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2011 All-County boys volleyball team
2011 boys volleyball player of the year
Zack La Cavera
Mater Dei
Click here to read about La Cavera and his 2011 season.
First team
OH Cody Caldwell, Newport Harbor, senior
Newport Harbor coach Dan Glenn knows volleyball. And he says this about Caldwell: "He's the best I've ever coached." Caldwell makes his third consecutive all-county appearance. He was an option anywhere on the court. The senior did it all for the Sailors this season, tallying 641 kills, 32 aces and 221 digs. He led the Sailors to the Sunset League title and to a berth in the CIF-SS quarterfinals and earned Sunset League MVP honors. He's taking his talents to Loyola of Chicago next year.
Libero Ryan Windisch, Servite, Senior
Passing and defense are first and foremost on a libero's to-do list and that is what Windisch specialized in this season for the Friars. He was the best for Servite this season. Here is how coach Matt Marrujo described him: "He made incredible plays on a nightly basis and it almost became routine." His on-court leadership helped the Friars burst into the county top 10 and into the playoffs for a second consecutive season. "He took the pressure off of younger players and allowed them to grow and excel as the season went on." Marrujo added. Windisch finished with 25 aces and 370 digs.
Setter Taylor Hammnond, Santa Margarita, senior
Hammond was the leader of a senior nucleus that led the Eagles to a second consecutive Trinity League title and a berth in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals. He was the MVP of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, leading the Eagles to the title. He shared league MVP honors with teammate Spencer Buckley. His stat line: 1,257 assists, 35 blocks, 22 aces, 144 digs and 40 kills. He earned third-team all-county honors last season as a junior. Hammond is headed to Penn State next season.
OH Spencer Buckley, Santa Margarita, senior
He stepped into the role as the go-to-guy for the Eagles and didn't disappoint. Buckley (UC Santa Barbara) shared Trinity League MVP honors with Hammond. He finished with 450 kills, 85 blocks, 22 aces, 171 digs and a hitting percentage of .385. He earned all-tournament honors at the Best of the West Invitational and Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and was MVP at the O.C. Championships. Buckley earned honorable mention honors last season.
Opp Robbie McKnight, Laguna Beach, senior
McKnight made the switch from setter to opposite this season and was the Breakers' go-to-guy. He led the Breakers to a CIF-SS Division 2 finals appearance and a third consecutive Southern California Regional title for the Breakers. McKnight had 584 kills, 47 aces, 53 blocks and 178 digs for the Breakers. "We couldn't have done it without him," Laguna Beach coach Lance Stewart said. McKnight tallied 40 kills on two occasions in the playoffs (41 against Beckman and 40 against Valley Christian of Cerritos). He's headed to USC. "I'm going to miss him," Stewart said of McKnight.
MB Spencer Haly, Corona del Mar, senior
There were a lot of interchangeable parts on this year's Sea Kings, but one certainty was the big man in the middle in Haly. Haly (Stanford) capped the season and CdM's seventh CIF title with a 20-kill performance on 27 attempts in the finals against Laguna Beach. He recorded 251 kills and 106 blocks this season for the Sea Kings.
MB John Zappia, Mater Dei, junior
Zappia had the fans chanting "Boom Boom Zap" throughout the Monarchs' run to the CIF-SS Division 1 title. Zappia had an amazing playoff run in the middle hitting on double digits from the second round, Crespi of Encino (11 kills), Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach (15), Westlake (12) and then 11 against Santa Margarita in the finals. He will definitely be a player to watch next season.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Adam Cutrell, Mater Dei
Click here to read about Cutrell and Mater Dei's 2011 season.
ADDITIONAL TEAMS
