ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Luke Allmond

The Olympia boys volleyball team shocked the prep sports community in Central Florida when it upset previously undefeated Dr. Phillips, 3-2 (25-20, 25-18, 11-25, 16-25, 15-13), in the District 4 semifinals April 29 at Bishop Moore. Leading the way for the Titans, who finished their season two nights later in the district championship, was junior Luke Allmond with 15 kills. Allmond is fielding interest from several Division I volleyball programs and will be a key piece for head coach Ashley Schinzing’s team when it returns to the court next spring with heightened expectations.

You guys took the first two sets and set the tone early against Dr. Phillips. How important was that to your success against the Panthers?

The big thing was, our team tends to start out slow. We won the first set and our team morale went up. … We were a lot easier on ourselves and put all the pressure on them.

When they came back to take the next two sets, how did you and your teammates fight off the doubt that you had let a golden opportunity slip away?

Once they won those two sets, I pulled them aside and gave them a good pep talk. I told them, “Guys, we have to do this — we won those first two sets, and I’m not letting us throw this away.” We were down in the fifth set but pulled it out. Our libero (Connor Watson) had four or five aces in a row, and that’s what got us going.

You played well, amassing 15 kills in the biggest win of the season for the team. How rewarding was that? 

That was probably the best feeling I’ve ever got in the game. It was huge — I never thought in a million years we would beat them.

As a team that had its share of ups and downs this spring, how big is it to have this win over an undefeated rival to hang your hat on as you end the season?

Our end goal wasn’t even to win state or districts — it was to go out there and beat DP. … I wanted to be the team that beat them.

The team has several underclassmen who will be returning for the 2016 campaign. What function does this win serve as a momentum-builder going into the offseason?

That was the big talk after the game. Even though we lost to Bishop Moore (in the district final), this is the most momentum we’ve had to end the year. We can definitely win states next year with all this momentum coming with us.

How did you get into volleyball?

My brother, I think he’s five years older than me, he started playing, and I just loved playing with him. My dad was a coach, and I started playing in sixth grade and have loved it since.

What is the best part of rising up for a big kill during a match?

My favorite part is you can tell when you contact the ball really good, and the best feeling is seeing the ball hit the ground.

Do you play any other sports?

I played football until eighth grade, and I’m thinking about playing next year (for Olympia), because it is my senior year, and I might as well try it.

What are you looking to focus on the most during the upcoming club volleyball season?

The big thing is focusing on and working on hitting. I really want to try and get my defense a little better, because I’m a little rusty with that and that would really help.

What’s your favorite subject?

Biology. I love animals, and I just love nature and that kind of stuff. I’ll probably study biology or some type of organic chemistry in college.

What can you see yourself doing for a career?

If biology is my thing, I’ll probably become a wildlife biologist or a marine biologist or a veterinarian. But, if volleyball works out, I might go overseas and play for a little before I come back.

What are you looking forward to the most about the summer?

Club season is a big thing, but just relaxing, really. There’s no more practice every day and school’s ended. I’m really looking forward to relaxing and just playing volleyball.

What’s something about you most people don’t know?

I fish a lot. I probably fish as much as I play volleyball and not a lot of people know that.

What do you like about fishing so much?

Just how quiet it is and relaxing. Volleyball is such a loud sport and intense, so it’s good just to go home and relax and fish all day. 

So what’s your best fishing story?

I was fishing in the Keys one day, and we were offshore fishing. We were 10 or 15 miles out. It was like four or five hours and we didn’t see anything and right as we’re going in we see a huge school (of mahi) … and I caught the bull, and it was like 25, 30 pounds.

What’s your favorite sport to follow?

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) probably. I love watching that — it’s just really intense and fun to watch.

How do you view the rivalry between Olympia and Dr. Phillips?

For me, it’s really friendly because I know Logan (Czyzewski) and Kevin (Rocklein) because I play club with them. School-wise, it’s friendly but at the same time we’re rivals so it’s really intense. Before the game, I’d say, “Hey, Logan,” and after that, it’s strictly business.