Although there were three really solid boys volleyball teams in Osceola County this past spring, Celebration came away with top honors – winning Orange Belt Conference and another district championship, while claiming both Osceola News-Gazette’s Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors.
The Storm finished the season 21-3 record with their only losses coming to regional semifinalists Tampa Bay HEAT school (twice, once in the regional playoff) and local powerhouse Lake Brantley.
During the season, the Storm went 12-0 against county competition – losing just three of 39 sets in those wins.
Celebration defeated Harmony, St. Cloud and Tohopekaliga to capture the District 11 championship before falling to Tampa Bay HEAT in the regionals. The season led to the News-Gazette naming junior Keith Harrison as its Player of the Year and the Storm’s Pedro Davila its Coach of the Year.
Harrison is joined on the 10-member All-County Team by teammates Darion Graham-Roldhan, Jackson Wilson, and Victor Binet. St. Cloud, which faced Celebration in the district championship game and finished with an 18-8 record placed two players on the ONG All-County team in Jan Sandoval and Skyler Tutor; while Tohopekaliga’s team (12-8) also placed three players on the squad with Eliel Salva, Elijah Foster, and Samuel San Diego. Harmony’s Richy Cortina rounded out the team.
“There’s a lot of talent on that all-star team, there’s no doubt that would be a fun group to coach,” Tohopekaliga’s Eric Capestany said.
Harrison, who edged Salva out for both the Orange Belt Conference and ONG Player of the Year Honors, finished the season with 480 digs. The defensive specialist set the tone all season long as the Storm were not taken to a fifth set in any of their 21 wins.
Graham-Roldan led the Storm in kills (240) and was second in receptions (328); while Binet had 205 total blocks and 26 aces. Wilson, who was voted honorable mention on the All-Orange Belt Conference, was placed on the All-Gazette team based on the recommendations of two highly respected opposing coaches, one of which said “There’s no way Jackson is not one of the top players in the county.” He finished the season with 220 kills and a teamleading 51 aces.
Salva had a great year for the Tigers, recording 198 kills and 34 aces. His teammate Foster gathered a team leading 478 assists; while San Diego had 134 kills for Tohopekaliga – which reached the state tournament as an at-large selection.
Six of the 10 members of the All-ONG team are underclassmen and will return next season.
