Philippine volleyball carved out a year to remember, marked by milestones that elevated the sport to new heights.

From the nation’s grand hosting of the FIVB Men’s World Championship to the historic beach volleyball gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, the country showed promise and progress in the years ahead.

Tournaments left and right were staged -- from collegiate leagues done by the V-League and Shakey’s to the Spikers’ Turf -- that somehow showcased how much the sport had gone.

But nothing could beat Alas Pilipinas men’s historic 19th-place performance in the Worlds last September.

Up against the best in the globe, the Nationals defied the odds and finished with a 1-2 win-loss record at the end of the group stage, highlighted by a milestone four-set victory against African champion Egypt.

The Filipino spikers also emerged as the second-best Asian team in the 32-nation tournament, finishing just behind Iran -- the only Asian squad to reach the knockout Round of 16.

Months later, the bronze-medal finish of the Alas Men at the SEA Games, where it escaped Vietnam in five sets in the consolation match, put the icing on the cake.

The feat eclipsed the team’s previous showing in the 2023 edition in Cambodia, where it settled for fifth.

It was also in this year’s SEA Games that the Alas Beach turned heads by ending Thailand’s long reign by capturing the gold medal in the women’s tournament since it became a medal event in 2003.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons opened the finals with a straight-sets win over two-time SEA Games champions Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat before Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez sealed the title in the second match, outlasting their Thai counterparts.

But it wasn’t all roses as Alas Women came a few points short of ending a two-decade medal drought and eventually ended up fourth in the women’s indoor tournament in the said biennial meet.

It was a heartbreaking ending for a team that has formed one of its strongest roster in the history of PH women’s volley.

Of course, the Premier Volleyball League shone brightest among all the local leagues, being the country’s top draw in the sport.

It was the Petro Gazz Angels winning the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conference, and the PLDT High Speed Hitters ruling the PVL On Tour and the Invitational.

The year also marked a change of leadership with Tonyboy Liao being elected as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation after Tonyboy Liao, succeeding Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara just less than a month before the SEA Games.