Dane Hillis is 6-foot-2. That’s taller than the average person but shorter than the average boys volleyball outside hitter playing in one of Southern California’s top leagues.
Hillis, who was a senior this year at San Clemente, used strategy, drive, determination and a lot of extra training to become the Register’s Orange County boys volleyball player of the year.
San Clemente coach Ken Goldstone, in his fourth decade coaching high school volleyball in Orange County, praised Hillis’ dedication, desire and team-first attitude.
“In all the years I’ve been doing this,” Goldstone said, “Dane might be as hard of a worker as I’ve ever coached. He works on his diet, works in the weight room, works with the trainers, works after practices, watches film, works on jump training after practice.
“Whatever you can do to make yourself better, Dane has done that. He is so involved in making himself a better volleyball player.”
Hillis was a team captain for San Clemente, which finished 11-2 overall and won the South Coast League with an 8-0 league record.
San Clemente was selected to the elite, eight-team CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff bracket. The Tritons lost to eventual finalist Newport Harbor in the first round; their one regular-season loss also was to Newport Harbor.
Hillis’ favorite moments of his senior season were a league win over Tesoro and the playoffs loss to Newport Harbor.
“I really enjoyed our game against Tesoro at their place to clinch league and we swept them (3-0),” Hillis said. “The first CIF game against Newport was great. We lost, but both schools packed the stands and that was amazing.”
Hillis, who had a 4.4 grade-point average his senior year, felt his most important contribution to the Tritons was as a senior leader.
“Communicating with my teammates, cheering on my teammates,” he said. “It’s great when everyone is following their role and we’re running as a cohesive unit. Volleyball is definitely a team sport.”
Hillis was one of 13 players named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team.
This weekend Hillis will play with his Balboa Bay Volleyball Club in a national juniors tournament and he will play on the USA Volleyball U-19 team.
He signed with Long Beach State.
“When it comes to competitive volleyball,” Hillis said, “there’s no better place to be than Long Beach State. I want to continue to play after college and there’s no place better than Long Beach State to get me there, with the success they’ve had in recent years and the chemistry and culture they have there.”
