Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Moeller Volleyball Starts Off Season Hot

Crusaders on season-opening six-match winning streak

By Mike Dyer 

The Moeller volleyball team is off to a quick start as the Crusaders have won six consecutive matches to begin its season.

Moeller coach Greg Ulland expects the Greater Catholic League South division to be strong again this season. St. Xavier defeated the Crusaders in the state final last season.

St. Xavier, Elder and Moeller are considered the top teams, according to Ulland.

“This year’s state finals will be played at Cincinnati State, which could make this a very intriguing year locally,” Ulland said.

Moeller plays at Elder at 7 p.m. Tuesday (April 10) and then hosts Akron Hoban at 7 p.m. Thursday (April 12).

“We play at Elder (Tuesday night), which is traditionally a very tough place to play,” Ulland said.

There are 12 seniors on the squad, including Lee Meyer (Ball State), James Emming (Ball State) and Dan Brandel (Ohio State).  

There are several former Moeller players making an impact on the college level, according to Ulland.

Senior outside attacker Nick Meyer, a Moeller graduate, was named NCAA player of the week for Ball State last week.

Meyer was twice GCL player of the year during his career at Moeller.

Sophomore outside hitter Robbie Klein, another Moeller product, has been named Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Conference player of the week three times this season for Ohio State.

In 2004, Klein was first-team all-state, Most Valuable Player in the GCL and of the state championships.