Two athlete’s collegiate careers ended last Thursday when the men’s volleyball team was defeated by Pepperdine in the Final Four.
Seniors Scott Spurlock and Mike Wauligman, captains of the Ohio State volleyball team, led the Buckeyes to their best season since 2001.
Although Spurlock and Wauligman’s collegiate careers are over, they said they will never forget the 2004-2005 volleyball season.
The Buckeyes (24-8, 14-2 Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) ended a successful season ranked No. 9 in the nation. The season included a MIVA championship and a trip to Los Angeles for the NCAA Championship.
In 2001, when Spurlock was still in high school and Wauligman was a redshirt freshman, the Buckeyes made it to the Final Four but were defeated by UCLA. This year they fell to No. 1 Pepperdine, who were eventually crowned champions after defeating UCLA 3-2.
“I’m happy with how far we got,” Spurlock said. “Every year we talked about going to the Final Four and about playing for a National Championship.”
At the conclusion of the season the Buckeyes received one All-American in junior outside hitter Mark Greaves, and had four All-MIVA selections in Greaves, junior Andy Cole, sophomore Layne Dreven and freshman Daniel Mathews – who was also named MIVA Freshman of the Year and MIVA tournament MVP.
Mathews was one of the most highly recruited players in the 2004 class and contributed to OSU at the end of the year, helping it through the MIVA playoffs and into the NCAA tournament. Although neither senior received a top recognition award, Mathews said he felt they were crucial in his success.
“I came in with the skills, but it was really Mike who helped me develop the mental aspect of the game,” he said.
Mathews also said the college season is much longer than his high school season, and Wauligman helped him keep up the intensity the Buckeyes expected from him.
Unlike many athletes at Ohio State, Wauligman and Spurlock got to end their collegiate careers with a trip to the Final Four. Although the memories of the trip to L.A. will never be forgotten, they both said there are other aspects the two athletes will regret.
“I think the thing that comes to mind the most is the satisfaction of the fight that comes from playing long, hard games,” Spurlock said. “Ball State, IPFW – just those matches that seem to take everything physically out of you.”
Wauligman said he will miss the competition but is looking forward to the rest of his life, away from volleyball.
“I’m looking to move on to the next point in my life,” he said. “I’m just gonna roll with it now. It’s the transition to the next part of your life.”
Spurlock has begun to “shop” himself to European club teams. He has met some agents in Greece and Italy through friends and said it would be a dream to play over there for even one year. Wauligman is looking forward to finding a job, but is anxious to see how the Buckeyes will fill the roles he and Spurlock played this season.
“They should be good,” he said. “They’re losing me and Scott, but Sam Stevens should get my spot next year.”
Wauligman said it will be harder to fill the spot left vacant by Spurlock. He said if he guessed, sophomore opposite hitter Brett Versen will most likely get the starting nod.
The Buckeyes will return four starters from this years Final Four squad, including Greaves and Mathews. Wauligman said he could most likely see Greaves and junior outside hitter Stuart Katz being named OSU captains for next year.
“They’re the two biggest leaders on and off the court,” he said.
As for Spurlock and Wauligman, they will look forward to graduation and stepping into the real world. Both have aspirations of coaching in the future, but for now they will set their sights on a positive summer filled with coaching junior camps and looking for jobs.
“I think more than anything we’re going to miss that they weren’t just very good players, but even better leaders,” Mathews said.
