Moreno inspires Eagles

Southwest boys' volleyball coach Mauricio Diaz said his players felt a bit awkward when he told them how they would have to communicate with their new teammate, Daniel Moreno.

Moreno, a senior 6-3 middle hitter, was born deaf.

''They might have had their doubts as to whether or not he'd be able to play,'' Diaz said.

But on the first day of practice, Moreno let his actions do the talking.

''[Moreno] hit one ball that bounced so hard off the floor, it went halfway up the back wall of the gym,'' Diaz said. 'A couple of my seniors were like, `Wow, this guy's good.' ''

Whether by hand signals or stomping on the court, the Eagles have created what they call their own ''language'' to communicate with their new superstar.

In his first season playing varsity volleyball, Moreno has led Southwest to a 23-2 record and has become one of the top middle hitters in Miami-Dade County.

''I'll usually just read the body language of our setter to be ready to hit the ball,'' Moreno said with the help of his interpreter, Leslie Fernandez-Smith. ``Sometimes I'll feel them stomp their feet to let me know to be ready because the ball is coming my way.''

Moreno communicates off the court with an interpreter or sometimes through text-messaging when hanging out with teammates. Fernandez-Smith, who has known Moreno since he attended Auburndale Elementary school, interprets for him after school.

During a match, she will relay Diaz's instructions from the bench. In a huddle, she will stand with her back to Diaz and sign what he says to Moreno.

''Most of the players have learned some of the alphabet in sign to be able to talk to him without help,'' Fernandez-Smith said. ``One thing we've tried to do is help him vocalize more. It's hard for him since he's been completely deaf since birth.''

Moreno was born in Venezuela and moved to Miami with his parents, Rosie and Larry, when he was 5. His disability has never stopped him from competing in anything from baseball to basketball to fencing.

''Danny got along fine with the other kids always whether if it was in leagues for deaf kids or not,'' Rosie Moreno said. ``I was the one being the overprotective mother worried if he'd fit in. He's never been shy or let it stop him at anything he does.''

In his spare time, Moreno is a member of Boy Scouts Troop 726 of the South Florida Council, which is composed of deaf scouts and a deaf leader. Moreno is working on his Eagle Scout project, collecting hearing aids to help poor deaf people from other countries.

Moreno plans to study electrical or mechanical engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He said he would like to keep playing volleyball, possibly for the USA Deaf Volleyball Association.

''Danny is one of our most emotional leaders,'' senior outside hitter Jonathan Roldan said.

``From the first day, he wanted to learn from the more experienced players, and he's been very outgoing. He'll scream and get emotional during a match like any of us. He's brought a lot of energy to our team.''