Celebration Sweeps St. Cloud to Capture 5th OBC Boys’ Volleyball Title in 7 Years

By: J. Daniel Pearson

Celebration came into 2025 Orange Belt Conference Boys’ Volleyball Tournament as the top seed and certainly played like it, sweeping second-seeded St. Cloud, 25-22, 25-20, 26-24, Friday night at Harmony’s Butler Gymnasium.

It was the Storm’s fifth OBC crown in the last seven years and kept Celebration undefeated this season against county opposition (8-0).

“Although we swept, it wasn’t an easy match,” Celebration head coach Lidvani Pereira-Paiva said. “We made some mistakes –particularly early in the match — but were able to overcome those errors.” It was Celebration’s second win this season over the Bulldogs, having beaten them 3-2 in the season opener.

The match started with both teams appearing unsettled, with each committing numerous service and hitting mistakes. The first set remained close with no more than a couple of points separating the two teams. But with the score tied 16-16, senior captain Daniel Santiago took over. With Santiago serving, Celebration scored five straight points – four on aces – to take a 21-16 lead. St. Cloud’s 4-0 mini-run cut the gap to 21-20, but Celebration regained control and served out the set for a 1-0 lead.

The second set was also close early, with neither team being able to grab a lead bigger than two points. With Celebration leading 14-13, they went on a 9-3 lead run to gain control of the set. Behind the outstanding play of outside hitters Dante Cayaban and Enrique Soto, St. Cloud was able to cut the lead to 23-20. But the rally fell short as the Bulldogs were called for a net violation and Davi Jardim’s nifty pass over the net found a hole for a kill and the Storm had the second set, 25-20.

Both teams played solid volleyball in the third set, as the game went back-and-forth with neither team being able to pull ahead. That changed late in the set as St. Cloud scored five consecutive points – two on aces by Fernando Mendez-Morales – to pull ahead 22-17.

Still the Storm and Santiago would not be denied.

Following a side out that made it 22-19, Santiago served five consecutive points to pull the Storm in front 24-22. His sixth serve went into the net and a St. Cloud kill on the next point tied the game at 24.

But any chance of a St. Cloud comeback quickly evaporated as St. Cloud was called for a net violation on an attack and on the ensuing play, Soto’s big spike sailed wide of the left sideline as Celebration held on for the two-point win.

Santiago finished the game with 11 kills and seven aces to lead the Storm. “Daniel is our team captain and was fantastic tonight,” Pereira-Pavia added. “It just seems whenever we need a lift, he makes big play after big play.”

He was not the only player who came up big for Celebration. William Castillo had 10 kills and couple of aces, Oliver Binet had six kills and an ace and Marius Petrikas five kills, an ace and a block. St. Cloud was led offensively by Soto (18 kills) and Cayaban (11 kills and an ace).

Two weeks remain in the regular season before the start of districts.

2025 Orange Belt Conference Championship

Tournament Results

Round 1

#1 Celebration (Bye)

#2 Harmony def. #7 Liberty, 3-0

#3 St. Cloud def. #6 Gateway, 3-2

#4 Poinciana def. #5 Tohopekaliga, 3-1

Round 2-Semifinals

St. Cloud def. Harmony,3-2

Celebration def. Poinciana 3-2

Consolation Playbacks