DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Watch out for the lanky kid with the funny eyes.

Corona del Mar junior middle blocker Dylan Davis might have one brown eye and one blue one, but he can see clearly enough out of both to stop an oncoming volleyball.

Davis can’t remember a time when he wasn’t tall, but his eyes didn’t change until he was five years old. When he was born, they were both blue.

At 6-foot-7, Davis is the tallest player on the Sea Kings’ team. He’s got senior middle blocker Gus Ellis by an inch.

Davis became friends with Ellis after the two started playing volleyball for the Balboa Bay Volleyball Club as seventh-graders. Now, the two are part of a robust blocking tandem that’s become a defining characteristic of Sea Kings volleyball in recent years.

For the past three seasons, CdM Coach Steve Conti has enjoyed the advantage of having two capable athletes at the middle blocker position.

Last season, it was Davis and Ellis. In 2007, Ellis and Scott Slaughter were the powerhouse tandem, and in 2006, Ted and Scott Slaughter alternated at the position.

“I’ve had the luxury the last few years of having two players at that position,” Conti said. “It gives us a nice one-two punch in that position. I think a lot of teams may not have two super strong middle blockers. It may present a matchup problem for other teams. They have to decide who they put their best middle on, whether they put him on Gus or whether they put him on Dylan.”

Davis, an only child, comes from an athletic and slightly quirky family. His father, former New York Jets tight end Wayne Stewart, and his mother, who casually dabbled in horseback riding, both wanted Davis to get some satisfaction from sports. But Davis had trouble finding something that suited him. He was tall enough, but not bulky enough, for basketball. He tried baseball and flag football before settling on volleyball.

Davis is the only one who plays volleyball, but his family encourages individuality. One of his uncles used to be a cheerleader for UCLA.

Now the individuality shows as Davis takes more of a leadership role between teammates Weston Nielsen and Connor Bannan on the front row.

Davis was one of three Sea Kings — Ellis and senior outside hitter/setter Jeff Carlson were the others — named to the Orange County Championships all-tournament team. The trio helped Corona del Mar to the Division I tourney title with a victory over Foothill on Monday night at Edison.

“He’s asserted himself a little more and taken a much larger role in how our offense flows,” said Conti said. “As a sophomore, we had he was able to make some big plays for us at crucial times. He’s a little bit more physical. I think he practices a little bit harder this year. He’s not as quiet. He brings a little bit more energy to the table to get our team fired up.”

Delivering energy has been a priority for Conti and the Sea Kings, who are still searching for one loud, gregarious personality to infect the whole team with energy.

“We’re a pretty quiet team,” Davis said. “We’re even quieter than last year. Conti kept saying last year, ‘This is the quietest team I’ve ever had,’ but this team’s definitely quieter. Nobody talks on this team.”

Last season, when the Sea Kings captured the CIF Southern Section Division II championship, Blaine Nielsen, now a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, was the Sea Kings’ electricity.

So far, Davis said, Ellis has come closest to filling Nielsen’s shoes.

“Other than that,” he said, “We’re still missing a big leader on the team.”

For all his height, Davis doesn’t cut most intimidating figure. He’s got a low voice and an easy-going demeanor. He’s still working out where he wants to attend college. But that’s him.

“He’s got a quiet toughness about him,” Conti said. “And I think he’s really coachable. He looks you right in the eye. There’s the guy that kind of understands what you’re saying and there’s the guy that understands what you’re saying and implements it on the next play. I think Dylan does a pretty good job of that.”

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.