Late coach honored with Clovis East volleyball season that ends in championship

CLOVIS, Calif. (FOX26) — A tragedy can alter lives or take away people we love, but sometimes, sports can fill the void and give us a way to honor a lost loved one.

That was the case for the Clovis East boys’ volleyball team.

“Going from the lowest of the low, to the highest of the high, in one season is probably the most magical thing that I could have experienced,” said Clovis East senior Donavan West.

Marcos Orro was the boys’ volleyball head coach at Clovis East High School for nine seasons.

“Coach Orro recruited me fresh out of elementary school,” remembered West, “so I’ve been around [my teammates] since I touched a volleyball for the first time.”

Orro built a 2-time volleyball champion team and a family atmosphere, even bringing his 22-year-old son Niko aboard the coaching staff.

Marcos told him before the season, “Niko, we’re gonna win it all this year!”

Niko always answered cautiously optimistic, ”I don’t know, we’ll see.”

On his way to practice in early October, Niko received devastating news. His father passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.

[RELATED]Community mourns the unexpected loss of beloved Clovis East coach

The whole team was stunned.

“The death of Coach Orro really affected us a lot,” said Clovis East senior Logan Vang. “He played a big part in all of our lives, not just volleyball, but regular life by asking how we’re doing.”

Niko decided to finish what his dad had started, taking over as head coach.

“It was very tough and hard, but I know that he prepared me to be ready for a moment like this,” Niko said. “It’s been a conversation the whole year about, ‘Hey, let’s do this season for Dad.'”

With heavy hearts, Clovis East rallied together and made it all the way to the Valley championship game, where visiting Buchanan HS took a 2-1 set lead.

Then, the comeback started.

“The whole crowd was screaming ‘Clovis East.’ In the moment, I told myself, ‘Man, this is magic,'” said West.

Whatever magic there was, it worked. Clovis East won the Valley championship in a 5-set thriller, this one 7 months after head coach Marcos Orro passed.

“I was able to do what Dad wanted us to do,” Niko said.

[RELATED] Motivated by late head coach, Clovis East wins boys’ volleyball championship

But even without the title, just playing together helped the team – and Niko – get through the grieving process.

“This gym has always made me feel close to Dad,” Niko said. “After he passed, and when I came back, I saw the serving machine and I saw him standing there, shooting balls in it.

“I’m just glad that we were able to prove him right, and I think a lot of these guys in the program are going to prove Dad right in a lot of different aspects of their lives.”

Clovis East is still competing in the State playoffs.