Moeller sweeps Hudson for 12th boys volleyball state championship
Moeller honors Dylan Straughn after 12th boys volleyball state title
Alex Harrison, Cincinnati EnquirerSat, May 30, 2026·4 min readElvis Arvay (1) thunders home a spike and scores for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Drew Ewers scores a kill for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Leo Tierney (2) of Moeller serves the final and what would become the winning point serve at the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Nick Dollard (11) drives home the winning spike for the title win for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Nick Dollard celebrates a game-winning point and the state title for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)A celebration erupts for Moeller as they claim the Division I state championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)The Moeller Crusaders hoist the championship trophy in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)The Moeller Crusaders celebrate the Division I championship trophy with their fans at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)The Moeller Crusaders are Division I champions at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)The Hudson Explorers receive the state runners-up trophy in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Score a double-duty kill shot for Hudson as Fisher Zappone (2) and James Hummel (24) deliver in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Christian Renna scores at the net for Hudson in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Fisher Zappone (2) scores a kill shot for Hudson at the OHSAA Division I state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Fisher Zappone lifts off a service ace for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Owen Stearns looks to score on a spike at the net for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)Owen Stearns delivers a kill shot for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)1 / 16
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Elvis Arvay (1) thunders home a spike and scores for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Drew Ewers scores a kill for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Leo Tierney (2) of Moeller serves the final and what would become the winning point serve at the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Nick Dollard (11) drives home the winning spike for the title win for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Nick Dollard celebrates a game-winning point and the state title for Moeller in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
A celebration erupts for Moeller as they claim the Division I state championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
The Moeller Crusaders hoist the championship trophy in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
The Moeller Crusaders celebrate the Division I championship trophy with their fans at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
The Moeller Crusaders are Division I champions at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
The Hudson Explorers receive the state runners-up trophy in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Score a double-duty kill shot for Hudson as Fisher Zappone (2) and James Hummel (24) deliver in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Christian Renna scores at the net for Hudson in the Division I championship at the OHSAA state boys volleyball tournament, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Fisher Zappone (2) scores a kill shot for Hudson at the OHSAA Division I state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Fisher Zappone lifts off a service ace for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Owen Stearns looks to score on a spike at the net for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
Moeller, Bishop Fenwick in 2026 OHSAA state volleyball finals | Photos
Owen Stearns delivers a kill shot for Hudson at the Division I OHSAA state boys volleyball championship, May 30, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
SPRINGFIELD, OH – Of all the special moments surrounding Moeller boys volleyball's 12th Ohio High School Athletic Association state title, the most poignant might have been the one that brought Dylan Straughn's father joy.
After winning the state championship Saturday, May 30, at Wittenberg University, the team presented Dylan's father with the championship trophy and a medal.
"It was a special moment for the program," acting Moeller head coach Bill Eckhoff said. "He's been a guy that we have had his jersey on the wall and we pray to it before each match. So he is really, really well remembered, well respected within our program and it was kind of neat to do that for his dad."
Senior Tyler Wong, who said he wore No. 10 this season for Straughn, added, "Obviously it has been rough on him (Dylan's dad) so we're going to give him a piece of joy."
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Joy abounded when the Moeller Crusaders (21-4) swept the Hudson Explorers (21-6) 31-29, 25-11, 25-21 to win the OHSAA Division I state championship on May 30. The 12 program state championships include two OHSAA crowns and 10 Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association state tournament titles.
"The culture at Moeller is such an amazing thing," Eckhoff said. "It really drives the ability, especially with the volleyball program, to get to these championships."
The team chose Eckhoff, acting as head coach for Casey Pieper, who is out of the country for a wedding, to lead them in the state tournament.
"We've been with Bill for four years," Moeller senior setter Nick Dollard said. "He coached us JV year. We've all accepted Bill as one of our coaches and he knows us the best."
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Eckhoff ran the tournament just as Pieper had all season long and the Crusaders played as well as they had in their Greater Catholic League-South championship regular season.
In the first set, the Explorers came out firing and Moeller struggled with attacking and serving. Normally trying to withhold using timeouts, Eckhoff used his final of the set with the Crusaders trailing 24-21 and also without substitutions. Moeller took the next four points out of the timeout and eventually won the opener 31-29. Hudson the day prior had won the first set of its semifinal 31-29.
Drew Ewers goes up for a kill during the state title match against Hudson May 30. Ewers was one of four Crusaders with double-digit kills in the straight-set state title winning match. (Geoff Blankenship for USA Today Co. Ohio)
"It was a little scary with Hudson being able to go (31-29) yesterday," Eckhoff said. "I told our kids, I'm like, 'These guys are going to keep coming at us. They know how to compete.'"
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Moeller played a cleaner second set and took it 25-11, but needed another comeback in the third set. Hudson led the final set 10-3 early. The Crusaders later had an 8-0 run to take a 15-14 lead before finishing it off 25-21.
The Crusaders had four players with double-digit kills as Elvis Arvay, Drew Ewers, Adam Quehl and Thomas Metzger all had 10. Dollard led with 34 of the team's 46 assists.
"Dollard's game management has been really, really good," Eckhoff said. "His personal development I'm incredibly proud of.
Jacob Pitts (2) spikes for the Thomas Worthington kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Elvis Arvay spikes for a Moeller kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Elvis Arvay scores a service ace for Moeller in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Danny Seichriest of Thomas Worthington scores at the net in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Curt Buddie makes a set shot for Thomas Worthington in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Adam Quehl (15) of Moeller spikes and scores on a kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)Curt Buddie of Thomas Worthington gets a spike in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA State Volleyball Tournament, May 29, 2026 (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)1 / 7
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Jacob Pitts (2) spikes for the Thomas Worthington kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Elvis Arvay spikes for a Moeller kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Elvis Arvay scores a service ace for Moeller in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Danny Seichriest of Thomas Worthington scores at the net in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Curt Buddie makes a set shot for Thomas Worthington in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Adam Quehl (15) of Moeller spikes and scores on a kill in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA state volleyball tournament, May 29, 2026. (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
OHSAA boys volleyball state tournament semifinals, May 29 | Photos
Curt Buddie of Thomas Worthington gets a spike in Division I semifinal action at the OHSAA State Volleyball Tournament, May 29, 2026 (Geoff Blankenship for The Enquirer)
"He went on that 10-point serving run in the second set and in between points, he's having cramps and he rolling out his calf and stuff. Just such a tough kid and he's become such a smart setter."
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Wong, who was a freshman on Moeller's last state championship team in 2023, led with 19 digs.
"It means so much because my freshman year I was just getting into the game," Wong said. "I was just getting to know people and it was a good time. The leadership and connections I made this year were more important than anything else."
The Crusaders have won the state championship in their last four finals appearances, including as the inaugural OHSAA champions in 2023.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.