Horizon High boys volleyball team has set itself up for a deep playoff run

Since its inception in 2021, the Horizon High boys volleyball team has enjoyed a steady pace of improvement and success.

The Hawks were 8-9 in its first season, second year 17-10, third 23-5 and 19-11 last year. In its five years, the Hawks have tallied two district championships, two Metro West championships and most recently, a regional championship and 6A State Championship Semifinal appearance in 2025. 

This year has been no different. 

Under first-year head coach Kristen Caleo, the Hawks have tallied a 15-3 record, and it all has come to fruition from the group of 15 boys who support each other through every step of the way. 

“These boys are wonderful,” she said. “I love them. They’re all my kids. They’re all my boys. Our seniors are wonderful. They’re great role models for the team. They hold each other accountable. They get the others locked in when they’re goofing off a little bit.”

Stepping into the helm of the program felt natural for Caleo. She was an assistant weightlifting coach and track-and-field coach at Horizon the year prior. 

“My motto is always hire staff around you that’s better than you in certain areas but also hold the same moral and ethical values as you and your philosophy to keep that team chemistry and camaraderie,” she said. 

Despite not coaching volleyball before, she has been around the sport because of her son, James Caleo. She entered the position surrounded by a group of players who already knew the basics — they knew what it took to win. 

Senior outside setter James Caleo is one of the players leading the Hawks to another incredible season. He leads the team with 3.8 kills per set and 17 aces this season. The senior is committed to the University of Mount Olive. 

Fourteen of the 15 players on the roster are upperclassman who helped lead the Hawks to the state semifinals last season. Keeping them has been crucial for the team’s success. Kristen Caleo stepped into a team with the framework set. All she has to do is help encourage them and fine tune their pre-developed skills, which have come through club and high school. 

“I feel really blessed to join something like this, especially since I joined so late, I just feel really blessed,” Joshua Robinson said about joining a successful program. “I thank God for everything because there’s so much I’ve been offered, especially in club.” 

He is one of the newer players to volleyball. The senior middle only has played for two years, but with his 6-foot-6 stature and a group of teammates around him, he naturally fell into the leading blocker role with 25 total.

Aside from the players already understanding how to generate success, they also don’t have a strong ego and all support one another, which can be hard to find in competitive team sports. Kristen Caleo said she and the staff don’t have anyone they have to say, “You’re coming on too strong,” and reel back into the team mindset. 

“They respect me,” she said. “They respect the rest of our staff, my other assistant coach and my managers. They respect everyone, and they play hard for us because of that respect.” 

But the chemistry doesn’t just come from the coaches; it also comes from the players. Their personalities have allowed the coaches to focus on everyone, rather than one particular person. 

“They have their arms wrapped around each other,” Kristen Caleo said. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation.” 

James Caleo and Rafael Melo, senior setter, have been playing together all four years of their volleyball careers. Both players also play club volleyball at Orlando Gold, and they said growing together is what’s allowed them to develop the close bond they have as well as the setter-hitter relationship. 

That strong bond helped the Hawks begin the season 12-0. But on March 25, Lake Brantley proved to be Horizon’s biggest test.

James Caleo said the team should have been more serious before it began the game. The Hawks entered the match with a “we’re too good” mentality, and that’s what led to the Horizon’s first loss.

“It was definitely an emotional game,” he said. “We were all, especially me, I was really upset that game, and I feel like it affected the people around me.”

Going into the game against Lake Brantley undefeated made the players feel like they were invincible, Kristen Caleo said. They also came off Spring Break and were rusty. But James Caleo said it was a good learning experience for the team so they can adjust and take future games more seriously. 

The players are unified in their goal to add another championship title to Horizon’s record books. Their goal is a state title. 

“That’s why we need to remind ourselves one game at a time and just remain focused,” she said. “It really tested who we are as a team and how we’re going to stick together and fight through these tough matches. That’s our goal to keep fighting one game at a time and just getting better and better for that postseason play.”