All-Tidewater Boys Volleyball Player of the Year: Indian River’s Beckham Rombaoa set the stage for 757 success

CHESAPEAKE — Beckham Rombaoa set the stage for Indian River’s memorable season.

The senior setter expertly ran the Braves’ offense, balancing a deep pool of hitters with a multitude of different sets.

“He’s the smartest guy on the court,” Indian River coach Matt Lawrence said.

Indian River owned the 757, rolling to an undefeated record and the Class 5 Region A championship before bowing out to eventual state runner-up James River in the state quarterfinals.

Rombaoa rose from a setting novice to veteran quarterback of the court in four years, and he is the 2022 All-Tidewater Player of the Year.

“I try to focus on consistency,” Rombaoa said.

Indian River players Beckham Rombaoa (7) blocks a spike from a Grassfield player during a game this season. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)

Indeed, Rombaoa’s setting always was expected among a powerful offense that included Matt Sheppard, Jeremiah Bryant and Kei Nichols. His setting and a Braves win.

Seventeen of their 26 wins came against teams ranked in the 757Teamz Top 15, often by sweep.

“It’s kind of surprising if you look at it on paper,” Rombaoa said, “because not many teams can go undefeated in one season, so it’s a very hard accomplishment for everybody.”

Rombaoa made it look easy, and it started freshman year when Lawrence moved him to setter upon noticing his great hands on the court. After a season in club and a junior season setting for since-graduated hitters Jacob Neff and Titus Blackburn, Rombaoa’s talent exploded and his leadership grew.

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“He’s also leading those guys to be where they need to be and do what they need to do,” Lawrence said.

It made for a machine-like performance most nights.

“We like to mainly focus on control, chemistry and communication on the court,” Rombaoa said.

When Indian River faced its first postseason test in the region semifinals — where the Braves’ season ended prematurely one year ago in an upset — the Braves swept Princess Anne 3-0.

They completed the journey with a five-set win over First Colonial for the region championship, fully exorcising the 2021 disappointment.

“It’s what pushed us,” Rombaoa said, “to get where we are today.”

Ray Nimmo, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com