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Huntington Beach's T.J. DeFalco is the boys volleyball player of the year.
Huntington Beach’s T.J. DeFalco is the boys volleyball player of the year.
Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

With each chant of “Over-rated” from the Loyola of Los Angeles student section, TJ DeFalco came up with the perfect response.

Over-rated!

Ace.

Over-rated

Kill.

“It is funny when the crowd tries to get under our skin,” DeFalco said. “It only helps us and get us more fired up. It is that sense of, ‘I’m overrated? Let me shoot an ace.’ It gives us that extra edge.”

For the second year in a row, DeFalco led Huntington Beach’s boys volleyball team in kills in its biggest match of the year. He had 26 against Loyola in last year’s Division 1 final, and he terrorized the Cubs again this year.

DeFalco, a junior, recorded 21 kills on 35 attempts (.543) to lead the Oilers to a four-set victory in the final that clinched their second consecutive CIF title.

“On the biggest night, two years in a row, TJ has been the best player in the gym,” Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti said.

For his performance throughout the season, DeFalco has been selected the Register’s Player of the Year.


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“My role really didn’t change for me this year,” DeFalco said. “It was the same as last year – work hard and do the best that you can.”

DeFalco helped lead the Oilers to a 40-0 season. They lost just six sets and extended their string of consecutive matches won to 64.

“With having (setter) Josh (Tuaniga) sit out for 30 days, I didn’t think it (going 40-0) was possible,” DeFalco said. “I’m really thankful for the players (Tanner Woods and Davis Gillett) that stepped into his role and they did a great job. It is wonderful to have a deep team that you can rely on.”

DeFalco, who was a first-team All-County selection last year as a sophomore, started playing volleyball at the age of 10.

“My brother used to play a lot, and as soon I got old and big enough I wanted to play and it turned out that I really loved this sport,” DeFalco said.

Fast forward to last summer, and DeFalco spent time earning the bronze medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships in Portugal. This summer, his schedule includes playing matches in Portugal, possibly China in August and maybe Poland and Korea.

“He has the total package,” Pazanti said. “He’s one of the best passers, servers, defenders and blockers … He just doesn’t jump and hit. He plays the complete game, and that is what sets him apart.”

DeFalco has committed to Long Beach State. His future could be on the beach, but he still has time to figure things out.

With one more high school season left, DeFalco could lead the Oilers to CIF-SS and Southern California Regional championships for a third consecutive year.

“With the team we have assembled, I really think with our team developing this year, that we can hopefully do it again,” he said. “We’re not going to aspire for that right now, we’re just going to finish working on getting better.”

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com