6-Foot Venice Boys Volleyball Captain Is a Stand-Up Guy

Senior Xiao Xiong is one of the co-captains of Venice High's boys volleyball team, but he is also a key player in his community. He was also recently nominated for the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year award.

"I started out as a math student there two years ago," Xiong said. My friend Armando Diaz who works there wanted me to be a part of the club. It’s a great honor to be nominated."

Xiong was nominated along with Christopher Rojas and Angelique Paul.  While Rojas ultimately won the award, Xiong received a $500 scholarship as a runner-up.

"It felt amazing just to be nominated because I was only there for two years and there’s a lot of teens there,” Xiong said.

With the ceremony now over, Xiong will focus on the volleyball team's season, which will kick off at home Thursday against Sylmar. As a team captain, Xiong has a lot of work on his hands. Along with leading a team that is down half of its seniors due to injuries and grades, the 6-foot player is also learning a new position.

“I was middle blocker last year, but we graduated two seniors who were both opposite hitters," Xiong said. "I have to play opposite—it’s a lot different. It’s a lot harder than I thought because as a middle blocker all you do is block and hit, but as an opposite you block, hit, pass, set— everything there is it do."

Volleyball coach Allen Hunt says that Xiong is picking the change up quickly and that the team is very lucky to have him as a leader.

“Xiao is very well-rounded. He’s an ideal student: a great athlete, and he volunteers in his community. He has a lot on his shoulders this year, and I think he’s doing a great job of picking up the changes. We will need him this year.”

Xiong understands that he has a tall task on his hands, but he says he is ready to take on the responsibilities of a team that will likely struggle.

“I don’t know how well we are going to do against Palisades," Xiong said. "If we lose a few games, just try to stay positive and talk a lot on the court. We just have to keep our spirits up and not get down on each other.”

Both Hunt and Xiong are eager to finally get on the court, and they will have the chance to do that Thursday when they host Sylmar. The first serve is set for 7 p.m.