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May 28—FRANKLIN — The early-season losses didn't shake the confidence inside the Fenwick High School boys volleyball program.
If anything, they sharpened it.
The Falcons challenged themselves from the opening week of the season, loading the schedule with some of Ohio's top programs and absorbing a handful of setbacks along the way.
By the middle of April, though, Fenwick had found its rhythm — and now the Falcons are headed to the state tournament after compiling a 20-6 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in the Greater Catholic League Coed Division.
Fenwick faces Columbus St. Charles in a Division II state semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday, May 29 at Wittenberg University. Independence and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary play in the other state semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday, with the state championship game set for 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at Wittenberg.
"We started off a little bit slow," Fenwick coach Tina Gustely said. "We hosted a tournament and lost to Loveland the first weekend of the season, but we beat Mason that same day. Then we lost to Moeller, and we lost to Elder and Beavercreek back-to-back in early April. From there, we won 15 of the next 16. They really locked in."
That surge transformed the Falcons, who entered the postseason battle-tested after navigating one of Ohio's toughest volleyball conferences. Gustely described the GCL Coed as a league loaded with top-tier talent and little margin for error.
"There's never an easy match for us," Gustely said. "The GCL Coed is a strong conference, Division II, and fierce competitors all the way around this year. There were a lot of upsets along the way."
Fenwick's unbeaten conference run marked a step forward from last season, when the Falcons finished 16-8 overall, went 7-3 in league play and lost to Roger Bacon in five sets during the second round of the postseason.
Gustely said she saw "this type of season coming with this group."
The Falcons are led by six seniors and anchored by one of the state's top all-around players in senior Parker Povse, the GCL Coed Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection.
"He just does it all," Gustely said. "Parker plays six rotations, sets in the back row and then hits in the front row and blocks. He's just an all-around player."
Povse enters the state tournament with 179 kills, a blistering .430 hitting efficiency and 487 assists.
Senior Will Lenz provides another steady presence for the Falcons. Lenz totals 220 kills, 29 aces and 125 digs while serving as one of the team's top passers.
"He's constantly leading," Gustely said of Lenz. "If he's maybe having an off match, he finds other ways to contribute to the team. He's a smart player and adjusts quickly."
Kian O'Connell, another senior captain, battled through a knee injury that forced him to move from middle blocker to an outside role this season. Gustely said O'Connell has flourished in the transition, recording 197 kills and 15 aces.
"He's really coming into his own in that position," Gustely said of O'Connell.
Senior Griffin Weber is tops in the GCL Coed with 67 blocks, while junior Gabe Armstrong has 375 assists. Senior Simon McKinney adds a 2.16 passing average.
Fenwick's depth also includes freshman middle blocker Ray Overbeck, who has emerged as a key contributor.
"He plays like an upperclassman," Gustely said of Overbeck.
The Falcons' resilience was tested during their regional semifinal victory over Loveland, when Fenwick stumbled out of the gate before rallying late. The Tigers won the first two sets, but the Falcons took the final three to capture their dramatic regional championship.
"We got off to a slow start," Gustely said. "I think there were some jitters for a lot of our guys. You want them to have some anxiety because that means they care."
Gustely said the turning point came late in the second set.
"They just put their foot down and refused to lose," she said.
Fenwick's postseason experience stretches beyond this season. The Falcons won state championships in 2013 and again in 2021. Gustely has been involved with the program since 2014, when her son Anthony played for the Falcons, and officially became head coach in 2022.
Still, she said the 2021 title run carried immense emotion because then-head coach Pete Ehrlich — battling ALS at the time — remained the spiritual leader of the team before passing away later that year.
Fenwick now returns to the state stage with an opportunity to add to the program's championship tradition.
The Falcons already faced several of the state's elite teams during the regular season, including St. Charles, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Bishop Watterson and Mount Vernon. Gustely intentionally scheduled those matches to prepare her team for moments like this weekend.
"We try to load our schedule as best we can," Gustely said.
That preparation will be tested again against a physical St. Charles team. Fenwick's confidence, however, has been built over months of adversity, lineup changes and trust.
"We changed our lineup, we got something that worked and they trusted each other," Gustely said. "That's where we're at now."
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If anything, they sharpened it.
The Falcons challenged themselves from the opening week of the season, loading the schedule with some of Ohio's top programs and absorbing a handful of setbacks along the way.
By the middle of April, though, Fenwick had found its rhythm — and now the Falcons are headed to the state tournament after compiling a 20-6 overall record and a perfect 10-0 mark in the Greater Catholic League Coed Division.
Fenwick faces Columbus St. Charles in a Division II state semifinal at 4 p.m. Friday, May 29 at Wittenberg University. Independence and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary play in the other state semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday, with the state championship game set for 4 p.m. Saturday, May 30 at Wittenberg.
"We started off a little bit slow," Fenwick coach Tina Gustely said. "We hosted a tournament and lost to Loveland the first weekend of the season, but we beat Mason that same day. Then we lost to Moeller, and we lost to Elder and Beavercreek back-to-back in early April. From there, we won 15 of the next 16. They really locked in."
That surge transformed the Falcons, who entered the postseason battle-tested after navigating one of Ohio's toughest volleyball conferences. Gustely described the GCL Coed as a league loaded with top-tier talent and little margin for error.
"There's never an easy match for us," Gustely said. "The GCL Coed is a strong conference, Division II, and fierce competitors all the way around this year. There were a lot of upsets along the way."
Fenwick's unbeaten conference run marked a step forward from last season, when the Falcons finished 16-8 overall, went 7-3 in league play and lost to Roger Bacon in five sets during the second round of the postseason.
Gustely said she saw "this type of season coming with this group."
The Falcons are led by six seniors and anchored by one of the state's top all-around players in senior Parker Povse, the GCL Coed Player of the Year and a first-team all-state selection.
"He just does it all," Gustely said. "Parker plays six rotations, sets in the back row and then hits in the front row and blocks. He's just an all-around player."
Povse enters the state tournament with 179 kills, a blistering .430 hitting efficiency and 487 assists.
Senior Will Lenz provides another steady presence for the Falcons. Lenz totals 220 kills, 29 aces and 125 digs while serving as one of the team's top passers.
"He's constantly leading," Gustely said of Lenz. "If he's maybe having an off match, he finds other ways to contribute to the team. He's a smart player and adjusts quickly."
Kian O'Connell, another senior captain, battled through a knee injury that forced him to move from middle blocker to an outside role this season. Gustely said O'Connell has flourished in the transition, recording 197 kills and 15 aces.
"He's really coming into his own in that position," Gustely said of O'Connell.
Senior Griffin Weber is tops in the GCL Coed with 67 blocks, while junior Gabe Armstrong has 375 assists. Senior Simon McKinney adds a 2.16 passing average.
Fenwick's depth also includes freshman middle blocker Ray Overbeck, who has emerged as a key contributor.
"He plays like an upperclassman," Gustely said of Overbeck.
The Falcons' resilience was tested during their regional semifinal victory over Loveland, when Fenwick stumbled out of the gate before rallying late. The Tigers won the first two sets, but the Falcons took the final three to capture their dramatic regional championship.
"We got off to a slow start," Gustely said. "I think there were some jitters for a lot of our guys. You want them to have some anxiety because that means they care."
Gustely said the turning point came late in the second set.
"They just put their foot down and refused to lose," she said.
Fenwick's postseason experience stretches beyond this season. The Falcons won state championships in 2013 and again in 2021. Gustely has been involved with the program since 2014, when her son Anthony played for the Falcons, and officially became head coach in 2022.
Still, she said the 2021 title run carried immense emotion because then-head coach Pete Ehrlich — battling ALS at the time — remained the spiritual leader of the team before passing away later that year.
Fenwick now returns to the state stage with an opportunity to add to the program's championship tradition.
The Falcons already faced several of the state's elite teams during the regular season, including St. Charles, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Bishop Watterson and Mount Vernon. Gustely intentionally scheduled those matches to prepare her team for moments like this weekend.
"We try to load our schedule as best we can," Gustely said.
That preparation will be tested again against a physical St. Charles team. Fenwick's confidence, however, has been built over months of adversity, lineup changes and trust.
"We changed our lineup, we got something that worked and they trusted each other," Gustely said. "That's where we're at now."
Continue reading...
