Boys Volleyball: DeSales Stallions' run ends in state semifinal

Shortly before his team advanced to its first state tournament in six years, DeSales boys volleyball coach Andy Feltz became nostalgic.

“There was a lot of reminiscing, thinking about those other teams,” said Feltz, the only coach in program history dating to its inception in 2009. “My son (Evan) was on two of those teams (in 2013 and 2015), so that was a little emotional, but I was thinking about how much fun it was to have these kids experience that sensation of winning the regional trophy, how good that feels for them.

“The experience of going to state, regardless of whether you win, just being in that group is a special thing, something they’ll carry with them forever.”

After avenging two of its regular-season losses by defeating CCL rival St. Charles in the Division II East Region final, the Stallions played three close games with Hamilton Badin in a state semifinal June 4 at Pickerington Central but lost 25-17, 25-17, 26-24.

DeSales finished 20-5 overall and 4-2 in the league. The Stallions’ other two losses came four days apart in early May, to Division I state tournament qualifiers in Cincinnati Elder (25-20, 25-17, 25-13 on May 7) and Dublin Jerome (25-20, 14-25, 20-25, 25-21, 18-16 on May 3).

Against Badin, junior outside hitter Camren White had 13 kills and eight digs, senior libero Sam Marchio had 11 digs and three assists and junior setter Cameron Hoying finished with 22 assists, three kills and two aces.

The Stallions were ranked second in the final state poll behind Badin, which defeated Dayton Carroll 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 30-28 in the championship match June 5.

DeSales was seeking its first championship after losing in state semifinals in 2013 and 2016 and to Kettering Alter in the 2015 final.

White finished with 217 kills and 74 aces to earn first-team all-region. Senior outside hitter Michael Cavanaugh had 145 kills, junior outside hitter/middle hitter Evan Althouse finished with 129 and classmate Zane Patterson (middle hitter) had 85.

Hoying (541 assists, 142 digs, 43 kills, 50 aces, 55 blocks) was named second-team all-region, and Cavanaugh and Marchio (286 assists) were honorable mention all-region.

Also eligible to return are junior setter Luke Gabrielli (67 kills, 36 aces, 75 assists) and sophomore middle hitter Liam Rice.

“We limited our errors and our serving was really big,” Hoying said. “I’ve never been to state before. Coach Feltz has been here and so has my dad (Kenny, an assistant coach), but the goal was to experience this for myself. I’m proud of this team.”

dpurpura@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekDave

DeSALES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

•Record: 20-5 overall

•CCL standings: St. Charles (6-0), DeSales (4-2), Watterson (2-4), Hartley (0-6)

•Seniors lost: Michael Cavanaugh and Sam Marchio

•Key returnees: Evan Althouse, Luke Gabrielli, Cameron Hoying, Zane Patterson and Camren White

•Postseason: Def. Briggs 25-15, 25-14, 25-20; def. Olentangy Berlin 27-25, 25-20, 25-22; def. St. Charles 25-15, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15; lost to Hamilton Badin 25-17, 25-27, 26-24 in Division II state semifinal

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys Volleyball: DeSales' run ends in state semifinal