Already considered Ceres High’s greatest boys volleyball player, senior Christian Murry added to his resume by winning the Western Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player award this spring.

“I deserve this,” Murry said. “I worked hard. I was a good leader.”

Bulldog teammates Ivan Arita (Sr.), Jacob Rodriguez (Jr.), Victor Hurtado (Jr.) and Verlis Smith (Fr.) also earned all-league honors.

Murry, Arita, Rodriguez, Hurtado and Smith helped lead Ceres High to its best season to date in its four-year history.

The Bulldogs amassed a 19-12 overall record, finished second in the WAC standings (9-3) and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the second time in three years.

“Our major goal this year was to get to playoffs,” he said. “We did. Our team chemistry was amazing.”

Murry played three seasons of varsity volleyball at Ceres High.

 “Going back to my freshman year, I didn’t think I’d be this good,” he said. “I exceeded all of my expectations on the court.  I improved so much.”

Murry was voted WAC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.

He garnered first-team all-conference recognition his sophomore year.

Murry collected 248 digs, 164 kills, 37 blocks, 27 aces and 10 assists during his final season with the Bulldogs.

“Playing club volleyball this winter helped me astronomically,” he said. “My IQ jumped through the roof. I just wanted to build my game and put myself in a positon to play in college.”

Arita was named to the WAC First Team for the second year in a row.

He had 109 digs, 52 kills, 32 blocks, five aces and four assists.

Rodriguez received first-team honors.

He had 217 assists, 109 digs, 22 aces, 15 kills and 15 blocks.

Hurtado was a second-team pick.

He had 137 digs, 46 kills, 13 aces, 11 assists and 10 blocks.

Smith was an honorable-mention selection.

He had 50 digs, 37 kills, 30 blocks, seven aces and two assists.

CCC HONORS

Central Valley freshman Yoshi Kumar was selected to the Central California Conference First Team.

Kumar was the Hawks’ best all-round player.

Central Valley posted a 4-8 record against CCC competition.