Moeller High School 2006-07 Volleyball Articles

News flash: Moeller has another state contender

By Kyle Burch Community Press Staff Writer

KENWOOD -The Moeller volleyball team is anything but short on state tournament experience.

The Crusaders, coming off a fourth consecutive state championship appearance, returned 12 seniors to the floor.

"It's nice to have that experi-

Moeller volleyball

alumni win natlona' honor

CHRIS YEAGER/COMMUNITY PRESS CONTRIBUTOR ~oeller senior ~atch against

Dan Frank (6) balances as he receives serve in Moeller's Hoban. In the background seniors Lee Meyer (11) and iteve Kaes (1) prepare for the next contact

Two former Moeller volleyball players were awarded with the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association player of the week honor.

Lee Meyer earned the award for the week of March '27. Meyer, a senior at Ball State University, earned the honor after tallying 51 kills, 18 digs and eight blocks in victories over George Mason and University of the Pacific. It was the third lime this season Meyer had been recognized with this award.

Robbie Klein earned the award for the week of March 9. Klein, a sophomore 8\ Ohio State earned lhtl honor after registering 44 kills, 16 digs and four blocks m viclones over Quincy and Penn Stale. It was the second lime this season Klein has been recognized with this award.

ence," head coach Greg Ulland. said.

"Our guys have a lot of expectations this year."

Moeller passed its first tough test of the season with a victory Elder April10.

That win moved the Crusaders record to 7-0 overall and put them in good position heading into the toughest part of the schedule.

It also proved the depth and talent in the Greater Catholic League South Division. "(St. Xavier) has traditionally been our rival," Ulland said.

"But Elder has quickly become a real threat and I believe our rivalry with them is just beginning."

1\vo of the 12 seniors on the Moeller squad have committed to play at the NCAA Division I level next season.

Dan Brandel, who leads the team in kills has committed to Ohio State, while Lee Meyer will continue his career at Ball State.

The other 10 seniors on the Moeller squad include Mike Chandler, Doug Cherry, Stephen Kaes, Brendan Lacey, Dan Frank, Brian Schings, Pat Kanetzke, Ryan Kelsey, Judd Hopkins and James Emrning.

Moeller will have its first match with St. xavier Friday, April20.

program to four state semifinal appearances in five years.

Moeller defeated Akron Hoban in They have also won two oftlie three games April 1'2. last four state championships.

'Hoban was a good opponent Ulland is hoping to get back to They ate a top five team in the north that state level once again. region. The south fegion has domi"I t,hink for me personally it nated the state tournament however, would be a disappointment if we claiming each team in the finals for didn't get back (to the state semifithe past four years. I was pretty nals)," Ulland said. happy with the win~ "I think most of the kids would Moeller leaders against Hoban: be disappointed as well, but honKills: Senior Lee Meyer (8) Blocks: Senior James Emming (3) estly we don't look that far ahead.

Aces: Senior Brian Schings ('2) "Volleyball is all about playing Assists: Junior Vinney Palopoli fast, moving fast and working (31) together. I'm confident in our seniors that we'll do that and that will That will be followed by a sec- lead us to where we want to be." ond matchup with the Bombers at • home 1\.tesday, May l, and a season-ending game at Elder 1\.tesday, May8.

In that time the Crusaders will also compete in the Centerville Invitational Saturday, April28.

They will also be one of 48 teams from across the Midwest to take part in the Ohio Buckeye Classic beginning Saturday, May 5, in Columbus the same weekend as the NCAA Division I volleyball final four.

Ulland, who along with assistant coach Joe Burke were a part of the Cmsaders' first state championship team in 1997, has led the

Moeiiii'"'Hoban

Moeller players earn all-region accolades

ry (Loveland) earned honorable mention all-South region honors.

That group has been in the center of Several Moeller volleyball players a perfect 25-0 season for the Cruwere awarded All-South Region recog- saders. They are the top-ranked team in nition last week for their play in the 2007 the regional tournament which began last week. season.

Senior Lee Meyer (Kings Mills) earned South region player of the year, while fellow seniors Dan Brandel (Landen) earned first-team honors.

Mike Chandler (Milford) earned second-team all South region honors, while Brian Schings (Landen) and Doug Cher-

Moeller wins state volleyball St. X, Indian Hill tennis champs

By Dan Gedney dgedney@enquirer.com

Elder gave Moeller all it could handle, but the Crusaders beat the Panthers in five games t!) claim the Ohio boys' volleyball state champi-. onship Sunday in the raucous gym at Cincinnati State. ..

The Crusaders finished 29-{), becoming the first Moeller team to end the season undefeated and the second in state history.

"It means a lot, I've been searchingforthisforalongtime,"Moeller coach Greg Ulland said. "But ifs really the perfect group of kids, they work so hard."

The Panthers took the first game 25-22, and the Crusaders answered with a 25-19 win in Game 2. Game 3

High schools 5-28-07

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saw numerous momentum swmgs

with the Panthers winning 29-27.

Game 4 was just as tightly contested before Moeller was able to force a fifth game with a 26-24 win.

The Crusaders grabbed their first lead at 8-7 and went on to a 1512victory to claim its third state title in folir years. .. "It means the world to me. All of us wanted to go out there and get it done," Moeller senior outside hitter Lee Meyer said. "To do it, 29-0, five games, best match of my life, best match of their lives, it couldn't get any better than that" The Panthers (21-6) twice took the Crusaders to five games this season.

TEAM TENNIS: St Xavier won its second consecutive Division I state team tournament championship Sunday at the Lakewood Racquet

Club in Lexington.

The Bombers beat Upper Arlington 3-0 in the semifinals and Toledo StJohn's 3-0 in the championship match.

'The team state championship takes seven good players, and thafs what we had," St. Xavier coach Russ King said.

In Division II, Indian Hill captured its second consecutive tour- . nament championship and its fourth in five years. The Braves beat Columbus Academy, ranked No. 2 in the state, 3-2 in the semifinals.

In the championship match, the Braves beat Cleveland University School 3-0 to wrap up the state championship.

Andrew and Devin McCarthy provided solid play in the No. 1and No. 2 singles.

'They played unbelievable today. They were very dominant," Hemingway said.

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Moeller Volleyball Squad Serves Up a Cold Dish

By Chris Yeager Contributing Writer

Yes - a win is a win. But no one has to like it.

Shortly after spanking St. Xavier 3-0 last Tuesday night, no one in the Moeller volleyball locker room felt much like celebrating.

"We didn't play up to our level," explained senior middle and outside hitter James Emming.

"We played well at Centerville and we were trying to avoid a letdown. We set our own bar."

That bar includes a currently undefeated season- 18-0 after the 3-0 (25-19; 25-21; 25-17) skunking of St. X, the defending state champions.

"We didn't earn [the victory]," Moeller head coach Greg Ulland chimed. "We won mostly because of [St. Xavier's] errors. We didn't execute. We didn't play with any energy. We were mediocre."

That assessment certainly brought the Bombers' performance into a defining relief. As

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senior Jack Habig noted, the Bombers have tended to start their matches in first gear this season. They may not be in a position, yet, to overcome the kinds of obstacles they threw up against themselves against the Crusaders, Ohio's current top-ranked team (according to the ohioboysvolleyball.com Web site).

"We make a lot of mistakes," Habig admitted. His memories oflast season's cohesion, the team chemistry of a state champion, are turning bittersweet. "We need to get together as a team."

The match's opening point was a point of example as to how the Bombers have struggled to a 9-8 record after Tuesday's loss.

Derek Kues netted his first serve, putting the Bombers into a 1-0. They wouldn't have a lead on the Crusaders until the third game. Kues would have trouble with his serve all night.

And he wasn't alone.

After Ryan Doll's long serve put Moeller up 7-5 in Game One, the Crusaders began pulling away. At one point, Moeller had a seven-point, 14-7lead on St. X. The Bombers scratched back to a three-point, 17-14 deficit before fading at the end for a 25-19 loss.

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And that established something resembling a pattern for the night's competition. The Bombers were able to gain some steam and craft some effective scoring runs - only to run out of steam. Or lose interest? Or lose confidence?

"I don't know," said Bomber Drew Kurtz when asked about St. X's inability to sustain the momentum it earned at different times in Tuesday's match, the Bombers' second 3-0 loss to Moeller this season.

"I can't put my fmger on it," Kurtz said about the Bombers' court communication. "We make a few plays- then, I don't know."

In Game 2, Moeller punched out another seven-point lead (13-6) only to allow the Bombers to rally. Up till then, the Crusaders had not only made fewer unforced errors and other mistakes, but also had outmuscled the Bombers at the net.

Then Ryan Doll seemed to jump-start X, serving them back to a 14-12 deficit. During this span, the Bombers seemed to find some energy; they mixed up their means of attack, mixing dinks and other off-speed tactics with straight, solid kills.

The game was getting conspicuously competitive when the Bombers fell back then rallied to just a 19-18 trail. Then it was Moeller's tum to tum out some tactics - fmding neat holes in the floor, finessing dinks- and sealing a 25-21 Game 2 win.

The Bombers ran out to a 4-0 lead to begin Game 3 - and they clipped their wings again.

Moeller got up 22-14- the eight-point lead the evening's largest. The match would end with that spread, sealing the 3-0 match with a 25-17 Game 3 win.

"We didn't let their momentum overcome us," said Lee Meyer, a senior outside hitter. He was searching for positives to carryover to the next day's road trip back to Centerville.

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For their part, the Bombers feel they can compete with anyone- they're Ohio's sixthranked team - if they can eliminate the lapses.

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"We came here to win tonight," Habig emphasized.

For their part, the Crusaders grudgingly took a win- but are in no mood at this stage of the season for letdowns. The district tournament looms in a couple of weeks.

"They know what to do," illland said of his top-rated charges. "They should know how to get motivated."

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Competition made first Buckeye Classic successful Thursday, May I 0, 2007

AARON BLANKENSHIP This Week Staff Writer

Pickerington High School Central boys volleyball coach Corrie Feldmann organized the Buckeye Classic with the goal of showcasing and promoting the sport in central Ohio.

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At a glance Below are the finishes of area teams in the Buckeye Classic, which was held last Friday at the Columbus Convention Center and last Saturday at Pickerington Central and Pickerington North:

Regardless of how well they fared in the 48-team event last Friday at the Columbus Convention Center and last Saturday at Pickerington Central and Pickerington North, the participating coaches and players seemed to agree that the goal was accomplished.

BRACKET TWO-- Worthington Kilbourne: Defeated Hilliard Darby 21-25, 25-17; 17-15 to finish third.

Finished 3-0 in pool play; Hilliard Darby: Lost to Worthington Kilbourne 21-25,25-17, 17-15 to finish fourth. Finished 3-0 in pool play; Pickerington North: Lost to Cincinnati St. Xavier 25-18, 25-22 to finish sixth. Finished 3-0 in pool play.

"It was amazing seeing all of these volleyball teams gathered together," Central middle-hitter Ryan Jonard said.

"There were hundreds of fans at the Convention Center, and it was fun playing in front of a bigger crowd, even though they weren't there to cheer for

BRACKET THREE-- Dublin Jerome: Def. Bethleham (Pa.) Freedom 25-22, 25-23 to finish fifth.

Finished 2-1 in pool play; Hilliard Davidson: Def. Doylestown (Pa.) Fox Chapel25-16, 25-18 to finish seventh. Finished 1-2 in pool play.

BRACKET FOUR -- Gahanna: Lost to Louisville (Ky.) St. Xavier 25-16,

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one team. You could see that everyone was having more fun than they would at an average tournament." :Cincinnati MoeUe'i the top'-J:"anked team in the state poll r last week, beat Cincinnati :LaSalle 25-13, 25-17 in the bracket one final to improve to 21-0 overall. The Crusaders, who won state titles in 1997, 1998, 2004 and 2005 and finished second in 2003 and 2006, beat defending New Jersey state champion Metuchen St. Joseph 25-13, 25-17 in a quarterfmal and Centerville 22-25, 25-14, 1510 in a semifinal.

"The competition at this tournament was very strong," tv1oeller coach Greg Ulland said. "Centerville was the best team we played. When they beat us in the first set, it broke a 45-game winning streak that we had go ing."

31-33, 15-13tofinishsecond.

Finished 2-1 in pool play; Westerville North: Def. Beavercreek 25-14, 23-25, 15-9 to finish third.

Finished 1-2 in pool play.

BRACKET FIVE-- St. Charles lost to Cincinnati Sycamore 25-18, 25-20 to finish second. Finished 1-2 in pool play; Dublin Coffman: Def. Fairbom 25-22, 15-25, 15-12 to finish fifth.

Finished 1-2 in pool play: Dublin Scioto: Def. Olentangy Liberty 2513, 25-12 to finish seventh. Finished 1-2 in pool play: Olentangy Liberty: Lost to Dublin Scioto 25-13, 25-12 to finish eighth. Finished 1-2 in pool play.

BRACKET SIX-- Upper Arlington: Def. Pickerington Central25-22, 1625, 15-11 to finish first. Finished 1-2 in pool play: Pickerington Central: Lost to Upper Arlington 25-22, 1625, 15-11 to finish second. Finished 1-2 in pool play; Delaware: Lost to Walsh Jesuit 25-16, 25-22 to finish sixth. Finished 0-3 in pool play; Thomas Worthington: Def. Gahanna Christian 25-16, 25-23 to fin ish seventh. Finished 0-3 in pool play; Gahanna Christian: Lost to Thomas Worthington25-16, 25-23 to finish eighth. Finished 0-3 in pool play.

As they ate in Central's cafeteria after winning the tournament, the Moeller players talked about the significance of finishing ahead of some of the top teams from other states. Defending Illinois state champion Park Ridge Maine South won bracket two, Metuchen St. Joseph finished seventh in bracket one and Pennsylvania state runner-up Doylestown Fox Chapel finished eighth in bracket three.

'',It's nice to know that we can hold our own against some of \the best teams from other states,rr said Moeller senior outsidehitter Dan Brandel, who has made a verbal commitment to Ohio State.

The NCAA men's volleyball championships were held May 3 and last Saturday at St. John Arena, and several college coaches showed up to scout the Buckeye Classic as well.

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"We heard that some college coaches are here, so we all wanted to play well and impress them," Moeller junior middlehitter Mark Shipp. "Playing Division I college volleyball is a big goal for most of us."

Seventeen teams from central Ohio competed in the event, but none performed well enough in pool play to qualify into bracket one. W otihington Kilbourne beat Hilliard Darby 21-25, 25-17, 17-15 in the bracket two consolation fmal to become central Ohio's top finisher.

Metuchen St. Joseph senior middle-hitter Andrew Colon said he was impressed with the level of play of the Ohio teams after his team placed seventh in bracket one.

"I would put teams like Moeller above any of the competition we face back in New Jersey," Colon said. "But it's nice to play better teams because we're hoping that will make us better in time for the state tournament."

Ottawa De LaSalle went 32-11 and placed 1Oth in its providence of Ontario during its season, which ran from September through November, but went 2-1 to place third in bracket three.

"The American teams use a lot more moves, tricks and plays, so they're tough to compete with," outside-hitter Martin Desjardins said. "This is the first time I've been out of my country, so it was cool to see the sights on our bus ride here.

These are bigger crowds and gymnasiums than what we're used to, so it was fun."

Feldmann said the Buckeye Classic was such a success that he's planning on making it an annual event and bringing in 64 teams next year.

"The (Ohio Valley Region ofUSA Volleyball) was extremely generous to allow us to use their courts at the Convention Center, and they've asked us to come back again next year," Feldmann said. "My goal is to bring in bigger and better teams next year."

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