Here are 12 Greater Columbus high school boys volleyball players to watch in 2024 season
The second boys volleyball season under the Ohio High School Athletic Association may not look like the first for defending Division II state champion DeSales.
The Stallions were hit hard by graduation, with senior Aaron Firmalan as the only returnee who was a regular a year ago. Also, 10-year assistant coach Andrea Navar has succeeded Andy Feltz, who stepped down as head coach after 15 seasons.
DeSales defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 21-25, 27-25, 25-17, 25-22 in the state final.
The Stallions opened the season Wednesday with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-23 loss to Olentangy.
“These kids continue to impress me with each practice,” Navar said. “They committed a lot of their time in the offseason getting physically stronger and building their skills, but it’ll take playing time to truly build on their understanding of the game. It didn’t take them long to buy in to my expectations, so I don’t see why we can’t be part of the Division II state title discussion.”
In Division I, Olentangy Liberty lost 19-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13 to Cincinnati Moeller in the state final last season. The Patriots beat Dublin Jerome 25-13, 25-17, 25-16 in a semifinal.
In the MaxPreps Division I state poll released Thursday, Liberty is fourth, Pickerington North is eighth and Dublin Coffman is 10th. In Division II, St. Charles is second and Watterson is 12th.
Here are 12 central Ohio boys volleyball players to watch this spring:
Aaron Firmalan, DeSales
The 5-foot-9 Firmalan returns with the most experience from a team that went 20-4 last season and won its first state championship. The senior, who has moved from libero to outside hitter, had 204 digs, 21 aces and seven kills last spring.
Parker Gantt, Mount Vernon
The 6-2 senior outside hitter/setter led the Yellow Jackets with 347 kills, 159 digs, 34 blocks and 20 aces a season ago. He was first-team all-region and second-team all-state in Division I. Mount Vernon lost to Liberty 23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-15 in the Region 1 final to finish 15-7.
Mason Heit, Hilliard Darby
The 6-0 senior setter is again expected to be a key contributor for the Panthers. Last season, he registered 811 assists, 120 digs, 38 kills, 36 blocks and 34 aces and was named OCC-Cardinal Player of the Year, first-team all-region and honorable mention all-state in Division I. Darby (20-6, 12-2) shared the league title with Dublin Jerome and Olentangy Berlin. Heit has committed to McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.
Brady Kilgren, Dublin Jerome
A 6-5 senior middle hitter, Kilgren is looking to help lead the Celtics back to the Division I state tournament. Last season, he led Jerome (22-4) in blocks with 56 and added 100 kills. He was second-team all-OCC-Cardinal and honorable mention all-region.
Jack Koesters, St. Charles
A 6-1 senior outside hitter, Koesters was named second-team all-region in Division II after recording 147 digs, 133 kills, 58 assists, 44 aces and 19 blocks. The Cardinals finished 16-9, losing to DeSales 25-20, 25-20, 25-20 in a regional final. St. Charles and DeSales shared the CCL title at 5-1.
Aidan Kolb, Hilliard Darby
Kolb, a 6-0 senior libero, is expected to join forces with Heit in helping to lead the Panthers’ attack. Last season, Kolb recorded 295 digs, 48 assists and 35 aces. He was named first-team all-state and all-region in Division I and first-team all-OCC-Cardinal. Darby lost to Jerome 25-15, 32-30, 25-16 in a regional final.
Ryan Monahan, Hilliard Davidson
A 6-1 junior outside hitter, Monahan was named first-team all-region and honorable mention all-state in Division I last season, along with second-team all-OCC-Central. He recorded 267 kills, 120 digs and 20 aces as Davidson went 9-12.
Andrew Rakocy, New Albany
A 6-5 senior outside hitter and defensive specialist, Rakocy led the Eagles a season ago, earning first-team all-state and all-region honors in Division I and Player of the Year in the OCC-Ohio. He finished with 348 kills, 142 digs, 71 aces, 32 blocks and 14 assists. The Eagles (17-6) went 12-2 in the league, finishing second to Pickerington North.
George Smith, Watterson
A 6-0 junior outside hitter, Smith is a key leader for the Eagles on and off the court, according to coach Keith Kresge. Last season, Smith finished with 222 kills, 151 digs and 51 aces. He was named first-team all-state and all-region in Division II and first-team all-CCL.
Parker Van Horne, Olentangy Berlin
Van Horne, a 5-10 senior setter, recorded 805 assists, 118 digs, 37 aces and 20 blocks a season ago. He was first-team all-region and all-OCC-Cardinal and second-team all-state in Division I as the Bears went 18-7.
Jackson VanWormer, Pickerington North
A 6-6 senior middle hitter, VanWormer helped lead the Panthers (20-4, 13-1) to the OCC-Ohio title a season ago as he totaled 222 kills, 32 aces, 67 digs and 48 blocks. He was first-team all-region and all-league and honorable mention all-state in Division I. He has committed to Thomas More in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
Caden Whiteside, Olentangy Liberty
The 6-5 senior outside hitter was named The Dispatch’s Boys Volleyball Athlete of the Year after leading the Patriots to a Division I state runner-up finish and 24-5 season. It was Liberty’s third consecutive state berth. Whiteside finished with 409 kills, 143 digs, 54 aces and 30 blocks. He was first-team all-state and Player of the Year in Region 1 and the OCC-Central. He has committed to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
@DispatchFrank
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 12 central Ohio boys volleyball players to watch this spring
