State Champion: Meet Olympic Bronze Medalist

Recent Moeller High School graduate Chris Lovett's days on the volleyball court just keep getting better

By Ed Letsinger

The Moeller volleyball team recently won their second straight state title so life has been pretty good for two-year starter and recent 2005 graduate Chris Lovett.  But just when life on the court couldn’t get any better for Lovett, it did.

The 18-year-old Lovett, who works at The Beach Waterpark, was one of several local high school volleyball players who were on hand yesterday at the park to assist three-time Olympian and 2004 bronze medalist Holly McPeak with a “tips” session she was conducting as part of a segment that will run later this month on NBC television.

McPeak was in town as part of a one-day media tour and meet-and-greet session promoting the Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and upcoming AVP Nissan Series Cincinnati Open that is coming to the Linder Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio on June 30-July 3.

“This feels good, it’s exciting just to get the chance to meet her in person,” said Lovett of the experience.

All the kids on hand got a chance to participate and help McPeak as she went through a variety of drills and techniques that focused on serving, passing and hitting.  There was also plenty of picture taking and autograph signing. 

McPeak spent several minutes afterwards talking to Lovett when she found out that the Crusaders had just won a state title in volleyball, offering congratulations and words of encouragement along the way.

“She’s a great person to talk to … I was talking volleyball with her just like anybody else,” said Lovett.  “I definitely want to come out and watch her play when they come to town.”

Lovett, a setter and one of the captains for the Crusaders this past season, is attending the University of Dayton in the fall and plans on playing club ball.