No. 14 Ohio State Sweeps Central State in Season Opener

Columbus, Ohio — The Central State University men's volleyball team opened its 2026 season on the road Thursday evening, facing a tough test against No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes at the Covelli Center. The Marauders battled throughout the match but ultimately fell in straight sets, 25-13, 25-22, 25-16.

Central State showed resilience after a challenging opening set, settling into a more competitive rhythm in set two. The Marauders trimmed an early Buckeye lead and pushed Ohio State late behind improved serve receive and net play, but the home team closed the set at the line to take a 2–0 advantage.

In the third set, Central State continued to compete against the nationally ranked Buckeyes, trading points early before Ohio State used its balanced attack to pull away and secure the sweep in front of a crowd of 562.

Offensively, Jaedyn Harris led the Marauders with a team-high seven kills, while Toulmin Williams IV and Preston Smith added three kills apiece. Smith also contributed two blocks, while Simon Falayi and Prince Trimuel each recorded two blocks at the net. Setter Bradley Patrick directed the offense with 12 assists, and Benjamin Latham anchored the back row with seven digs.

Ohio State was paced by six kills each from Shane Wetzel and Daniel Hurley, while Daniel Henwood Rodriguez orchestrated the offense with 22 assists. The Buckeyes finished the match with a .262 hitting percentage and nine service aces.

Despite the result, the Marauders showed throughout the match that they can compete, opening the season against one of the nation's top Division I programs. The Marauders will look to build on the performance as they continue non-conference play and prepare for the start of SIAC competition later this season.