ALL-COUNTY BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM 2023
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Luca Curci, Newport Harbor
Newport Harbor has been excellent in high school boys volleyball for decades.
The Sailors had not won back-to-back CIF championships until this year when they captured the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title for the second season in a row.
Newport Harbor senior outside hitter Luca Curci was a major reason for that, and he has been chosen the Orange County boys volleyball player of the year.
Curci led the Sailors in kills with 495. His hitting percentage – kill attempts that scored points – was 36. Curci contributed 59 blocks, 131 digs and 48 aces.
Curci said the team’s ability to attack in multiple ways was a key to the team’s successful season that included a 36-2 record, an appearance in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I final and winning the Surf League championship with a 6-0 league record.
While best known for his jumping ability and the velocity of his spikes, Curci, the CIF-SS Division 1 player of the year, was a well-rounded player according to Newport Harbor coach Andrew Mabry.
“Luca does a little bit of everything,” Mabry said. “He’s spectacular offensively and great at blocking, but he’s good whether he’s in the front row or the back row. Luca’s a very positive teammate and he has this great ability to raise his game in the biggest moments.”
Curci had a match-high 23 kills when Newport Harbor beat Mira Costa in the final round of CIF-SS Division 1 pool play to secure the Sailors a berth in the Division 1 championship match. In the final, a three-sets sweep of rival Corona del Mar, Curci again was the match leader in kills with 17.
Beyond all of the winning, Curci said his most cherished memory of his senior season will be the relationships with his teammates.
“This team was super-connected,” he said. “I have so many great friends on the team.”
Curci said he at his best not just when his hitting percentage is high in a match, but when all parts of his game are effective.
“When I’m passing well my hitting goes with it,” he said. “Passing is a big part of the game and so is defense, and that opens up the offense.”
Curci is going to UCLA, a natural destination. His father Anthony played volleyball for the Bruins and was a star player for their 1989 NCAA championship team.
“I grew up going to games there,” Curci said, “football and everything else.”
UCLA has a strong tradition in men’s volleyball. The Bruins this year won their 20th NCAA championship in the sport. That’s a lot of winning. Curci is familiar with that.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Pat Eaton, Tesoro
Pat Eaton, who led Tesoro to a second consecutive CIF Southern Section final, is the Orange County boys volleyball coach of the year.
The Titans llost to Upland in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship match. They won the CIF-SS Division 2 title in 2022.
Tesoro finished 21-7 overall and won the South Coast League championship with an 8-0 league record. Two of their losses were to CIF-SD Division 1 champion Newport Harbor.
“Leadership, more than anything else, was our strength,” said Eaton, 36. “It was nice to have 10 seniors. A select group of those seniors have been part of an incredible four-year run in volleyball at our school.”
Eaton played volleyball at Santa Margarita High School and at Irvine Valley College.
“I always wanted to stay around the game,” he said. “Teaching the game is so much fun every single day, but the best part of it is the opportunity to be around these kids, these great kids with great families.”
FIRST TEAM
George Bruening, Corona del Mar, Sr.
Kaumana Carreira, Tesoro, Jr.
Luca Curci, Newport Harbor, Sr. (Player of the Year)
Sterling Foley, Corona del Mar, Jr.
Riggs Guy, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Ryan Graves, Beckman, Sr.
Noah Huang, Beckman, Sr.
Jake Read, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Cole Schobel, Mater Dei, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Shane Aitken, St. Margaret’s, Sr.
Josh Aruya, Mission Viejo, Sr.
Keegan Cook, Tesoro, Sr.
Emerson Evans, Edison, Jr.
Jack Graves, Beckman, Sr.
Liam Phinizy, Huntington Beach, Sr.
Luke Reinkensmeyer, St. Margaret’s, Sr.
Eamon Rigdon, Servite, Jr.
Reed Wainwright, St. Margaret’s, Jr.
THIRD TEAM
Nathan Draper, Tesoro, Sr.
Brogan Glenn, Corona del Mar, So.
Tyler Howard, Canyon, Sr.
Lukas Johnson, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Kellen Larson, Woodbridge, Jr
Luke Morrison, Beckman, So.
Jake Pazanti, Huntington Beach, Jr.
Aidan Powell, Fairmont Prep, Sr.
Trent Taliaferro, JSerra, Jr.
FOURTH TEAM
Christian Anderson, Dana Hills, Sr.
Jack Boschetti, Servite, Sr.
Brett Bruder, Mater Dei, Sr.
Korbin Francisco, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Noah Lee, Beckman, Sr.
Jeremy Li, Mission Viejo, Sr.
Eli McGhee, Mater Dei, Jr.
Keaton Raymond, El Dorado, Jr.
Sam Utu, Orange Lutheran, Fr.