12 central Ohio boys volleyball players to watch in 2026 OHSAA season

Who are the best high school boys volleyball players in the Columbus area? Here's our list of athletes to watch for the 2026 OHSAA season.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:04am

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With the high school boys volleyball season underway, three central Ohio programs have started their pursuit of return trips to state. In Division I, Thomas Worthington and New Albany reached state, with Thomas defeating New Albany before falling to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the championship match. In Division II, Mount Vernon lost the state final to perennial power Cincinnati McNicholas. The 2026 state tournaments will be played May 29 and 30 at Wittenberg University.

Why it matters

Central Ohio has a strong boys volleyball scene, with several programs making deep postseason runs in recent years. Identifying the top players to watch can help fans and scouts follow the development of the region's top talent as they compete for state titles.

The details

The article profiles 12 central Ohio boys volleyball players to watch in the 2026 OHSAA season. The players come from various schools in the Columbus area and play a range of positions, including outside hitter, libero, middle hitter, and setter. Several of the players were standouts last season, earning all-conference and all-region honors.

  • The high school boys volleyball season is currently underway.
  • The 2026 state tournaments will be played May 29 and 30 at Wittenberg University.

The players

Bahmer

A 6-foot-8 junior outside hitter who should again be a solid contributor for the Panthers, who won six of their first seven matches this year. Bahmer had 117 kills, 34 digs, 18 aces and 10 blocks in those contests. He was second-team all-Region 3 and all-OCC-Cardinal last season.

Barnes

A 5-10 senior libero who Lawless calls one of the key leaders for the Cardinals. The Baldwin Wallace commit had a season-high 22 digs in a 25-12, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21 win over Worthington Kilbourne on March 17. Last season, Barnes was second-team all-Region 3 and all-OCC-Cardinal.

Bohrer

A 5-8 senior libero who should again help put the Golden Bears in position for another successful season. Bohrer had a season-best 14 kills in a 25-17, 22-25, 25-22 win over Kilbourne on March 13. Last season, he was first-team all-Region 3 and all-OCC-Central and honorable mention all-state in Division I.

Buck

A 5-6 senior libero and defensive specialist who has helped the Wildcats (4-2) get out to a solid start. Buck had 15 digs in a 13-25, 25-18, 25-13, 22-25, 25-23 loss to Olentangy Berlin on March 24 and 12 digs in a 23-25, 25-21, 25-22 loss to Lakewood St. Edward on March 21. Last season, he was special mention all-OCC-Central and honorable mention all-Region 1.

Devulapally

A 6-5 senior middle hitter who was a key force behind the Eagles reaching their first OHSAA state tournament last season. Devulapally has played in only one match this season, March 19 against Darby, because of a separated shoulder, but coach Dan Baer hopes he can return by next week. Last season, Devulapally was first-team all-Region 1 and all-OCC-Ohio and honorable mention all-state.

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What they’re saying

“It's been an up-and-down start for us. It's a mixture of guys that contributed a lot last year and guys that were around last year who maybe see themselves playing for more points and having a bigger impact. There's definitely been some learning moments, but finding ways to win matches against the teams we've played so far has been good.”

— Brian Lawless, Thomas Worthington coach

What’s next

The 2026 state tournaments will be played May 29 and 30 at Wittenberg University.

The takeaway

Central Ohio has a deep pool of talented boys volleyball players who are poised to lead their teams to success in the 2026 OHSAA season. These 12 athletes, representing various schools and positions, will be key figures to watch as the season progresses and teams vie for state championships.