Columbus volleyball crushes competition on way to first state championship
For years, the Columbus volleyball team had been building a team that could one day win a state championship.
The Explorers’ core of nine seniors constantly told each other that one day they would raise such a trophy together.
Saturday, May 16, 2026 was that day.
Led by their senior captain Lucas Riva, Columbus dominated Winter Garden Horizon for the better part of three sets on its way to a 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 victory in the Class 3A state championship at Polk State College in Winter Haven.
The Explorers (27-5) won their first ever state championship in boys’ volleyball and did not drop a set in their two victories this weekend.
“It’s surreal, and it’s been our plan all year,” Columbus coach Daniel Thews said. “Every moment was for this. It’s the drive these kids have. Their backs are against the wall, and they just keep pushing.”
Led by Riva, who had 13 kills, the Explorers cruised in the first two sets.
Columbus needed to tap into its resilience a bit in the third set, however, after Horizon took a brief 18-15 lead and threatened to get back in the match. But the Explorers answered by winning five of the next six points to take a 20-19 lead and secure the title from there.
Riva, who is headed to New York University this fall, delivered the winning kill set off a wild celebration in front of a large contingent of Columbus supporters who made the nearly 4-hour ride up from Miami.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Thews said. “It takes every single guy we have from the top to the bottom. Our principal, our athletic director, all of our coaches, the JV/freshman teams. Our players 1 through 17 all play their part.”
Perez totaled seven kills in the match as did Cole Crep, who appeared to suffer an injury early in the match and had to briefly come out, but later re-entered the game.
Perez also had five aces, four blocks and 10 digs. Marco Blavia had 13 digs and Daniel Ribu had 12. Setter Charlie Friguls had 35 assists. Riva also had eight digs and two aces.
For Riva, in particular, Saturday’s victory was a sweet finish to a long road to recovery and redemption this season.
Riva suffered a major ankle injury in last year’s regional final against longtime rival Southwest Miami. Without him, a promising Columbus season ended in a three-set defeat.
A year later, a healthy Riva led the Explorers to GMAC and district titles, and a regional title last week that was secured by beating Southwest in a rematch.
On Saturday, it was fitting that Riva would be the one to provide Columbus its exclamation point to a comeback season with the winning spike.
“I know how crushed he was last year and how crushed we were for him,” Thews said. “He took the blame for that even though, obviously, it wasn’t his fault. We knew since the beginning of the year what we wanted to do. We talked about staying healthy, and we were fortunate no one got hurt. Everyone took care of what they needed to do.”
