and Casteel.
Prime Packages
1 — Casteel
2 — Highland
3 –Higley
4 – Perry
5 — Sandra Day O’Connor
Gamers to look at
S – Keagin Christenson (Sandra Day O’Connor)
MB — Trevell Jordan (Desert Ridge)
OPP – Finn Kearney (Sandra Day O’Connor)
OH — Carter King (Sandra Day O’Connor)
OH – Connor Oldani (Brophy)
Noteworthy: With native college Grand Canyon (at present No. 2 within the nation) doing so effectively, extra space boys are getting concerned within the sport. Concern and Aspire are two of the nationwide journey membership groups that assist Arizona athletes put together for highschool.
Quoteworthy: “I want I had yet one more 12 months with all my teammates. I’m going to take advantage of this season and put together to play at GCU.” – Trevell Jordan.
Central and Northern California
Prime Packages
1 — Clovis East
2 — Clovis
3 — Valley Christian, San Jose
4 — Sanger
5 — Bishop O’Dowd
Gamers to look at:
OH — Tyler Alden (Valley Christian, San Jose)
OH — Cameron Kosty (Bishop O’Dowd)
OPP – Daniel DeVine (Saint Francis)
OPP — Gurshab Singh (Clovis East)
MB – Lucas Winn (Castro Valley)
Noteworthy: A very good variety of athletes from these areas will play at excessive educational faculties, together with Stanford, NYU, Vassar, MIT, Princeton and Harvard. Many prepare with the Bay to Bay and Mountain View golf equipment … Bishop O’Dowd’s Kosty is the son of Stanford males’s coach John Kosty.
Quoteworthy:“I’ve by no means had a staff like I had final 12 months and am excited for the 2024 season as a result of all key gamers are returning. With all of the obstacles we maintain overcoming we are able to’t assist however assume that one thing particular should be on the horizon.” — Valley Christan coach Moni Tautu
San Diego
The San Diego CIF Part consists of greater than 100 groups and is loaded with expertise. There are 5 totally different sections in San Diego and 6 excessive faculties might be named CIF champions. Prime groups qualify for the Open CIF part match. Carlsbad, Torrey Pines, La Costa Canyon, Del Norte and Cathedral Catholic would be the heavy favorites to win an open title. All these applications have a number of membership gamers and lots of are dedicated to schools.
Prime applications
1 – Carlsbad
2 — Cathedral Catholic
3 – Del Norte
4 – La Costa Canyon
5 – Torrey Pines
Gamers to look at:
MB — Maddox Brandenburg (La Costa Canyon)
OH — Christian Connell (Torrey Pines)
MB — Alex Engels (Cathedral Catholic)
MB — Roman Payne (Carlsbad)
MB/OPP — Parker Tomkinson (Carlsbad)
Noteworthy: The Better of The West 32-team match takes place in San Diego and the highest groups from Orange County, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Northern California, Arizona and San Diego compete are all in it. Not surprisingly, most of the high groups at this match go on to win part and state titles.
Quoteworthy: “There are some high quality groups in San Diego. I count on the standard suspects equivalent to Carlsbad, Del Norte, Cathedral, and Torrey Pines to be the Open contenders. I’m trying ahead to seeing the way it pans out.” — Head Coach Nick Rubacky of Torrey Pines.
“I’m excited going into the season. We now have all however two of our starters from our ’23 CIF Championship staff. There are quite a lot of gifted squads in San Diego and it must be a aggressive season.” — Ryan Enos, Cathedral Catholic.
Southern California Part
The Southern Part is very large and loaded with expertise. Alongside the coast, groups like Corona Del Mar, Huntington, Loyola, Newport, Mira Costa and Redondo might be competing for the Division I CIF title. Within the Inland Empire, Lake Elsinore, Clairmont, and Upland are anticipated to be among the many groups to beat. In 2023 Loyola received CIF, State and completed ranked No. 1 within the in ultimate AVCA rankings.
Prime Packages
1 – Corona Del Mar
2 – Huntington
3 — Loyola
4 – Newport Harbor
5 – Mira Costa
Gamers to look at:
OH – Sean Kelly (Loyola)
OH – Victor Loiola (Mira Costa)
S – Jake Pazanti (Huntington)
S – Trent Taliaferro (J Serra)
OH – Marek Turner (Woodrow Wilson)
Noteworthy: Most of the high NCAA males’s groups are situated on this area in addition to among the high boys membership groups. Mira Costa’s Loiola is the son of Brazilian Olympian and seaside teaching nice Jose Loiola, a UCLA seaside assistant coach.
Quoteworthy: “Yearly is a brand new 12 months and the competitors continues to rise with our sport rising at a speedy tempo. I’m fired as much as begin the season, compete and hopefully carry house one other championship.” — Loyola coach Michael Boehle, the AVCA 2023 Coach of the 12 months.
Colorado
Prime Packages
1 — Cherokee Path
2 — Douglas County
3 — Mountain Vista
4 — Valor Christian
5 — Legend
Gamers to look at
OH – John Clinton (Cherokee Path)
S — Jensen Pascua (Douglas County)
OH — Gabe Repplinger (Valor Christian)
OH — Paxton Wright (Legend)
OH — Shawn Zheng (Heritage)
Noteworthy: Colorado has been a mannequin state on the right way to begin up boys volleyball. That is the fourth 12 months of sport being sanctioned and the primary 12 months of getting two courses (4A and 5A).
Quoteworthy: “With extra and even higher groups in Colorado, state is up for grabs for anybody to win. This 12 months there might be much more upsets, five-set matches and harder regular-season video games.” — Gabriel Repplinger of Valor Christian.
Connecticut
Darien completed 26-0 final 12 months, beating Trumbull to win the state title in a five-set thriller. Darien is led by setter Griffith Crouse and outdoors hitter Thomas Herget.
Prime Packages
1 — Darien
2 — Trumbull
3 — Joel Barlow
4 – Cheshire
5 — Newington
Gamers to look at
OH — Will Allen (Cheshire)
S — Griffith Crouse (Darien)
OH — Alex Llach (Joel Barlow)
OH — Thomas Herget (Darien)
MB — Matti Lilback (Cheshire)
Noteworthy: Connecticut has had sanctioned volleyball for years and the game continues to develop, with a number of new applications this 12 months. The Connecticut Volleyball league was created final 12 months, uniting all the faculties in conferences that don’t have a constant schedule inside their convention. The CIAC sponsors an in-season match every spring.
Quoteworthy: “Alternatives for boys to play volleyball proceed to develop in Connecticut inside highschool and in addition in membership. With the addition of the brand new league in highschool volleyball final 12 months, we noticed quite a lot of modifications within the postseason match {qualifications} and rankings, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how these modifications as schedules re-balance this 12 months. It’s an thrilling time of development and in addition enchancment within the degree of play of boys volleyball in Connecticut. Wanting ahead to this spring season.” — Xavier coach Stefanie G. Reay
Florida
Defending-champion Southwest is available in as the favourite, led by exterior hitter and 2023 state participant of the 12 months Juanmarco Diaz. Final season, Southwest completed 28-2 report and beat Cardinal Gibbons in 4 units within the state ultimate. Winter Park, led by setter. Jacob Little Phillips, will problem.
Prime Packages
1 – King’s Academy
2 – Lake Howell
3 – Timber Creek
4 — Southwest
5 – Winter Park
Gamers to look at
OH – Juanmarco Diaz (Southwest)
OH – JP Candrian (Horizon)
S – Jacob Little Phillips (Winter Park)
S/OPP – Micah Tumas (King’s Academy)
OH – Tyler Windt (Lake Howell)
Noteworthy: Previously couple of years AAU is the place the highest membership groups are enjoying in nationwide tournaments. Orlando is the positioning of the large AAU Boys Membership Championship occasion from late June to early July. All the highest youth volleyball gamers compete in Florida and faculty coaches might be watching.
Quoteworthy: “Florida has produced its truthful quantity of robust collegiate recruits. The previous three years athletes went to Lengthy Seashore, Ohio State, Lewis, Grand Canyon, Stanford and UCLA, simply to call a number of. The 2024 graduating class from Florida will proceed the pattern of manufacturing extremely recruited athletes, with the anticipation of even stronger class graduating in 2025 from Florida.” — George Mason assistant coach Roger Peluso, former national-champion membership coach in Florida
Hawaii
In 2023, Hawaii excessive faculties — Moanalua, ‘Iolani, and Kamehameha Colleges-Kapalama — accounted for 3 of the highest 16 (Gold Bracket) on the 2023 Better of the West Event in San Diego. Hawaii Baptist received the 2023 Seashore Metropolis Invitational in La Jolla, whereas again in Honolulu, Punahou College received its Conflict of the Titans, defeating Mira Costa and Bishop O’Dowd. And,regardless of regular-season losses to Hawaii Baptist Academy, ‘Iolani College, and Kamehameha Colleges-Kapalama, rallied to win one other HHSAA state championship by defeating nationally ranked Moanalua and Kamehameha-Kapalama.
Prime Packages
1 — Kamehameha (Kapalama Campus)
2 — Punahou College
3 — Iolani College
4 — Moanalua HS
5 — College Laboratory College
Gamers to look at
S — Kanalu Akana (Punahou College)
OH — Trey Ambrozich (College Laboratory College)
OH — Koa Laboy (College Laboratory College)
OH — Evan Porter (Punahou College)
OPP — Afatia Thompson (Punahou College)
OPP — Kainoa Wade (Kamehameha Kapalama)
Noteworthy: Hawaii continues to be persistently producing a ton of expertise. Universities throughout the nation are nonetheless making an attempt to attach with this small however gifted island of volleyball gamers. Within the final two Olympics, three of the 12 USA gamers have been from Hawaii … Kainoa Wade is the son of Hawai’i coach Charlie Wade.
Quoteworthy: “Hawaii continues to provide expert and athletic student-athletes with nice aggressive spirit and excessive character. The youngsters are passionate and motivated to be taught, and the coaches all throughout the state are guiding them in any respect ranges to be all they are often. It has high quality studying alternatives and enjoyable experiences for the boys, and it has been completely entertaining for households and followers. I count on extra to come back in 2024.” — Jordan Inafuku, ‘Iolani College
Indiana
In 2023, Indiana boys volleyball surpassed 100 groups because it transitions to be a sanctioned IHSAA sport, a pattern anticipated to develop in 2024. Roncalli Excessive College, which received all of it in 2022, did it once more final 12 months. The Royals graduated 9 key seniors however has a big group able to emerge. Roncalli might be challenged by Cathedral Excessive College, Brebeuf Jesuit, Hamilton Southeastern, and the staff that performed in final 12 months’s title match, Fishers.
Prime Packages
1 — Cathedral
2 — Roncalli
3 –Fishers
4 –Brebeuf Jesuit
5 –Hamilton Southeastern
Gamers to Watch
S — Gavin Hagerty (Fishers)
OH — Ben Hutchinson (Brebeuf Jesuit)
L — Mikey Millikan (Brebeuf Jesuit)
MB — Ryan Peterson (Cathedral)
S — Nick Whitley (Cathedral)
Noteworthy: Starting in 1995 Rhonda Low met with the IHSAA yearly to offer updates on the expansion of boys volleyball to make sure IHSAA knew the group was enjoying by the identical guidelines as the ladies to be absorbed seamlessly. In 2023, the IHSAA board’s vote was unanimous for boys’ volleyball to start rising sport standing in 2023.
Quoteworthy: “After the commencement of many gifted gamers within the 2023 class there’s a gap for a lot of groups to assert a spot within the high 5. With the exponential development and eventual sanction of the game the expertise pool is as deep as ever, which can solely proceed to make each season increasingly aggressive. For me, the staff that can come out on high this 12 months is the one that’s persistently coaching with probably the most depth which pays off dividends once you get to regionals and state.” Brebeuf Jesuit exterior hitter Ben Hutchinson
Illinois
Glenbard West is on the lookout for a three-peat however must maintain off Lyons Township and Marist. The Illinois area is crammed with faculty commits, together with a big quantity on the DI-II degree.
Prime Packages
1 — Glenbrook South
2 — Glenbard West
3 — Lyons Township
4 — Marist
5 — Barrington
Gamers to look at
OH — Cole Hartke (Barrington)
OH — Luka Kostic (Lyons Township)
OH — Jack Mally (Geneva)
S — Christian Teresi (Marist)
S — Kyle Zediker (Saint Francis)
Noteworthy: Chicago continues to be a hotbed within the Midwest. For many years athletes from the Windy Metropolis have gone on to play in NCAA DI-II and within the winter of 2023 Chicago held a membership AAU match that featured over 700 groups.
Quoteworthy: “Illinois is unquestionably not a state to look previous for highschool boys volleyball, with tremendous gifted gamers and a particularly aggressive playoff sequence. We’re a harmful area and the highest groups might undoubtedly compete with these of different areas.” — Whitney Younger’s Marty O’Brien
Kentucky
Kentucky has made nice progress, with about 30 groups enjoying this 12 months and the KHSAA will sponsor a state match in 2025. Historically, the hub of boys highschool volleyball within the state has been in Louisville, due in no small half to the existence of Louisville Fury Volleyball Membership. Saint Xavier has claimed 20 membership state championships for the reason that Nineteen Nineties. Trinity has received nearly yearly that Saint Xavier has not. Saint Xavier received the battle within the 2023 state ultimate.
Prime applications
1 — Saint Xavier
2 — Trinity
3 — Lafayette
4 – DeSales
5 — Henry Clay
Gamers to look at
S — Sammy Debilzan (Lafayette)
OH — Myles McGee (Trinity)
MB — Cooper Thomas (Saint Xavier)
OPP — Gabe Sterlitz (Dunbar)
OH — Tyler Harrington (DeSales)
Noteworthy: The newer applications from the Lexington space are rising quickly, helped partly by the Bluegrass Lightning Volleyball Membership offering a possibility exterior of the highschool season.
Quoteworthy: “Since I began educating 12 years in the past, my college students have requested if they might begin a boys volleyball staff. I at all times laughed and mentioned I’d coach, however who would we play, except you need to drive to Louisville for each sport. Six years in the past, I had my first reputable request when some Lafayette college students requested to begin a staff to have the ability to play Henry Clay and West Jessamine. Since then, the game has exploded with 12 excessive faculties within the Lexington space, 10 in Louisville and small pods in Frankfort, Jap and northern Kentucky. 42 groups have confirmed their participation for the 2024 season, with the hopes of gaining a number of extra as we get nearer to formally beginning our season March 18. There are some nice gamers throughout the state. Because it turns into extra established and we are able to get applications began for youthful age teams, the extent of play and variety of faculties taking part goes to proceed to develop. I’m really excited to have the ability to see it develop from the bottom up within the Lexington space and see the place it goes within the coming years.” — Lafayette coach Matthew Stegman
TUESDAY: Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah
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