After dominating for a quarter century, Louisville has played second fiddle to Northern Kentucky in the past three high school volleyball state tournaments.
Assumption coach Ron Kordes said it’s time for that streak to end.
“We have to get back in the game here,” Kordes said. “We don’t want this to be a 20-year run like it was the other way.”
Assumption (20), Mercy (three) and Sacred Heart (two) combined to win 25 straight Kentucky state titles from 1995-2019. That run ended in 2020 when Notre Dame took home the crown. St. Henry won the championship in 2021, and Notre Dame won again in 2022.
Kordes identified two reasons for the new trend. First, he said, there’s more parity among Louisville high school programs. Second, club volleyball in Northern Kentucky has improved.
“They’ve done it with legitimate teams,” Kordes said. “Every one of those teams that have won were certainly worthy. There were no flukes in the group.”
Kordes believes he has the weapons at Assumption this season to end the Northern Kentucky streak. The Rockets are ranked No. 1 in the state in the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason Top 25.
The Rockets won the Seventh Region title last year and finished 34-8 after falling to Notre Dame in the state semifinals.
Assumption will be led by a trio of seniors in outside hitters Charlotte Moriarty (Xavier commit) and Chloe Smith (Wofford commit) and defensive specialist Ally Magre (Middle Tennessee commit). Junior libero Kristen Simon (Wisconsin commit) and middle blocker Bailey Blair are other weapons, and junior Emilee Fuller has taken over at setter.
Kordes noted his team doesn’t have the size it had in recent years.
“I think we can compensate for the size because our ball control should be really good,” Kordes said. “Could be one of the better, complete defensive teams we’ve had in a while.”
Here’s a look at other volleyball teams from the Louisville area (note: several coaches did not respond to requests for information):
Top 25 teams
No. 2 Sacred Heart (20-18 record last year) was a Seventh Region semifinalist last season and will be led by a trio of seniors – middle blocker Avarie Adams (Cornell commit), setter Kaeley Walz (Kennesaw State commit) and defensive specialist Julia Frederick. Top juniors are outside hitter Anna Powell and middle blockers Bridget Egan and Elise Hart.
No. 5 Mercy (28-13) lost 12 seniors from last season’s team that fell to Assumption in the state tournament quarterfinals. Junior libero Maddie Green is the lone returning starter. “We’ll be a good passing and defensive team but will be learning on offense with all of the production coming from sophom*ores and freshmen,” coach Connie Hulsmeyer said.
No. 9 Bullitt East (26-7) was the Sixth Region runner-up to Mercy last season but lost seven players to graduation. Seniors Katherine Cissell (242) and Kayla Woodham (220) return after ranking 1-2 on the team in kills last season.
No. 20 Manual (32-8) begins life without Nya Bunton, who was named Ms. Kentucky Volleyball last season after leading the Crimsons to the Seventh Region final. Senior middle hitter Aleicea Watson (Austin Peay) commit will lead the offense. Manual has a pair of solid junior setters in Aubrey Montgomery and Abby Gentner.
No. 22 Ballard (19-10) will lean on a trio of seniors in setter Rachel Ganoe, defensive specialist/outside hitter Sanae Joseph and defensive specialist/libero Makayla May. “Our front line has a lot of height and power,” coach Andrew Mullins said.
No. 24 North Oldham (26-7) is the reigning Eighth Region champion and will be led by senior outside hitter Katelynn Rottman (Niagara commit), sophom*ore middle blocker Reagan Baxter and freshman right-side hitter Lilah Anthony.
Others to watch
Butler (15-16) reached the Sixth Region semifinals last season and returns its top two leaders in kills in sophom*ore Haidyn Carter (140) and senior Natalie Frye (99).
Central (13-17) will be led by five seniors in outside hitter Shana Johnson, defensive specialist Julie Robinson and middle blockers Destiny Jones, Edniya Robinson and Sanai Greer. Also back are junior setter Sydnee Scott and sophom*ore outside hitter Sydney Makle Bradley.
Christian Academy (22-8) reached the Seventh Region semifinals last year and has a trio of senior leaders in setter Mary Claire Oswald, outside hitter Kristen Schlater and libero Charley Hill. Oswald has committed to play beach volleyball at the University of Tampa.
Holy Cross (26-10) was a Sixth Region semifinalist last year and will have eight newcomers this season. Leaders include senior outside hitter Peyton Carnes and junior defensive specialist/libero Trinity Ward (University of Kentucky commit).
Jeffersontown (12-15) will look to improve behind senior libero Stevie Brown, senior setter Sydney Taylor and junior middle blocker Hadley Harp.
North Bullitt (18-10) will be led by senior outside hitter/setter Kenzie Kleitz, junior libero/defensive specialist Addison Phillips, junior utility player Madison Stinnett and sophom*ore setter/right-side hitter Maci Milliner.
Seneca (17-17) returns nine of its top 11 players from last season and will be led by senior outside hitter Ayen Nhial (James Madison commit). Other leaders will be senior outside hitter Mya Lewis, senior setter Mikayla Cleary and sophom*ore setter Jordyn Kiser.
Southern (6-16) will look to improve behind senior Zaharah Aljuburi, junior Jayla Castleman and sophom*ores Ja’Licia Prince and Awel Deng.
Spencer County (8-26) will lean on a pair of seniors in libero Hannah Palmer and middle hitter Ella Brown.
Western (6-10) has a new coach in Chelsea Cooper, who will lean on senior setter/outside hitter Sequoia Cochran and junior middle/outside hitter Aniyah Sullivan.
Statewide Top 25
Provided by Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association
1. Assumption, 2. Sacred Heart, 3. Paul Dunbar, 4. Notre Dame, 5. Mercy, 6. Frederick Douglass, 7. Great Crossing, 8. Central Hardin, 9. (tie) Bowling Green, Bullitt East, 11. St. Henry, 12. Ryle, 13. Elizabethtown, 14. McCracken County, 15. West Jessamine, 16. Taylor County, 17. Cooper, 18. Warren East, 19. Madison Central, 20. Manual, 21. Lexington Catholic, 22. Ballard, 23. Conner, 24. North Oldham, 25. Logan County
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
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