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By Kyle Burch Cornrnunity Press Staff Writer

,:-::;'.,._Coming off of consecutive state ·!«~pionships the Moeller Cru1 :~::.S,tiaers boys vollPyball team does' :~~'tlack any confidence or aura as it ~ ~eads into play in the 2006 season. 1 ;~~·:::"However head coach Greg ~ ·· :l;J»~d will have to search for help after the graduation of 11 players 1:IBhl a year ago, and will be trying to' find a way to fend off charges fr~ih deeper teams at St. Xavier and Elder. •-''IBiving the Crusaders a good sta>t at this will be the return of six ¢a"9'ers from last year's squad as well as an influx of talent at the junior class, which helped the junior varsity team go 24-0 a season ago. _,,_.'\Our athleticism is definitely going to be one of our strengths," -iJlli!nd f>aid. "It might take a little lime to get these guys used to pl\!)'iiilg at tha varsity level, hut•l think that we'll be able to come ~.. It .'!'"f/Pnd pretij- quickly." • · Leading the group of returning pJayers from last year is juniors LJ~ Meyer, of Kings Mills, and Danny Brandel, of Loveland. At 6-feet-6-inches, Brandel returns on the front line after •·u~nr'''"'" lSO kills, 27 blocks and "!QllGI!Jlces a year ago. ~mJext to Brandel is the 6-foot-5who returns after post~our·•Ju kills and 32 blocks last sea-

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returning for Moeller is seniors who should con~i&liiiUte mostly on defense, in Jay Ryan Strizak, Jason Riley Crema. possibly the biggest for Ulland heading into nL<C•sP::~snn is how the juniors and seniors who spent last season as role. players will evolve into the lAlfSadcrs go-to-guys. .,,;;That's going to be very interestjpg to see what happens," said Uij~d, about the transition process for those players. ·:we have a lot of guys who the past couple of seasons were able to kind of hide out behind some of our stronger players. Now they are ; the ones who will be asked to step · that role of being the ga-tos."

end a eyDall "I think that we're pretty senior-heavy this year. That being said I think our opportunity to contend for achampionship is pretty good, because alot of teams lost alot to graduation and six of the nine teams in the league have new coaches:'

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DOUG TUCKER PRINCETON COACH

in seniors Chris Holscher and Rob Faulkner and junior Tony Marquardt. Other than those three, Curtis will be trying to find the right mix of players in the rotation to get the program headed in the direction he thinks it is capable of going. "I want to get this program up to the standard of being state championship contenders every year," Curtis said. "With the work ethic and the attitude these guys have I think this is a good start towards that." While Sycamore is coming off its second straight GMC title, the Princeton Vikings volleyball team is trying to accomplish the feat of winning the program's first ever conference title. Head coach Doug Tucker says that he believes that could happen this year with the experience and talent on the Vikings roster. "I think that we're pretty seniorheavy this year," Thcker said. "That being said I think our opportunity to contend for a championship is pretty good, because a lot oftearns lost a lot to graduation and six of the nine teams in the league have new coaches." While the rest of the league may struggle with transition the Vikings come back with five seniors. Only two of those played key roles in last year's 9-10 season, while the program added three seniors who are new to the team but not to the sport. Brothers Drew and Adam Altman return as seniors, and are joined by newcomers, Kevin Niswonger, Mike Cocco and Rob Gerth. "Our seniors are a very talented group of players," Tucker said. "I really think that we can take advantage of some of the younger teams and I believe we have a real shot at winning the GMC" Also expected to play a significant role in the Vikings season are juniors Craig Moran, Dan Finger and John Woedle. The Vikings were scheduled to open up at Edgewood on Tuesday and then are immediately thrust into conference play next week. They also have tough matches against La Salle, Roger Bacon and Purcell Marian on the schedule. kburch@communitypress.com 576-8255

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12,25-13,25-20 Moeller {5-0, GCL-S 2-0) d. Elder (3·2, 1-1) 2025,25-21,21-25.25-18. 15-10 , . ___ 1. I

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Boys' state. volleyball

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St. Xavier sweeps Moeller in final Bombers win first title since 2003 By Debbie Juniewicz Enquirer contributor

WESfERVILLE, Ohio - It was a rematch a year in the making. St. Xavier boys' volleyball coach Bill Ferris remembers the 2005 state tournament, the one in which Moeller sped to a threegame win to capture its second state championship in as many years. "I don't know about the guys, but I've thought about it a lot," Ferris said. As the Cincinnati rivals returned to the court in the final match of the Ohio state championship at Otterbein College Saturday, Ferris and the Bombers were ¡ planning on a long, hard-fought battle. "Before the match, I never would have thought we'd win it in three," Ferris said. "I would have said five for sure." Ferris was never so happy to be wrong. St. Xavier swept Moeller in three games, 25-20, 29-27, 25-22, to capture the title Saturday. The Bombers last won the tournament in 2003. "We had done that to them in the last regular-season game, but it goes back and forth all the time between the two of us," Ferris said

of the three-game sweep. The Crusaders were one of only two losses all season for the 26-2 Bombers. Mer taking the opening game 25-20, the Bombers fought the Crusaders for every point in Game 2. The contest was knotted at 27 when St. Xavier finally posted a pair of points as middle hitter Jack Habig pounded in a kill and setter Drew Kurtz slammed in a game-winning ace. "W"rnning that game was huge for us," Ferris said. "We had been struggling with our serves early in the second game, and I told the guys all they had to¡do was execute." Execution down the stretch was also key in Game 3, as senior outside hitter Brian Kues pounded in three straight Bombers points to put St. Xavier ahead

23-19. The Crusaders closed the gap, but Bombers senior setter Steven Kehoe, Mr. Volleyball 2006, pounded in match point after a kill by outside hitter Ryan Doll set up St. Xavier 24-22. "We've had so many hardfought matches with them," Kehoe said of the rival Crusaders. "Today, we just had what ittook to

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