Thursday, January 8
7 p.m.
Ohio State
vs
Central State University
Photo by: Jay LaPrete
No. 14 Ohio State Opens 2026 vs. Central State, NJIT
1/7/2026 10:20:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Buckeyes tabbed No. 2 in MIVA Preseason Poll
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 14 Ohio State begins the 2026 season Thursday against visiting Central State (0-0) and then takes on NJITÂ (0-0) Friday at the Covelli Center.
- Ohio State opens the season ranked No. 14 nationally in the AVCA Preseason Poll. Ten 2026 opponents are ranked among the Top 20, including four Midwestern Intercollegiate Vollelyball Association rivals.Â
- Ohio State and Central State have met three times previously with the Buckeyes going 3-0 in those matches. The last meeting was a 3-0 win for the Ohio State in 2023. Against NJIT, the Buckeyes are 13-1 all time after a pair of 3-0 road wins last year.Â
- Following a team vote, senior Shane Wetzel and sophomore Drew Hudson were named captains for the 2026 season season. Hudson is the first sophomore to earn captain honors in the history of the program.Â
- Senior Shane Wetzel currently ranks 16th in Ohio State history with 1,018 kills for his career. He and sophomore Stan Chacinski were named to the 2026 preseason All-MIVA squad.Â
- Wetzel and Chacinski both were recognized as 2025 AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans after earning 2025 postseason Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association honors. In addition, the MIVA coaches voted Ohio State in the No. 2 position in the league 2026 preseason poll. Â
- The 2026 campaign is the seventh for Kevin Burch as the Ohio State head coach. Burch is closing in on win Nu. 100 in his career. He has compiled a 96-62 record to date with one regular-season MIVA title, a pair of league tournament championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.Â
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