DAILY PILOT NEWPORT-MESA BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL DREAM TEAM:

Kyle Caldwell closed out a phenomenal high school career Thursday.

Yet on graduation day, an hour before grad night, Caldwell’s final boys’ volleyball match for Newport Harbor High still ate at him.

“We had to close it out and we didn’t,” said Caldwell, referring to the Sailors winning the first two games and following that up by losing the next three and the CIF Southern Section Division I championship to Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach last month.

“I hope we all learned from that setback.”

There have been other obstacles during Caldwell’s four years as a Sailor. A broken left foot, ankle surgery on his right foot, a broken left middle finger, and a broken right foot.

Through it all, Caldwell battled and excelled.

By the opinion of many experts, Caldwell was the top prep volleyball player in the country.

Locally, that makes him the hands down No. 1 choice to be this year’s Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Boys’ Volleyball Dream Team Player of the Year.

Caldwell proved it in his senior year with his versatility. You rarely see 6-foot-8 setters like Caldwell on the high school level.

A player that tall is usually a big-time outside hitter, or a middle blocker pounding kills.

Caldwell delivered more than that. He controlled the action with his all-around game, finishing with 751 assists, 224 kills, 81 digs, 63 blocks and 63 services aces.

“He really could play anywhere on the court and play superb volleyball,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “We’re going to miss him.”

Caldwell said he already misses Glenn and his teammates. He’s off to college to play for UCLA, the most storied men’s volleyball program in the nation with 19 NCAA championships.

There will be opportunities to win the big prize on the next level. Sure a CIF Southern Section title eluded Caldwell. And it still bothers him, even after leading the Sailors (31-4) to their first section title-match appearance since 2000 and a 10-0 Sunset League championship.

Caldwell has accomplished a lot and garnered a lot of awards, from being named the Orange County Male Athlete of the Year by the Orange County Athletic Directors Assn. to making first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I, earning the Sunset League’s Athlete of the Year after receiving the league’s MVP in volleyball and Co-MVP in basketball. He was also the Newport-Mesa Co-Player of the Year in basketball.

But what are most important to Caldwell are the relationships he formed with teammates and coaches.

“I want to thank everyone for their friendship and support,” Caldwell said. “I’m sad about leaving [Newport Harbor] and at the same time excited. The future looks promising.”

It sure does, even before Caldwell starts his career at UCLA, where he’s considering playing basketball as a walk on.

Caldwell is currently working out with the U.S. men’s junior national team at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, where the Americans are preparing for the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation Under-21 Continental Championships in El Salvador, June 30-July 5.

“It is going to be a great experience,” said Caldwell, who’s joined on the U.S. team by Corona del Mar senior middle blocker Gus Ellis, another Dream Team pick.

Both local players are trying to help the Americans qualify for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball Junior World Championships.

“It’s just a crazy time right now,” said Caldwell, who will play opposite. “I just graduated and grad night will start at 8 p.m. and end at 4 a.m. on Friday, the same day I have to be in Chula Vista for an afternoon [practice] session. It’s going to be fun.”

Here are the rest of the Dream Team members:

GUS ELLIS

Corona del Mar, senior

The Stanford-bound middle blocker led the Sea Kings to an undefeated Pacific Coast League season and the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs. The 6-foot-6 Ellis earned league MVP honors after amassing 237 kills, 73 blocks and 37 digs. Ellis was also one of two players to receive first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II recognition for the Sea Kings (26-7, 8-0 in league). Ellis is a repeat Dream Team selection.

TUCKER PELEUSES

Newport Harbor, senior

The USC-bound opposite helped the Sailors to an undefeated Sunset League season and the CIF Southern Section Division I championship match. The 6-4 Peleuses was first-team All-Sunset League and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I after leading the Sailors (31-4, 10-0 in league) with 328 kills to go with 68 digs and 49 blocks. Peleuses is a repeat Dream Team selection.

MARK LIEBERMANN

Newport Harbor, senior

The UC Santa Barbara-bound outside hitter contributed to the Sailors stellar season, in which they were ranked No. 1 in the country by Student Sports and Rivals.com heading into the CIF Southern Section Division I championship match. The 6-5 Liebermann was first-team All-Sunset League and second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division I by totaling 243 kills, 53 aces, 39 digs and 37 blocks.

JEFF CARLSON

Corona del Mar, senior

The USC-bound outside hitter had the Sea Kings a couple of points away from reaching the CIF Southern Section Division II championship match for the fourth straight year. The 6-2 Carlson, a first-team All-Pacific Coast League and first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II pick, led Corona del Mar with 289 kills and finished with 171 digs, 50 aces and 22 blocks. In the five-game semifinal loss at Santa Barbara, Carlson recorded a match-high 22 kills. Carlson is a repeat Dream Team selection.

BAYLE SMITH

Sage Hill, junior

The outside hitter was named Academy League Co-MVP after guiding the Lightning to their first undefeated league championship season. Smith led Sage Hill (20-10, 10-0 in league) with 192 kills and had 41 aces and 27 blocks. Smith, a first-team All-CIF Southern Section Division V pick, recorded 22 kills in Sage Hill’s five-game loss to Chadwick in the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals. Smith is a repeat Dream Team selection.

MAX VOLZ

Newport Harbor, senior

The Orange Coast College-bound middle blocker fit in nicely on the talented Sailors, who at one point won 21 straight matches. The 6-4 Volz finished with 174 kills, 58 blocks, 31 digs and 21 aces, earning him first-team All-Sunset League and second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II honors.

SPENCER BROWN

Corona del Mar, senior

The 6-0 libero played a big role in the Sea Kings going undefeated in the Pacific Coast League for the second straight year. Brown recorded 256 digs and was first-team All-Pacific Coast League and second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division II.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 996-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.