Division I State Tournament Recap
St. Xavier Shuts Out St. Ignatius to Earn Division I State Title
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Cincinnati St. Xavier defeated Cleveland St. Ignatius 3-0 (25-10, 25 21, 25-22) Saturday, May 26, at Pam Evans Smith Arena at Wittenberg University, in the OHSAA Boys Volleyball Division I State Championship.
This is St. Xavier’s first OHSAA state title, but the Bombers have won three championships previously and have been runner-up four times. Coach Bill Ferns has been with the team for 22 years and led them to all but one state tournament appearance.
St. Xavier (27-1 record) led in key team statistical categories including kills (43 - 29), assists (42 – 27) and aces (4 – 0). Senior Andrew Berkenmeier registered 18 kills. His twin brother, senior Aiden Berkenmeier, tallied 38 assists.
St. Ignatius sophomore Jack Ragon led the team with nine kills. Another sophomore, Andrew Brobbey, collected 22 assists. This was St. Ignatius’ first OHSAA state finals appearance following a 24-3 season. In school history, St. Ignatius won the 2017 state championship prior to the OHSAA tournament.
Division II State Tournament Recap
Archbishop McNicholas Takes Home First Boys Volleyball State Championship
Springfield, Ohio - Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas perservered in a five set match to defeat Columbus St. Charles 3-2 (21-25, 25-16, 23-25, 25-15, 15-11) in the second annual OHSAA Division II state title game Sunday at the Pam Evans Smith Arena at Wittenberg University.
Archbishop McNicholas (23-5) has made back to back appearances in the OHSAA state tournament, but this win marks its first OHSAA title. Archbishop McNicholas was also Division II State Runner-ups in 2008.
The Rockets were led in scoring by junior duo Gavin Gerhard and Ethan Gundrum with 18 and 15 kills respectively. Junior Ben Jones had 20 assists and Gundrum contributed 17. The team had eight total blocks.
Columbus St. Charles (25-3) made its first OHSAA tournament visit and is taking home its first tournament trophy. Senior Mladen Tague led the team with 13 kills and senior Thomas Clark had 39 of the team's 40 assists.