The Republic's All-Arizona high school 2024 boys volleyball team, Coach of the Year
Here is The Republic's All-Arizona high school boys' volleyball team for the 2024 season. The 12 players are finalists for the Boys Volleyball Player of the Year, which will be named during the Arizona High School Sports Awards, presented by Diamond Kitchen and Bath, on June 17 at Arizona Financial Theater. The show is produced in partnership with Western States Home Services.
The Coach of the Year is listed at the end of this list.
All-Arizona boys volleyball team
Connor Oldani, Phoenix Brophy Prep, OH, 6-5, Sr.
He was the heart and soul of the 6A state championship team, leading the state with 543 kills and a hitting percentage of .522. Oldani was named the Premier Region Player of the Year. He has signed with Grand Canyon, which reached the NCAA semifinals this season.
Finn Kearney, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, 6-5, Opposite, Sr.
The Hawaii commit was devastating at the net all season, leading the Eagles to the 6A state final. He amassed 999 kills in his four-year varsity career, rising among the top five boys volleyball players in the country for his class by one publication. He had more than 450 kills this season.
Ryan Louis, Surprise Shadow Ridge, OH, 6-9, Sr.
Exceptional all year, his offensive prowess dictated the flow of the game. The Ball State commit finished with a hitting percentage of .376 and an impressive 149 digs.
Braeden Baker, Sandra Day O'Connor, OH, 6-1, Sr.
Instrumental in his team's success, he had 276 kills with a percentage of .354. He added 29 blocks and 132 digs.
Ben Bray, Gilbert Perry, OH, 6-3, Sr.
He had 456 kills, including 21 in a four-set win over Chandler late in the season. Consistently dominated at the net, he helped the Pumas go 28-15-3, reaching the 6A semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Brophy Prep in three sets. Played in one of the hardest regions (Premier) in the state.
Trevell Jordan, Mesa Desert Ridge, MB, 6-10, Sr.
A towering presence at the net, he didn't let much get past him. He had 210 kills with a hitting percentage of .348. He had 39 total blocks. He has signed with Grand Canyon.
Jaxton Payne, Gilbert Williams Field, MB, 6-7, Sr.
He had 288 kills with a .486 percentage, a dominant presence who led the Black Hawks through the 5A tournament unscathed after a court order against the AIA put them into the tournament. He had 91 blocks on the season.
Carson Collier-Ehrich, Brophy Prep, MB, 6-7, Sr.
Recorded 165 kills on the 6A championship team to go with 66 blocks, a force up front, he made it difficult for opponents to find ways to get the ball through him.
Keagin Christenson, Sandra Day O'Connor, S, 5-10, Sr.
Basically a point guard on the court, he averaged 10 assists a set, totaling 978 on the season. He set up the attack for one of the more dominant teams in the country, leading the Eagles to the 6A championship match against Brophy.
Kaden Wong, Chandler Arizona College Prep, S, 5-10, Jr.
He averaged 9.4 assists a set, surpassing 900 during a 34-5 4A state championship season. In the five-set championship win over Northwest Christian, he had 50 assists and nine digs.
Layton Bluth, Queen Creek Casteel, Libero, 5-10, Jr.
Helped his team go 33-8-1 and reach the 5A final. All over the place defensively, he had 467 digs and 89 kills. He had 47 assists.
Britton Skousen, Gilbert Higley, Libero, 5-6, Jr.
On a 19-win team, he had 375 digs, 31 assists and 445 serve receptions.
Honorable mention
Raymon Armenta, Tucson Sunnyside, S, Jr.; Carlos Tovar Soto, Sunnyside, OH, Sr.; Jack Hubbard, Phoenix Northwest Christian, OH, Sr.; Rey Cid Arellano, Phoenix Alhambra, OH, Sr.; Francisco Zamora, Surprise Valley Vista, L, Sr.; Matthew Osborne, Tucson Sabino, OH, Sr.; Travis Ebner, Williams Field, OH, Sr.; David Clouse, Gilbert Highland, OH, Sr.; Luke Raymond, Williams Field, S, Jr.; Camdon Varney, Casteel, OH, Jr.; Caiden Mott, Vail Cienega, S, So.; Jake Shroder, Cienega, L, Sr.; Joel Prado, Glendale Independence, OH, Sr.; Colby Price, Marana Mountain View, S, Sr.; Zane Gaul, Prescott, OH, Jr.; Max McVickers, Prescott, MH, Jr.; Quentin Bell, Prescott, S, Sr.; Luke Vlcek, Tempe Corona del Sol, OH, Sr.; Alexander Pena, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, OH, Sr.; Jalen Wadleigh, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, OH, Jr.; Jace Carroll, Estrella Foothills, L, Sr.; Michael Winovich, Estrella Foothills, MB, Sr.; Ocean Kuhn, Shadow Ridge, S, Jr.; Everett Larson, Shadow Ridge, OH, Sr.; Jaylen Tolliver, Verrado, MB, Jr.; Zach Doerksen, Verrado, S, Jr.
Coach of the Year
Tony Oldani, Brophy Prep
He led the Broncos to a three-set victory over Sandra Day O'Connor for the 6A state championship, the first since 2006. He's been the head coach of the program for 26 years, racking up a 711-276 record, winning a total of three state titles, the first coming in 2001. He was the assistant coach at Brophy in 1998, when it won state. The 2012 and 2015 teams were state runner-up.
"This team's strength all season has been how close they are, which sounds cliche, but I've never been around a group where the starters and role guys were so invested in each other's success," Oldani said. "These connections were developed in our school's retreat program where many of the seniors attended together as retreatants and then leaders. They bonded in such a special way before the season that our work together was easy in terms of chemistry.
"At the center of this was Connor. He pushed for us to keep all of the seniors as their group was so special. He fought for them, built them up, and kept me in line at times, and in return, they gave all they had to each other. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to (my wife) Renee and my run coaching our sons at Brophy. Older brothers in attendance, Connor with the last swing of his high school career to win a state title against the team we're incredibly close to and respect so much."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Republic's All-Arizona 2024 boys volleyball team, Coach of the Year
