It’s not Groundhog Day in July, although it may appear that approach with the acquainted faces which might be a part of the 2024 VolleyballMag Boys Excessive Faculty All-American awards.
For Loyola Excessive Faculty of Los Angeles, it’s a doubleheader win, with the Cubs going again to again because the VolleyballMag Boys Excessive Faculty Staff of the Yr and standout outdoors hitter and UCLA-bound Sean Kelly the consensus choose as VolleyballMag.com Boys Excessive Faculty Participant of the Yr.
Our Coach of the Yr honor additionally goes to a well-known face, that of Chicago Marist Excessive Faculty Jordan Vidovic, who wins the honour for the second time on the boys facet since 2019 after main the RedHawks to the Illinois state title towards an especially formidable panorama in what historically is called the second best space for boys volleyball within the nation. Vidovic has now received three VBM highschool coach of the 12 months honors. He additionally was VBM’s women highschool coach of the 12 months in 2017.
For Kelly, his choice for the highest particular person nationwide honor was as near a slam dunk because it comes. The Manhattan Seashore, California, product was dominant for the Cubs, racking up 555 kills in 79 units. He was set 942 instances and hit a staggering .502 (solely 82 errors), whereas additionally amassing 38 whole blocks, 131 digs and 33 service aces. Kelly was good for a median of seven.81 factors per set.
“Sean is the most effective participant to ever to return out of Loyola,” mentioned longtime Cubs coach Michael Boehle, a 1984 alum of the college. “It’s the particular person he’s, the humbleness, the willpower and need. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him within the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He’s a two-time CIF participant of the 12 months, been participant of the 12 months on the nationwide stage, MVP of his division at membership nationals.
“What Sean has achieved, you possibly can’t deny. There have been some unimaginable volleyball gamers which have come via Loyola. Based mostly on what Sean has carried out in his profession at Loyola and out of doors of right here, he would be the finest boys volleyball participant to have come out of this college. He’s an incredible child. What he’s carried out is unimaginable.”
Kelly, certainly, was humbled when advised of Boehle’s glowing remarks.
“I attempt to not examine myself to others, however these are tremendous good phrases,” he mentioned.
What Kelly did need to speak about, nevertheless, was the management position he performed in serving to shepherd the Cubs to a California Interscholastic Federation Southern Part Division I title (first SS title since 2016) and the CIF SoCal Division regional title for a second 12 months in a row.
“Management-wise, I wished to assist the staff transfer ahead,” he defined. “How can we get higher in each a part of the sport and do it collectively? I like being a pacesetter. It’s good to have the ability to assist different guys on the staff get higher.”
Loyola senior outdoors hitter Emmett Martin rated Kelly an A-plus within the management division. “Sean was at all times making an attempt to fireplace the staff up and be a pacesetter on and off the courtroom,” he mentioned. “Our staff revered and valued no matter he mentioned and relied on him to get us via the powerful instances that we wanted to get via to win.”
Loyola senior setter Parker Schloss backed up precisely what Kelly’s stats bore out this season.
“Aside from the truth that Sean constantly hits over the block, he’s good and limits his errors,” he mentioned. “His serve can be an enormous consider successful matches as a result of he helps us go on lengthy serving runs.”
Kelly, who had 27 kills within the SoCal regional title win towards Mira Costa, mentioned he didn’t thoughts being the man with the bull’s-eye on his again this season.
“I really like getting the ball and I really like with the ability to management what I do with it, whether or not there are six fingers in my face or no fingers in my face,” he mentioned. “I really like with the ability to swing.”
Kelly, who additionally posted a 4.3 grade-point common at Loyola, famous his accomplishments and people of his teammates meant much more given the fixed pressure-cooker they performed within the ultra-tough Southern California boys volleyball scene.
“We performed in the most effective area within the nation towards the most effective competitors,” he mentioned. “That makes what we did that rather more particular. We had a whole lot of new guys enjoying. Our middles had been two basketball guys. Everyone stepped up and had a task in us successful.”
When requested how he wish to see his legacy outlined at Loyola, Kelly once more deferred to the staff idea, in addition to the longstanding custom of excellence established on the college.
“I need to be remembered as a staff participant and somebody who helped maintain the custom at Loyola going,” he mentioned. “I would like that custom that has been set to stay with the gamers coming again.”
Wanting again to when he confirmed up at Loyola as a freshman, Kelly mentioned his enchancment has been evening and day.
“I’ve improved exponentially since I used to be a freshman,” he mentioned. “I put a whole lot of work within the health club with getting greater and stronger.”
Boehle had barely stronger phrases to explain his star pupil’s ascension.
“I distinctly bear in mind him as a freshman on the varsity being a deer in headlights, like Bambi,” he mentioned. “He was making an attempt to determine issues out. He accepted his position and stored getting higher and higher and took extra accountability on his shoulders. This 12 months, he was a person amongst boys, and his ceiling remains to be increased. Sean’s not carried out but.”
2024 VolleyballMag Boys HS All-People
FIRST TEAM
Title Ht. Pos. Yr Excessive Faculty
Sterling Foley 6-5 OH Sr. Corona del Mar (Newport Harbor, California)
Riggs Man 6-4 OH Sr. Newport Seashore (California)
Cole Hartke 7-0 OH Sr. Barrington (Illinois)
Sean Kelly 6-7 OH Sr. Loyola (Los Angeles, California)
Victor Loiola 6-3 OH Sr. Mira Costa (Manhattan Seashore, California)
Jake Pazanti 6-0 S Sr. Huntington Seashore (California)
Jacob Little-Phillips 6-1 OH-S Jr. Winter Park (Florida)
Parker Schloss 6-1 S Sr. Loyola (Los Angeles, California)
Christian Teresi 6-4 S Jr. Marist (Chicago, Illinois)
Parker Tomkinson 7-0 OH Sr. Carlsbad (California)
Nathen Toth 6-3 OH Jr. Marist (Chicago, Illinois)
Kainoa Wade 6-9 OH Jr. Kamehameha (Honolulu, Hawai’i)
SECOND TEAM
Title Ht. Pos. Yr. Excessive Faculty
Kaumana Carreira 6-8 MB Sr. Tesoro (Las Flores, California)
Christian Connell 6-5 OH Sr. Torrey Pines (San Diego, California)
Johnny Dykstra 6-1 Lib. Sr. Mira Costa (Manhattan Seashore, California)
Gage Gabriel 6-8 MB Sr. Exeter (Studying, Pennsylvania)
Ben Hutchinson 6-7 OH Sr. Brebeuf Jesuit (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Tyler Johnson 6-2 OH-S Jr. Cypress Bay (Weston, Florida)
Finn Kearney 6-5 OH-RS Sr. O’Connor (Phoenix, Arizona)
Connor Oldani 6-5 OH Sr. Brophy Prep (Phoenix, Arizona)
Hunter Stepanich 6-7 MB Soph. York (Elmhurst, Illinois)
Reed Wainright 6-7 OH Sr. St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano, California)
Ben Winokur 6-2 MB. Sr. Edison (Huntington Seashore, California)
David Wolff 6-8 OH Sr. New Trier (Winnetka, Illinois)
HONORABLE MENTION
Ephraim Abhulime, MB-OH, Sr., LaSalle (Windfall, Rhode Island); Tyler Alden, OH, Sr., Valley Christian (San Jose, California); JP Candrain, OH, Sr.. Horizon (Winter Backyard, Florida); Simon Capps, OH, Jr., Loyola (Los Angeles, California); John Clinton, OH, Sr., Cherokee Path (Aurora, Colorado); Vinny Coello, OH, Sr., Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wisconsin); Jackson Cryst, OH, Jr., Sage Hill (Newport Coast, California); Juanmarco Diaz, OH, Jr., Southwest (Miami, Florida)
William Dryden, OH, Jr., Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California); Timothy Ennis, OH, Sr., Scotch Plain-Fanwood (Scotch Plains, New Jersey); Ambrose Engling, RS-OH, Sr., Middleton (Wisconsin); Ryan Enos, OH, Sr., Cathedral (San Diego, California); Jack Fitterer, S, Sr., Marquette (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); Zach Flynn, RS, Sr., Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California); Ryan Gant, S., Sr., Corona del Mar (Newport Seashore, California); Adam Haidar, MB, Sr., Punahou (Honolulu, Hawai’i); Owen Holowecky, S-RS, Sr., Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, Florida); Brogan Glenn, Lib., Jr., Corona del Mar (Newport Seashore, California); Soren Jepsen, MB-RS, Sr., Olympus (Holladay, Utah); Cooper Keane, OH, Jr., Mira Costa (Manhattan Seashore, California); Ryan Keco, OH, Sr., Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Broadview Heights, Ohio); Stef Kins, DS-Lib., Sr., Loyola (Wilmette, Illinois); Max Regulation, OH, Sr., Midlothian (Virginia); Alex Lillie, MB, Sr., Connetquot (Bohemia, New York); Ryan Louis, OH, Sr., Shadow Ridge (Shock, Arizona); Casey Maas, OH, Sr., Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Illinois); Emmett Martin, OH, Sr., Loyola (Los Angeles, California); Adam Mitti, MB, Sr., Liberty (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania); Kianoush Mohebbi, MB, Sr., Torrey Pines (San Diego, California); Justin Moua, OH, Jr., Clovis (California); Jensen Pascua, RS-S, Jr., Douglas County (Citadel Rock, Colorado); Evan Porter, OH, Sr., Punahou (Honolulu, Hawai’i); David Quinnones, Libero, Sr., Torrey Pines (San Diego, California); Eamon Rigdon, RS, Sr., Servite (Anaheim, California); Tyler Robinson MB, Sr., Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California); Ethan Saint, OH, Sr., Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, California); Jake Schreiner, OH, Sr., Wheaton (Illinois) North; Elan Taylor, OH, Soph., Valley Christian (San Jose, California); Micah Tumas, S, Sr., King’s Academy (West Palm Seashore, Florida); Aidan Weltin, OH, Sr., Glenbard East (Lombard, Illinois); Aidan White, OH, Sr., Fairport (New York); Caden Whiteside, OH, Sr., Olentangy Liberty (Powell, Ohio)
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