All-Area boys volleyball: David Specian, Seminole Ridge

Saturday, June 04, 2011
by Zach Buckley

For Seminole Ridge senior setter David Specian, a return trip to the state semifinals was not good enough.

He knew that for the Hawks to reach the sport's pinnacle, he needed to improve off the court.

So he listened to coach Austin Clubb's advice.

"Coach said that leadership was my only downfall, so that's what I tried to work on all year," Specian said.

Specian's numbers at season's end showed how dominant he could be on the court - 758 assists, 128 kills, 97 digs, 54 aces - but Clubb needed him to improve in other areas.

"Demeanor is a big word of mine," Clubb said. "If you start showing weakness, then the other team will smell blood and attack."

When the Hawks lost two of the first three games of the state final against Fort Lauderdale-Archbishop McCarthy, Specian took control.

"Before, if we weren't winning by a certain amount, I would start getting quiet," he said. "My teammates would look to me and to David (Frazee) for leadership."

With his emotions in check, Specian rallied his teammates to the win that capped the Hawks' perfect season (26-0).

"Down two games to one, in the past he would have treated his teammates differently," Clubb said. "This year he brought them together and helped us win."

Specian and Frazee have a chance to create more memories at the next level. They'll be teammates next season at Pfeiffer University, an NCAA Division II school in Misenheimer, N.C.

Specian is confident the Hawks will do well next season.

"They'll get back to state, I have no doubt about that," he said. "I want to go watch them with my (championship) ring on."

FIRST TEAM

Brad Thele

Spanish River

Jr., OH

Team-leading 261 kills, also had 95 digs and 27 blocks.

Wyatt Hamilton

Suncoast

Sr., OH

Powerful hitter had 283 kills to go along with 134 blocks and 134 digs.

Brian Cranston

West Boca Raton

So., OH

One of area's best underclassmen had 309 kills and 119 service points.

Tommy Tyson

Boca Raton

Jr., Setter

Led team with 569 assists and added 119 service points and 101 kills.

Maher Khazem

Spanish River

Jr., MB

Had 160 kills, 85 blocks and 38 digs.

David Frazee

Seminole Ridge, Sr., MB

Powerful finisher had team-leading 284 kills and 73 blocks.

Kent Culp

Dwyer

Jr., Libero

Anchored defense with team-best 579 digs.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Austin Clubb

Seminole Ridge

Despite having four new starters on the court, led Hawks to perfection (26-0) and the program's first state championship.

SECOND TEAM

Connor O'Rourke

Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

Jakub Ciesla

Olympic Heights, Jr.

Ray Collet

Seminole Ridge, Sr.

Johnny Harvill

Wellington, Sr.

Zack Zarranz

Park Vista, Sr.

Rafael Chavez

John I. Leonard, Sr.

John Bosch

Palm Beach Gardens, Sr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Spanish River – Cody Cox, Alex Weiner; Seminole Ridge – Jon Moore; Wellington – Ben Silverman, Rex Kirby; Royal Palm Beach – Ryan Moody; Palm Beach Gardens – Joey Moore; Palm Beach Central – Jake Goldstein; St. Andrew's – Chase Goldbaum; Suncoast – Louis Hedlund; West Boca Raton – Jesse Friesing; John I. Leonard – Fernando Leger, Giovanni Reyes; Dwyer – Tyler Baruch, Neal Sorensen, Merzak Bourouhen; Park Vista – Ed Kosiec, Joe Pelligrino; Boca Raton – Charles Kowanetz; Olympic Heights – Ethan Jaffe.