Notre Dame’s Rockwell Era Off to a Big Start!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Fighting Irish have entered the chat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2022 will go down as one of the craziest years in volleyball yet. With the introduction to the new recruiting rules, the emergence of the transfer portal and the major move around amongst collegiate coaches. This has been a huge year for the sport of volleyball. And no one has seen the benefit of this crazy year more than the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":153913,"width":234,"height":253,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/DSC_4054-947x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-153913" width="234" height="253" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While they may have lost a huge group of high-level players to transfer in the off-season, Notre Dame quickly found themselves with one of the brightest futures with the hiring of legendary coach and color commentator, <strong>Salima Rockwell</strong>. As a first year head coach, Rockwell brings in one of the most high-profile careers as an assistant coach. For the likes of <strong>Russ Rose</strong> at Penn State and <strong>Jerritt Elliott</strong> at Texas, Rockwell has been a part of four national championship winning teams during her time with both programs. Rockwell has often been noted as one of the top coaches and recruiters in the country, just as an assistant. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, as she embarks on her first season at the helm of her own program, Rockwell is showing just why she is one of the best. Doing so, she may have just amassed one of the top recruiting classes in her first outing in the navy and gold. Not only did she tab a top rated outside attacker in the home state of Indiana, but also Michigan and Wisconsin's top rated middle blockers. All three are within the <a href="https://prepdig.com/national/rankings/2024-rankings/">top 70 of Prep Dig's 2024 National Rankings</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday evening saw the announcement of her latest 2024 commit, MB [player_tooltip player_id='110282' first='Mallory' last='Bohl']. Bohl is the <a href="https://prepdig.com/michigan/rankings/2024-rankings/">No. 2 rated player</a> in the 2024 rankings in Michigan and the top middle blocker of the class. Bohl's commitment follows the commitment of both [program_tooltip program_id='430155' first='Team' last='Pineapple']'s [player_tooltip player_id='110486' first='Morgan' last='Gaerte'] and Milwaukee Sting's [player_tooltip player_id='122475' first='Anna' last='Bjork']. Gaerte is the <a href="https://prepdig.com/indiana/rankings/2024-rankings/">No 3 rated player</a> in the Indiana rankings meanwhile Bjork is Wisonsin's <a href="https://prepdig.com/wisconsin/rankings/2024-rankings/">No. 2 rated player</a> and top middle blocker for the 2024 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":190446,"width":237,"height":158,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/04/DSC02233.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-190446" width="237" height="158" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The three commits are elite for several reasons. For starters, this class is HUGE. Gaerte at 6'5, Bohl at 6'3 and Bjork at 6'2 will surely make this one of the tallest recruiting classes and one of the toughest blocking groups coming into 2024. Also, these trio of ladies have a lot of high level playing experience. All three have been a part of the USA National Team Development Program for a few years now, getting some of the best training and competition in the country beyond their respective clubs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the beginning of the Rockwell era in 2022, this class of recruits is putting Notre Dame in a good position to rise in prominence within the national volleyball scene. Especially if rumors hold true, the Fighting Irish could find themselves in the blood bath that is the Big Ten. With this huge incoming class, Notre Dame could compete with just about anyone, ACC, Big Ten and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Currently in the 2022 NCAA season, the Fighting Irish find themselves at 1-4 in the first two weeks of play. This roster is very young. With six freshmen on tap, two of them are the team's leading scorers with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='85822' first='Avery' last='Ross'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='68136' first='Lucy' last='Trump']</strong> combining for close to six kills per set. By time 2024 rolls around, these freshmen will be veteran leaders under a well-oiled Rockwell machine making serious waves within the NCAA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockwell is also joined by Associate Head Coaches, <strong>Craig Dyer</strong> and <strong>Sara Matthews</strong>, and Volunteer Assistant coach<strong> Lauren Plum</strong>. Dyer has had plenty of experience with Rockwell, working with her at Penn State prior to his time at Creighton where he served as Assistant Coach. Dyer lead the Bluejays to four consecutive NCAA appearances during his time. Matthews is coming off of a five year head coaching stint at the University of Delaware in which during her time, the program improved to becoming a power in the Colonial Athletic Association. Plum is another familiar face to Rockwell, as a player Plum was the All-American setter across the net to Texas during the 2012 National Championship match in which Salima was on the bench at the time. Plum brings in a wealth of experience as a player and coach. After the 2012 championship, Plum went on to play six seasons overseas and most recently, coaching stints with the University of Arizona and Villanova. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->