Top freshmen to grizzled seniors: Who are Cincinnati's boys volleyball players to watch?
The first season of boys volleyball under the Ohio High School Athletic Association banner was another historic one for programs in Cincinnati. Moeller clinched its third-consecutive state championship in the Division I tournament, McNicholas reached the Division II state semifinals and St. Xavier swept the state's Player and Coach of the Year honors.
Just ahead of another season kicking off in 2024, here are some players to watch, listed in alphabetical order, for the new campaign.
Tyler Ahlers, Mason
Now a senior, Ahlers was first-team All-Greater Miami Conference last season after a team-leading 160 kills and 29 service aces while also contributing 107 digs and 19 blocks.
Aidan Berkemeier, St. Xavier
Berkemeier was the setter for the Bombers in 2023 as they went 19-1 in the regular season, won a solo Greater Catholic League South title and reached the regional finals. Berkemeier was second-team All-GCL South and honorable mention in the region with his 579 assists.
Adam Blair, Lakota West
Lakota West graduated three of its top four attackers from last season, returning Blair and his 124 kills. Blair also brings back his 38 aces and 43 blocks, both of which were second-best for the team last year.
Jordan Brockman, Badin
Brockman enters his final year as a of the Rams after being named first-team All-Ohio, Region 8 Player of the Year and GCL Co-Ed Player of the Year last season. Brockman had 917 assists, 202 digs, 71 kills, 55 aces and 55 blocks last season in 99 sets played.
Will Broughton, Oak Hills
Broughton was a sophomore last year and was one of two Highlanders to get GMC honors. Broughton led the team with his 94 kills and was third with 15 aces.
Gavin Gerhard, McNicholas
McNicholas reached the state semifinals last season on the backs of its super sophomores, including Gerhard. Gerhard’s 309 kills were second in the conference and led his team by 150 kills. He added 212 digs and 34 blocks to get first-team conference and region honors and honorable mention in the Division II state lists.
Tyler Geselbracht, Moeller
Geselbracht helped lead Moeller to its third-straight state title last year as he paced the team with 276 kills and 41 aces while his 46 blocks were second for the Crusaders. Geselbracht had first-team honors in the conference and region with a second-team selection in the state in Division I.
Jordan Gravett, West Clermont
Gravett was a junior setter for the Wolves last season, notching 430 assists to earn a Region 4 honorable mention nod.
Ethan Gundrum, McNicholas
Gundrum was another one of the McNicholas sophomores that led the Rockets to state. Gundrum was honorable mention in Division II and a first-team All-Region selection while being named second-team All-Conference. Gundrum played double duty with 369 assists and 159 kills with 83 aces, 118 digs and 32 blocks.
Harrison Hausfeld, La Salle
Hausfeld was a top hitter in the state last season, being named first-team All-GCL and All-Region with an honorable mention in the state for Division I.
Carson Hill, Lakota East
Hill is one of two returning Thunderhawks to receive first-team All-GMC and second-team All-Region honors last season. The setter had 647 assists in 71 games played for Lakota East last year after having 626 in 83 games as a sophomore in 2022.
Hayden Honchul, Edgewood
Honchul had 161 kills, 41 blocks and 26 aces last season for Edgewood while securing an honorable mention in Region 4.
Brady Jones, St. Xavier
The big middle blocker for the Bombers last season was first-team All-Region 4 and honorable mention All-State after securing 181 kills which was third-best on the powerful St. Xavier team while his 89 blocks led the team.
Carson Jungkunz, Badin
Jungkunz was a freshman last season on a talented Badin squad and ended up earning an honorable mention in the GCL Coed. In 98 games played in his first season, Jungkunz had 276 kills and 211 digs.
Mitchell Kelly, Elder
Elder had four Panthers receive region honors last season with only Kelly returning from that group. The setter was also named second-team All-GCL South.
A.J. Kiser, Fenwick
Kiser was the junior setter for the Falcons last season when he had 722 assists, 81 digs and 40 blocks while being named first-team All-GCL Coed and second-team All-Region 8 in Division II.
Ben Marcum, Moeller
Marcum fed the Crusader offense through their state title run with 809 assists on the year, including 52 in the five-set state championship victory.
Conner Moser, Fairfield
Moser was a second-team pick in the GMC last year with 117 kills, 50 service aces, 73 digs and 14 blocks.
Bradley Patrick, Middletown
Patrick was top three in the GMC last year in blocks (58) and assists (494) while being named to the second team of the conference.
Grant Simer, Lakota East
Simer, along with Hill, is the other returning top honors-getter for Lakota East. As a sophomore last year, Simer’s 251 kills were third in the GMC.
Ben Smith, Walnut Hills
The sophomore played on a talented Walnut Hills team that graduated some top performers from last season. Smith had 285 assists for the Eagles last year, second behind now-graduated Miles DiNardo’s 426 assists.
Jaxson Snell, Taylor
Of the 686 assists accumulated by the growing Taylor program, 599 came from sophomore Jaxson Snell last season. Snell returns for his junior campaign to follow up on the regional honorable mention performance from last season.
Todd Snyder, Fenwick
While five Fenwick Falcons had region honors last year, just Snyder managed a first-team pick. Snyder also was named all-state second team while securing 222 kills and 72 blocks.
Andrew Weigand, Roger Bacon
Weigand was just a freshman last year when he was named first-team All-Region 8 and second-team All-Ohio in Division II. In 64 games played, Weigand led the Spartans with 312 kills and 20 total blocks and his 24 aces were second on the squad.
Luke Weis, Taylor
Weis was one of two Yellowjackets to get second-team All-Region 8 honors last year. As a junior, Weis had 304 kills, pacing the team by 120.
Daniel Westermeyer, Loveland
Westemeyer’s 104 kills were third-best on the team and are the most for a returning Loveland player from last season. The now-senior also had 42 total blocks.
Peter Wilke, Roger Bacon
The 6-foot-4 hitter was honorable mention in Division II last season and second-team All-Region. Wilke’s 226 kills were second for Roger Bacon while his 36 aces led the team.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's boys volleyball players to watch in 2024
