MAX MILLER
Notable: 3-year varsity letter winner, starter, and captain as setter
2015 stats: 413 assists, 11 blocks, 73 digs
2014 stats: 782 assists (one short of school record held by Keaton Pieper), First Team GCL, First Team West Region, honorable mention All-Ohio
JAMES EISENHAUER
Notable: 3-year varsity letter winner, starter as defensive specialist
2015 stats: 42 digs, 1 ace, passing rate 2.26
2014 stats: 131 digs, 13 aces, passing rate 2.28
Max Miller and James Eisenhauer are used to expectations. As members of the defending Division II boys state volleyball championship team, the Alter High School seniors realize they have a target on their backs.
“Every single game, we see our opponent’s best effort,” Miller said.
But they also have big shoes to fill simply because of older brothers who made their names known years ago.
“I definitely feel like people know my last name,” Eisenhauer said. “My brother was a runner-up All American.”
Chuck Eisenhauer was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter who was the 2012 D-II state player of the year at Alter. The middle blocker/outside hitter posted 297 kills, 57 aces, 20 blocks and 147 digs in the 2012 season alone while helping the Knights clinch the state championship that same year — their second title in as many seasons.
“He got all the jumping talent and is four inches taller,” the younger Eisenhauer said with a smile.
Miller had two older brothers who suited up for the Knights including 2008 graduate Sam Miller, a second team All-Ohio setter who helped Alter advance to its first state tournament. Luke Miller played on the 2012 state championship team.
“Sam is the one who got me into volleyball in the first place,” Max said.
Eisenhauer and Miller made an impression on Knights coach Craig Erford before they enrolled at Alter.
“During the 2011 season, when James and Max were eighth-graders, I’d always remember them messing around with a volleyball on the court after our matches or playing this knockout game we played at camp,” Erford said.
But despite all of their volleyball exposure, both players had their sights set on the field rather than the court: Eisenhauer and Miller were both avid soccer players — club players at that.
“I had zero intention of playing volleyball,” Miller said. “I was a soccer player.”
Then, they stepped onto the volleyball court with the Knights their freshman year and they were hooked. It wasn’t long before they both made the switch to club volleyball.
With Miller at setter — a family tradition as both his brothers also set — and Eisenhauer as defensive specialist, the Knights are 16-2 and ranked No. 2 in the state in D-II.
• While Alter, at No. 2 in D-II, is the highest-ranked team in the area, several teams currently sit in the state top 10.
In Division I, Centerville is ranked fifth while Beavercreek is seventh.
Fenwick (No. 8) and Carroll (No. 9) have also made the state ranks in D-II play.
• Monday is the boys volleyball tournament draw with district play getting underway at Centerville on May 16. The Regional All-Stars will also be announced Monday.
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