Two Palm Beach County boys volleyball teams to face off in high school state quarterfinals

Park Vista boys volleyball entered the season with just four experienced players, but that hasn’t prevented the Cobras from reaching the state quarterfinals, where they’ll face another Palm Beach County high school in Royal Palm Beach.

The match is set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, the site of Friday's state quarterfinals and Saturday's semifinals and championship match.

While the undefeated Wildcats (13-0) bring a host of talented seniors to the state competition, the Cobras’ (21-7) current roster is a far-cry from the 2019 team that advanced to the state semifinals. 

Last year:After coaching career spanning six decades, Park Vista’s Ira Hubschman calls it quits

Girls volleyball:Palm Beach Post all-county large and small schools teams

Junior Brayden Green, son of coach Erica Green, is the only remaining player from the 2019 squad, as the Cobras relied on former junior varsity players, open tryouts, phone calls to friends and anything in between to piece together this year’s roster.

“We have four kids who have never played volleyball before, and two of them are seniors from the football team,” coach Green said. "They just wanted to try something, and we were just looking to get some kids on the team. That’s kind of how it worked.”

Much of the season’s preparation, usually reserved for building chemistry and tweaking gameplay, was spent on fundamentals, but even those who had never before played began to quickly show promise.  

“The fact that we’re headed to a state quarterfinal game, I’m amazed,” Green said. “It just goes to show the determination of these kids and how hard they’ve worked all season.”  

Change extends to the sidelines as well with Green taking over for longtime coach Ira Hubschman, whose 41-year coaching career in Palm Beach County ended last year when the spring sports season was canceled due to coronavirus pandemic. It wasn't a big transition, though, as Green already coached girls volleyball in the fall.

While the Cobras have shown impressive growth in a season marked by learning, they’ll face one of their toughest tasks yet on a much larger stage when they face the Wildcats.

Royal Palm Beach, led by star hitter Christian Kollar-Dye’s team-high 155 kills, has steamrolled opponents all year long, dropping just four total sets during a COVID-shortened thirteen-game regular season.

"Christian has been super consistent for us," Royal Palm Beach coach Sal Ciano said. "He's a leader for the team. As far as the Brayden and Christian matchup, they know each other, they played against each other, they played with each other. So they're going to come ready to go against each other, and we'll see what happens. It just depends on if the rest of both of our teams step up."

Kollar-Dye also leads the team with 28 blocks and is listed second in team assists with 146 on the season.

“Everybody knows Christian,” Green said. “He’s the big hitter for Royal Palm Beach. He’s probably one of the best hitters in the state of Florida, so obviously that’s something we need to make sure our blockers are aware of — and we need to make sure we know what his tendencies are.”

To counter the Wildcats’ high-powered offense, Park Vista will hope that outside hitter Justin Kelleher will be able to return from an ankle sprain he suffered in the district playoffs.

But either way, much will once again fall on Brayden Green, who leads the Cobras with 210 kills and checks in at second on the squad with 248 assists.

Green played travel ball with Kollar-Dye, first against him in middle school, and then setting for him when they played on the same team.

“I think [Royal Palm Beach] believes the majority or balls are going to go to Brayden, just like we feel the majority of balls are probably going to go to Christian, because they’re the go-to players,” Green said. “But I think that other people on the team are going to need to step up. And what I found with my kids this season is that there are kids stepping up.”  

The state quarterfinal contest will be the first time these two programs have faced each other this year.

Though the teams were initially scheduled to play each during the regular season, coronavirus concerns forced Royal Palm Beach to cancel the contest.

"We're thrilled that the season happened and that we were able to be as talented as we could be," Ciano said. "Not all teams get to that point where they reach the potential that you see as the coach. You know what they could do, and sometimes you don't get to see that unfold. It's been a real joy and a real pleasure to see these kids really comes into their powers and play at the level they've been playing at, which has been so much fun to watch."

FHSAA state quarterfinal

Park Vista vs. Royal Palm Beach

at Archbishop McCarthy High School

3:30 p.m. Friday