Orenic began his three-month award-winning journey at the end of his sophomore year as a member of the Mustang’s boys volleyball CIF Division 1 runner-up team. Turning his attention to the sand courts, he enjoyed a summer of dominating play and a silver-medal win in the boys U16 division at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Beach Volleyball National Championships, partnering with fellow Mira Costa junior Kevin Inlow.
The AAU acknowledged Orenic’s performance on the beach by naming him its Male Player of the Year. To verify the selection, Orenic teamed with Spencer Buckley, an old friend from Rancho Santa Margarita, and captured the gold medal in the U18 division by defeating the Manhattan Beach team of David Duffy and Ryan Zoppi at the AAU Tour Championships held Sunday in Hermosa Beach.
“It’s been a fun year,” Orenic said. “I was really honored by being named Player of the Year.”
Orenic said he is looking forward to playing in another beach tournament this weekend before turning his attention to the indoor game.
“I’m playing in a CBVA tournament at Will Rogers State Beach,” Orenic said. “I get to play with Andrew Sato, who was the libero on the Youth National Team. That’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Until the Mira Costa’s boys volleyball season begins in the spring, Orenic plans to play for the Southern California Volleyball Club. He feels playing beach volleyball has made him a better all-around player on the indoor court.
“Playing in the sand is such great training to help your jumping game,” Orenic said. “With only two players on the court, your defense has to be spot on, you need to get the ball up and you learn to sacrifice your body. It helps you in every aspect of the game.”
Orenic undoubtedly has September 1 circled on his calendar. Not only is it Mira Costa’s first day of school, but the first day colleges can legally begin contacting high school recruits.
Local players bring home the hardware
The Tour Championships in Hermosa Beach concluded the AAU tour and provided one last chance for local players to showcase their talents and they made the most of the opportunity. Thirty two athletes earned medals including 11 gold-medal winners.
In girls competition, Devon Chang (Manhattan Beach) and partner Cristina Baily (Huntington Beach) defeated Manhattan Beach sisters Jamie and Lea Ungar in the gold-medal match of the U10 division.
Ellie Nolan (Manhattan Beach) and Clare Lenihan (Palos Verdes Estates) captured gold in the U12 age group and in the U14 division, Zana Muno (Hermosa Beach) and Sydney Bast (Upland) placed second ahead of Lan Nguyen (Manhattan Beach) and Alexandra Espinosa (Sunnyvale).
In the U16 division, Dessi Koleva (Torrance) and JoJo Schnable (Seal Beach) took top honors while Emily Newton (Manhattan Beach) and Erika Seto (Redondo Beach) won bronze.
The peninsula team of Allison Lee (Rancho Palos Verdes) and Kenedy McGrath (Palos Verdes Estates) won silver in the U18 competition.
It was a South Bay sweep in the boys U10 division with Sebastian Rodriguez (Hermosa Beach) and Bobby Barkley (Manhattan Beach) defeating the Manhattan Beach team of Leyton McNamara and Dane Johnson in the gold-medal match. Will Campbell (Manhattan Beach) and Matthew Johnson (Manhattan Beach) won bronze.
The Manhattan Beach team of Sam Jones and Roy McFarland won gold in the boys U12 division, beating Rob Mullahey (Manhattan Beach) and Davis Boehle (Westchester). The Redondo Beach tandem of Sebastian Roca and Blaze Byra finished third.
In the U14 age group, Ian Schwan (Manhattan Beach) and Hayden Boehle (Westchester) won gold while the Manhattan Beach team of Bobby Nolan and Billy Kopenhefer took home bronze medals.
Riley Mallon (Manhattan Beach) and Chris Kennedy (Playa del Rey) won the U16 division, besting Michael Mullahey (Manhattan Beach) and Vinny Rios (Torrance).
The AAU’s Female Player of the Year, Tiffany Morales of Redondo Beach, brought home a silver medal from the Junior Olympic Games held in Virginia Beach, VA. She and partner Alexa Strange (San Clemente) were defeated in the gold-medal match by a team from Canada.
Seven local girls won medals at the AAU Summer Classic held at Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades. Erika Seto (Redondo Beach) and Cleya Antes (Carson) won bronze in the girls 16U division.
In the 12U competition, Jessica Seto (Redondo Beach) and Amanda Tsao (Manhattan Beach) captured gold by defeating the silver-medal winning team of Jazlyn Seidel (Manhattan Beach) and Brittany Ungermann (Torrance).
Kyana Morgan (Hermosa Beach) teamed with Cristina Baily (Huntington Beach) to win gold in the 10U division, besting runners-up Ivy Stevens (Manhattan Beach) and Harper Goldfarb (Santa Monica).
At the AAU/VB Rags Best of the Beach Girls 14U tournament held recently at Roxbury Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, Mary Anselmo (Manhattan Beach) and Abril Bustamante (Redondo Beach) finished in second place. Suzannah Muno (Manhattan Beach) and Sydney Bast (Upland) placed third and Elise Zappia (Manhattan Beach) and Jordyn Sanchez (Huntington Beach) took the fourth spot. ER
