'We're here to celebrate.' Moeller completes comeback for boys volleyball state title
Olentangy Liberty was just nine points from its first boys volleyball state championship while ending the Moeller Crusaders' dreams of a three-peat.
The Patriots had gone on a three-point run in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state final's fourth set and led 16-8. Moeller head coach Lee Meyer had to burn his final timeout.
"In similar fashion to last year, I said, 'Hey. We're here to celebrate. I can't say anything more now that I haven't said all season. We need to go out and execute and play our game,'" Meyer said. "They looked at each other. We said, 'Do you believe we can do it?' They shook their heads and they went back to the court."
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Back on the court, Will Patterson notched a kill that started a Moeller run to force a fifth set, which the Crusaders won to complete the reverse sweep of Liberty 19-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, 15-13. The state championship was the 11th boys volleyball title in program history, made more impactful that it was the first Division I title awarded under OHSAA sanction.
Similar to how Moeller's semifinal match against Hudson went, the Crusaders opened aggressively but struggled to get attacks to fall into play. The Crusaders had 16 errors to 19 kills through two sets but also struggled with serving after accumulating seven service errors in two sets.
"Just took us a little longer to get locked in," Meyer said. "We watch and scout film for our opponents but we also try to scout ourselves. It is a question of how does a team beat Moeller? One of those is serve aggressively at us and the other is keep the ball alive and allow us to make errors.
"In the first two sets tonight, Liberty forced us into a ton of errors and when the ball was on the court they kept it in play."
After having 19 kills as a team in two sets, Moeller found its groove and had 43 kills in the final three sets that belonged to the Crusaders. Patterson, a senior who was a vital member to each of Moeller's last three titles, had a team-high 21 kills, 16 of which came in the final three sets.
"Will has been playing lights out since our regional final," Meyer said. "I've been tough on that kid because I knew he could be great. I knew he could be one of the greatest."
Patterson ended with four solo blocks and four assists to also lead the Crusaders. Brody Threm followed Patterson with 15 kills and Benjamin Hagerty added nine. Setter Ben Marcum had 52 assists. Freshman libero Tyler Wong had 17 digs to pace Moeller.
Meyer, a former state champion player for Moeller, has led the Crusaders for three seasons and has been a state champion each time. Meyer said every team is different and he has no foolproof system for managing the team, but his players have seen some continued traits.
"I love being coached by Lee," Patterson said. "He's made me a lot better player. He always is positive but also critical at the right times. He always pushes me personally and all the players to be our best. If we're losing, he always believes in us."
Marcum added, "He always has our backs. If we need help, he'll be there. Even if that's not volleyball, it can be normal life. I just think he's always there and gives us what he needs to help us to win."
Moeller's continued success will be contingent on continuing to follow the lead of Meyer and his assistant coaches. That includes celebrating the most recent title, but not dwelling on it.
"I'll say the same thing I've said after every season," Meyer said. "Let's celebrate. Celebrate a remarkable accomplishment, but the 2024 season starts tomorrow."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Moeller tops Liberty in inaugural OHSAA DI boys volleyball tournament
