·Defending champs hope to block inconsistency · Chalfo-lfx~
By Mark mchalifoux@communitypress.com
Moeller volleyball
We've got a lot of talent, just not much experience. If we consistently improve we can contend for a state title."
Moeller's· biggest challenge: Head coach: Greg Ulland Replacing the 12 seniors from last Key players: Seniors Vinnie year's undefeated state champion
Palopoli, Andy McKenna, David Richards and Mark Shipp. "Vinnie is' kind of our glue and team leader and the other three kids are big and powerful and provide most of our offense," Ulland said. What to expect: "Blocking and defense, I hope," Ulland said. "If we're any good, that's what it will be.
te~m.
"It's going to be very difficult, not only for the starters but for the guys coming up from JV who are learning how to practice and train," Ulland said. "That's why we are so inconsistent. Finding consistency is our biggest challenge right now." One thing to know about Moeller:
This year's team is ready for the lime- · light. "They've been overshadowed by a strong group of kids who played for the past few years and they are • hungry to step into the spotlight and that's what I like about them," Ulland said. _ Big games: 1\vo games against both Elder and St. Xavier. Centerville will be another tough challenge for : the Crusaders. Moeller also played in . a difficult tournament to start the sea- ~ son. ' ~
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Elde~ spikes St. Xavier . fo~ its 3rd championship·!,. .
By Adam Baum ~ ~ 2.--..o 8 abaum@enquirer.com
Boys' state volleyball
The Elder Panthers won the DiviSenior right-side hitter Tony Bal< sion I boys' volleyball state champi- drick had 13 kills to lead the: . · onship Sunday. Elder. defeated Panthers. ·Senior .teammates Rob~~ Greater Catholic League South rival Malone and Craig Wessels also St. Xavier in a match played at Hil- played well. Malone, a middle hitter,-~ liard Davidson to. win· its third un- had seven kills while Wessels, a set:; sanctioned state championship in ter, had siX kills.· ''· the program's history. Elder was atop the state poll all,~ Elder beat St. Xavier in three season, after lo~ing in the ~tate :finals.:~ games, 25-23, 25-16, 29-27. Both El- last season to Moeller. .::; der and St. Xavier competed in semi"All year we had a bull's-eye on.' :finals matches earlier Sunday, ; El- ·our back," said Tierney; "I just con-·: der beating Hilliard Darby in four stantly reminded the guys to take it' games and St. Xavier beating Wor- one day and one game at a time." ·: thington Kilbourne. It seems the pressure of an unde-~vi Elder had beaten St. Xavier four feated season wasn't enough to deter· > times this season prior to the state Elder from achieving its preseason=~ championship. · goal of a state championship. ;o; "I just asked the team to remem- · Elder's previous two state titles~; ber its goals," said Elder' coach Sean came in 1999 and 2000, and during•A Tierney. "No one ever said they ·that .time Tierney was the head"' wanted to be the second-bestteam in coach of the junior varsity. But it~: state." seemed only a matter of time before.: Although boys' volleyball isn't a.n · coach Tierney got'his own title. Ohio High School Athletic AssociaFor coach 11erriey, the win reso-•· - tion sanctioned sport, Elder still nates on many levels. .: proved its dominance, finishing 29-0 . "It couldn't have been better, and~ and besting the 41 other Division I ·it feels great," Tierney said. "But I'm~ teams that competed in the state most excited for the team, because:, tournament. . ever since last season they made it.,, Elder had to regroup after a hard- their goal to win the state champion-': fought 'semifinal match against Hil- ship. ,, liard Darby. "The semifinals match "Theyputforthallthathardwork.'" was mtense," Tierney said. ''We had and they :finally got their reward, and= to focus and just concentrate on it was greatto be a part of something~~ bringing home that trophy." so special." · --
Moeller volleyball has another solid year By Mark Chalifoux5 ... 2S ..u8yball coach Greg Ulland. mchalifoux@communitypress.com
The Moeller volleyball team had a good season and overcame inexperience and injury problems in the process. "We were met with some adversity and had some challenges, we met some of them and hopefully learned from the ones we didn't." said head vol-
The Crusaders had three different players miss substantial time with injuries, but still had some highlights. A win at St. Xavier and a third-place finish in the Centerville Elite tournament and a No.3 ranking in the state were the positives from the season. "We were tied for second in the league and were No. 3 in
the state," Ulland said. The team was led by Vinnie Palopoli and Mark Shipp, who is going to play at Penn State. Trevor Skove also had a strong year for Moeller. "All of our seniors made significant contributions. They gave great effort and did everything in their power to lead this team," Ulland said. "Next year will be very
important for the program. The junior class is in need of a change in attitude, to be completely frank, and if we don't see it out of them we're going to look to kids beneath them to lead our program. "We've had a tremendous amount of success in the past five years and we're looking to maintain that and I think we have the kids to do it."