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Orem's Keanu Calles is introduced before the start of a Region 8 boys volleyball match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem boys volleyball coach Bill Sefita, left, smiles during a Region 8 match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Lucky Jennings (31) sets the ball during a Region 8 boys volleyball match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Payson boys volleyball celebrates a point during a Region 8 match against Orem on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Players on the Orem bench celebrate a point during a Region 8 match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson's Kaes Kyle (7) tips the ball over the Orem block of Luke Wolsey (27) and Keanu Calles during a Region 8 boys volleyball match on Tuesday, March 26 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Luke Wolsey, left, takes a swing against Payson during a Region 8 boys volleyball match on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Keanu Calles takes a swing against Payson during a Region 8 boys volleyball match on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Luke Wolsey serves the ball during a Region 8 boys volleyball match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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The Orem boys volleyball team celebrates a point during a Region 8 match against Payson on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Payson's Andrew Nielsen serves the ball during a Region 8 boys volleyball match against Orem on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

❮ ❯

In just three seasons, Bill Sefita built Orem girls volleyball into state champions.

Sefita has the first-year Tigers boys program on a similar path.

Orem pushed its record to 11-2 on Tuesday with a sweep of Payson (25-16, 25-18, 25-19) and moved to 2-0 in 4A Region 8.

“I think it’s the team dynamics, just kind of finding ways that we can get everybody to play on the same level, especially with our attitude,” Sefita said. “So I think that’s going well for us so far. It’s hard because we had to move some of our setters to go hit on the pins, so I think we’re still trying to iron some of that stuff out. I think it’s a work in progress.”

Sefita led the Orem girls to the 2023 4A state title this fall. He said that the boys are more athletic but the girls are stronger in fundamentals.

“With the boys we’re trying to figure out serve-pass first,” Sefita said. “There is such a wide range of talent on the court, some guys who’ve never touched a volleyball or played club. But we have some guys with great volleyball IQ and that’s going to help motivate others to step up to the plate.”

Orem won the Southern Utah Classic early in March and have continued to play well. A strong trio of hitters — senior Keanu Calles, junior Ben Hone and sophomore Luke Wolsey, along with a pair of talented setters in junior Luke Conrad and sophomore Lucky Jennings — gives the Tigers plenty of weapons on offense.

“I like that they are always willing to listen to new ideas,” Sefita said. “We’re asking them to be open minded to the ideas that we’re bringing into this inaugural season. We’re always finding ways to learn together as a team and also as coaches. There are times that we’re a bit airheaded in some ways but we just try to convince them to always stay engaged within every play.”

Orem finished Set 1 on an 8-2 run, getting a trio of aces from Hone to get out to a 22-15 lead. Calles had a powerful kill to get to set point and then finished things off with a nice roll shot at 25-16.

Back-to-back kills from Aaron Nielsen gave the Tigers a 14-9 lead in Set 2. Two kills each from Wolsey and Hone resulted in a 24-18 lead and a hitting error from Payson gave Orem a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Set 3 was tied at 14 when the Tigers outscored the visitors 8-2, getting two block assists and a kill from Calles, for a 22-16 lead on their way to the sweep.

Those who follow volleyball at the college level might know the name “Calles” — Keanu’s father, Les, is a long-time volleyball official. The younger Calles has been exposed to volleyball for most of his life.

“I’ve been around the court a lot,” Keanu Calles said. “It’s fun to be surrounded by amazing players and I’m just trying to be more like them. We have a lot of strong players but it doesn’t work if we don’t play together and have each other’s backs. Starting a program at Orem is really exciting. It’s my senior year and we have a solid team. It’s fun because I’ve never played outside before. I’m usually a setter when I play club.”

Keanu Calles, at 6-foot-4, has already committed to former BYU men’s coach Tom Peterson, who heads up the program at Southern Virginia University.

“Keanu is one of the captains on the team, so we put a lot of pressure on our captains,” Sefita said. Keanu, Ben and Luke, they have that club experience, and hopefully, with some of the experience, they can bring some of that IQ to the game. And I think that’s what’s helping us right now.”

Orem (11-2 overall, 2-0 4A Region 8) will travel to Herriman next Tuesday. Payson (9-9, 0-1) continues Region 8 play on Thursday against Timpanogos.

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