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Season previews: Elder, Archbishop Hoban picked to win

April 10, 2010

by Jim Jicha

Division I - “Hungry” Elder has the horses 

This season may afford the best chance in years for a team outside the South to win state in Division I. Mount Vernon, Lakota West, Hilliard Darby and Lakewood St. Edward return a lot of talent from teams that pushed last year’s frontrunners hard.

That said, Elder is the team to beat, and not just because a lot of folks say so. The Panthers also possess beaucoup credentials with a tall lineup studded with college recruits. They are “very hungry for a championship” said one rival coach. Memories of last year’s bitter 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 24-26, 13-15 state final loss to Moeller should hone their appetites.

Pacing Elder is Matt Harpenau, a 6’8” middle hitter who served a team-leading 38 aces while contributing 104 blocks and 163 kills. He and 6’7” opposite John Lucas have both committed to Lees McRae College. Third-year varsity starting setter Steven Kent will again run the offense. Also a top notch digger, Kent will play club at the University of Cincinnati. CJ Zureick, a 6’7” outside hitter committed to Mount St. Joseph, is expected to recover from a hand injury by early April. Coming on at outside is junior Matt Moehring.

The Panthers inhabit a tough neighborhood that includes fellow Greater Cincinnati League members St. Xavier, Archbishop Moeller and LaSalle, plus some of the top Greater Miami Conference teams. Only two can reach the state quarterfinals.

St. Xavier, which lost to Elder in a four-game regional, will rely on youth, led by returning juniors Ben Lottman, an outside hitter in his third year on varsity, and setter Matthew Kues. Also back is Matt Devine, a middle hitter who can play any offensive position. Middle hitter Derek Jung, outside Andy Keyes and libero Joe Dahm provide senior experience, and four juniors are competing to replace the irreplaceable Chaz Jennings. Look out for three sophomores: setter/outside Collin Flessner, libero/defensive specialist Brian Shannon, and middle hitter Steven Creevey.

The Bombers opened this season with a successful defense of their St. Charles Classic championship, toppling Elder in the final. The Panthers, however, avenged matters four days later in the teams’ GCL opener.

Moeller lost much of its starting lineup and all of its height to graduation. But the toughest job for head coach Greg Ulland may be replacing longtime assistant coach Dan Meyer. With a stellar cast of jumpers and defenders, the Crusaders will contend with speed, skill and sheer will.

Senior setter/opposite Landen Hunter - a mainstay of consistency in the Crusaders’ balanced attack last year, and at 6’1” the tallest player on the team - is one of two returning starters. Junior libero/defensive specialist AJ Eckhoff, Moeller’s only freshman starter since 2002, recently earned a Junior National Team tryout and is getting college looks. Senior outside/middle John Abeln started early last season before being sidelined with an injury. 

Look our for outside hitter Tucker Skove. A 5’9”starting tailback on the football team who jumps 40 inches and touches 10’7”, he sparked the Crusaders to victory in last year’s Centerville Elite title match with St. Xavier. Last but not least is junior libero/defensive specialist Connor White. He’s the junior varsity libero who, upon being being pressed into action in game two of the state final with Elder, passed 31 balls with a 2.55 average.

Graduation was somewhat kinder to LaSalle, which has a mix of third-year varsity seniors and talented upcoming juniors to lead the quest for what has of late been an elusive state berth. The Lancers will be led by two 6’4” outside hitters, Kirby Johanson, a Gold Team selection in last season’s Buckeye Classic, and Mount St. Joseph recruit Nic Bosch. Other key players include 5'11” junior libero Matt Ketzer, and sophomore outside hitter Luke Eschenbach.

Lakota West is favored to repeat as Greater Miami Conference champs. More on them, and archrival Lakota East, when we cover the West (don’t you just love geography?).

Elsewhere in the GMC, Sycamore graduated ten seniors but retains the 6’3” combination of setter Mike Grannen and middle hitter Alan Kissinger. Grannen, an honorable mention all-Ohio selection, has committed to St. Ambrose University.

Oak Hills will present opponents with a club-experienced lineup that includes two of Cincinnati Attack’s best hitters, senior honorable mention all-Ohio outside Tim Menchen, and junior middle blocker James Luebbe.

Fairfield could surprise some folks with its two senior outside hitting setters, Logan Brooks (Cincy Classics) and Cameron Terrell. Brooks established a school record 527 assists last season, and Terrell contributed a record 275 digs.

Mason will be led by four-year setter Andrew Grage, a field goal kicker who missed half of last season with an ankle injury. His top targets will be outside hitters Jason Zeek and Ben Woycke, and senior middle blocker Ryan O’Shaughnessey. 

That brings us to the West Region, where Lakota West returns a club seasoned core group with ambitions of advancing farther than last year’s quarterfinal in which they were nipped by St. Edward 25-27, 25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 11-15. 

The Firebirds will again be led by Dylan Kembre, a 6’0” outside hitter who was named GMC Player of the Year, West Region Co-Player of the Year, and Honorable Mention all-Ohio. Kembre has committed to Lees McRae. Also back are 6’4” senior middle blocker Chris Stanislovaitis and 6’3” setter/right side Dallas Kaiser.

West will keep a close eye on Beavercreek, whom they defeated in an 18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 33-31 regional nail biter last year. The Beavers have also been on the club trail – their top four players hail from Air City teams that qualified for nationals. Beavercreek is strong in the middle with Spencer Simmons, a 6’2” junior with a 42-inch vertical, and 6’5” Ben McGriff. At outsides are 2009 Most Improved senior Neil Diesslin, and junior Austin Knickerbocker.

With those two, Centerville could be hard pressed to make its twelfth straight trip to state (which it will host on May 29 and 30). The Elks, who defeated St. Ignatius in last year’s quarterfinal before falling to Elder, have an overall record of 493-135 and need but seven wins this season for 500. Graduation hurt, but returning 6’4” senior outside Sam Sheers is getting looks, and 6’3” senior middle Kevin Timperman has committed to Notre Dame. 6’4” junior opposite Johnny Glover and libero Steve Splawinski also return. Coming up are 6’6” senior Michael VanWinkle, junior setter David Riggsby and junior outside Brigham Young recruit Paul "Cougar" Clark. 

Fast rising Lakota East looks to have a say. Leading the way will be Wesley Meyer, a 6’2” middle hitter with a 37-inch vertical. Meyer has played for three Cincinnati Attack teams that qualified for Nationals, and was voted “Best Middle Blocker” at the Ball State Volleyball Camp last summer. He was recently selected for the 2010 OVR High Performance National Team. Also returning for East are two seniors, 6’7” middle blocking specialist Mitch Williams and outside/all-around Austin Weinheimer. 

Moving to the East, Mt. Vernon and Darby reached the quarterfinals last year, and with most of their lineups back should do so again.

Mt. Vernon is the front runner with six seniors off a team that pushed both Elder and Moeller to 24-26 games. Leading the way again will be the left-handed setter/opposite duet of 6’4” first team all-Ohio and Lewis University recruit Carter Cassell, and his 6’1” with hops partner Chris Ingersol. Also back are 6’3” middle Ben Bennett, outsides Ben Miglin and Roger Melick, middle hitter Andre Nixon and junior outside Chris Omahan.

The Yellow Jackets hosted a quad to kick off this season, and after dropping a four-set contest to Moeller, they beat Archbishop Hoban and St. Edward (both of whom beat Moeller).

Hilliard Darby is coming off a bumpy 13-11 ride – all losses were to ranked teams - with a raft of experienced seniors. The Panthers won their division of the OCC, as usual, and fell to Moeller 24-26, 18-25, 20-25 in the state quarterfinal. They were 13th in the final state poll.

Leading Darby will be 6’5” outside/right side Brad Stimson and setter Colin Ingram. The Panthers will attack from all directions with middles Josh Phillips and Brent Runyon and outsides Daniel Huey and Jake East. Greg Carlisle returns at libero. Middle hitter Mason Print and setter Trey Fanfulik provide depth.

Hilliard Davidson will challenge Darby with two of the East Region’s top outside hitters, senior David Carraher, a starting defensive back and wide receiver on the Wildcats’ state champion football team, and 6’4” junior Jordan Zickafoose. Both are excellent passers, and with senior Michael Mikola at libero the ball control will be solid. All three play club for Vanguard, with Zickafoose on the 17-team headed for nationals.

Another team to watch is Pickerington North. Leading the Panthers are junior outside Jesse Fausnaugh, whose 17 Smack Club team won a trip to nationals, and four-year letter winning senior outside Kyle Hoskinson. Other Panthers of note include junior middles Ben Schneider and Sam Lambert, senior setters Michael Mulroy and Steven Gleich, and senior opposite Vasily Shatalov.

Gahanna-Lincoln is a year older and should be back in the thick of things. The Lions will be led by 6'4” senior middle hitter Brett Hollenbach, junior libero/outside Jerry Vo, senior outside Matt Moyer and senior setter Brandon Mason. The four play club for Vanguard, with Vo on 17-national team.

Worthington Kilbourne graduated punch from the team that tied Darby for a share of the OCC crown, and also lost head coach Glynda Rice to retirement. Rice guided Kilbourne to a 348-138 mark that included eight OCC titles and eight regional titles in a career that began with the inception of boys’ volleyball at the school eighteen years ago. 

Leading the Wolves this year are 6’8” outside hitter Colin Hackworth, 6’3” junior middle hitter Connor Peck and senior middle hitter Tim Wilson.

Olentangy Liberty returns several lettermen including senior outside hitters Aaron Capretta and TJ Wagner, 6’3” junior outside/setter Brandon Kready, libero/setter Nick Pecikonis, 6’3”junior middle/outside Stephen Berman, and senior setter/libero Wes Hall. If two 6’6” sophomores come along, the Patriots could turn heads. 

Dublin Coffman may also surprise some folks The Shamrocks will be led by 6’3”senior outside hitter Matt VonSchriltz. Other Rocks of note are senior right side Greg Hoseus, junior libero Matt Collins and senior setter Ryan Parnell.

Westerville North will be led by two Vanguard players who made all-OCC as frosh, junior setter Alex Kirkpatrick and sophomore outside hitter Evan McCoy.

Watch out for Andrew Craine, a 6’6” middle blocker from Upper Arlington who touches 11’2”.

Lakewood St. Edward is favored in the North Region with a balanced offensive attack that returns a good nucleus off the squad that nipped Lakota West 27-25, 19-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-11 in a state quarterfinal before bowing in that incredible 18-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-27, 12-15 semifinal heartbreaker to Moeller. 

Libero Rhett Cash, who so ably forced Moeller to go for the corners, is now a leading digger for nationally ranked Ohio State. But sophomore 6’4” middle blocker Owen McAndrews, a member of the Youth National Team, also played a major role last season and he will only get better. Other returnees are senior outside Andrew Winter, junior outside Mike Powers and senior setter Chris Royer. 

St. Edward defeated Moeller 25-21, 21-25, 26-24, 25-18 in Mt. Vernon’s Quad on March 27.

The second state spot is up for grabs with Brecksville-Broadview-Heights, St. Ignatius and Massillon Jackson the top contenders.

Division II - Archbishop Hoban poised to grab second title in three years

Firepower and a seasoned lineup honed by post season experience could spell another state championship for Archbishop Hoban. The Knights, who won in 2008 and finished runner-up to St. Charles last year, are favored in the North, although Walsh Jesuit has other ideas.

Hoban will be paced by North Region Player of the Year and first team all-Ohio senior setter Willy Veverka. Also back are 6’3” senior middle blocker and Hilbert College recruit Adam Weaver, and junior middle blocker Mikey Sokol. The three are teammates on regional champion 18 Volleyfreak. Hoban started its season impressively with a win over Moeller at the Mt. Vernon Quad.

Walsh Jesuit gave Hoban a four-game tussle in last year's regional final, and the Warriors also return plenty of talent. Topping their roster is senior outside hitter Alex Coundourides, a second team all-Ohio selection who will play club volleyball at Baldwin-Wallace next year. Also back is junior outside Matt Kula. He and Coundourides also play for 18 Volleyfreak. Setting will be senior Jay Swedyk.

Elsewhere in the North, Villa Angela-St. Joseph is on the rise under the tutelage of Mark Royer. He’s guided the girls’ program to two state championships. The Vikings will be led by senior middle hitter Rytas Petraitis and junior setter Tim Frey. 

The South looks to be a tossup between Roger Bacon and Archbishop McNicholas, with Purcell Marian in the role of dark horse.

Roger Bacon fell one step short of the state final last year, dropping a 17-25, 12-25, 25-18, 16-25 semifinal decision to St. Charles. With a very athletic, albeit young, team the Spartans looks good to make another run. Returning at middle blocker is 6’4” senior Matt Westerfeld. The Spartans will go with three sophomores, outside Connor Mouty, middle blocker for the Cincinnati Attack, and setters Josh Wilking and Ben Rose. The latter two will take over for all-Ohio senior setter Jake Rose who was injured during football season. Senior Sean Speed transitions from libero to outside hitter.

Archbishop McNicholas has developed a knack of taking games off Moeller, St. Xavier, LaSalle and Elder. They Rockets were state runner-ups two years ago and, despite a 10-15 record last year, they ended regional runner-up after losing to Roger Bacon 15-25, 23-25, 25-22, 23-25. With that track record and their height, the Rockets could blast all the way to the top. Leading players are 6’7” senior outside James Hofmann, 6’6” senior middles Steven Battaglia and Luke Shropshire, senior libero John Mezger and sophomore setter Justin Hebeler.

Purcell Marian will be paced by two-time all-GCL 6’5” junior outside hitter/setter Sam Holt, whose older brother Max, a former all-Ohio Player of the Year and AVCA All-American two years ago at Penn State, currently plays in Italy and on the USA National Team. Setting for the Cavaliers will be Connor Beerck, another two-time all-GCL selection.

The West may again come down to a battle between Archbishop Alter and Chaminade-Julienne, although both graduated key players. Chaminade nipped the Knights 31-29, 24-26, 25-21, 25-20 in last year’s regional final and took Hoban's Knights to five in the state semifinal.

With but two seniors and two juniors, Alter will be young but very athletic with six club-seasoned players, some of them from Air City national squads. Pacing the Knights’ is 6’4” junior Keaton Pieper, touted as one of the top setters in the state. He’ll have plenty of targets, including senior middle hitter Mark Kroger, 6’3” sophomore middle Chuck Eisenhauer, and outside hitter Alex Morrison.

Chaminade-Julienne will be led by honorable mention all-Ohio libero Christian Volk, senior setter Nick Michel and senior outside hitter Mike Piekenbrock. 

St. Charles and Bishop Watterson are the favorites in the East, with Hilliard Bradley a dark horse. The state champion Cardinals beat Watterson in last year’s regional final en route to the title. 

St. Charles graduated four of its top five. Returning at middle is 6’3” junior middle Andy Sellan, whose Vanguard 17s team took fifth in Gold at Penn State to qualify for nationals. The Cardinals topped Gahanna-Lincoln to finish seventh in the Gold Bracket in the season opening Cardinal Classic on March 27. 

Watterson lost its top hitter, but still has punch left with honorable mention all-Ohio outside/all-around Jack Otte. Senior Erick Nelson will handle the setting. Both play for Vanguard. The Eagles took third in the Silver Bracket at the St. Charles Classic with a win over Cincinnati Sycamore. 

Hilliard now has three high schools, and new kid on the block Bradley is in Division II. The Jaguars have no seniors, but should be well stocked from Hilliard’s great program. Leading a solid core of young talent will be two juniors from last year’s Darby squad. Setter Evan Bell, a defensive specialist/libero for the 17 Vanguard national team, will provide leadership. Outside hitter/defensive specialist Ian Davis plays club for Matchpoint.

Dublin Scioto will challenge with two seniors, middle blocker Mitch Akutsu and outside hitter setter David McLemore. 

Senior outside hitter Kurt Ehlers will lead the way for Dublin Jerome. Other Celtics to watch are defensive specialist Ryan Wheeler and outside hitter Scott Cheesman.