PETERSBURG — The Granby High boys volleyball season did not end as the Comets wanted, but still there was much to celebrate Saturday at Virginia State University.
Granby, playing in the program’s — and a Norfolk school’s — first state title match, was swept by defending champ Glen Allen 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-18) in the Class 5 final.
“I don’t think anybody expected us to be this good,” said senior setter Will Findlay.
Although Granby finished with an identical 25-3 record in 2024, the expectations for this year’s team were somewhat lessened after the graduation of star AJ Angeles and a host of other seniors.
“We lost about one-third of our team after last year,” Findlay said. “We had to find a new setter (to replace Angeles).”
Other players stepped up. Gabe Sol returned to his outside-hitter position, while Andrew Parker (team-leading 10 kills Saturday) stepped up a notch from last season. Adding fellow senior Alijah Lamp to the mix, the trio combined for more than 630 kills, while Findlay finished the season with a team-high 773 assists.
Davis Mendoza, a 5-foot-5 libero, led the state with 472 digs, including 17 in the state championship match.
“Everyone contributed — the starters, the reserves,” said Mendoza, a senior. “It was hard, but we made Norfolk history.”
Glen Allen built a quick lead at 6-2 in the first set and went on to blast Granby 25-15.
The Jaguars led 11-5 in the second set and looked primed to quickly dispose of the Comets. But the Comets rallied to tie the set at 23 before committing back-to-back unforced errors.
Granby kept the score close through the first half of the third set, with the Jaguars taking an 11-9 lead before running off four straight points to extend a lead that would reach eight points.
“I can’t say anything else, but it has been an amazing season and an amazing run,” said Granby coach Michelle Neaves, who has a 70-10 record as the Comets’ boys coach over three seasons.
Added Findlay, “We were down, but we fought through. This team showed heart.”
Davis Mendoza of Granby stands with his teammates and holds the runner-up trophy after losing to Glen Allen in the boys volleyball Class 5 state final at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center in Petersburg, Va., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Peter Casey / For The Virginian-Pilot)
