Season in Review: 7th Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the first state championship in 1992, the Assumption Rockets have only not won the state championship nine times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets prevented the 10th time with their 24th crown this year, but they had to overcome a gauntlet in the region to get to state then win a regular season rematch against arch-rival Notre Dame in the semifinals to do it. This year's crown marked their second in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption (35-8) came together behind another solid senior class. [player_tooltip player_id='172945' first='Kristen' last='Simon'] led the way on defense with [player_tooltip player_id='172952' first='Emilee' last='Fuller'] setting and [player_tooltip player_id='172951' first='Bailey' last='Blair'] getting hot. [player_tooltip player_id='172950' first='Emma' last='Barnett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='477120' first='Janie' last='Eichberger'] also had a number of big kills in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets graduate eight seniors, but have a number of younger players ready to step in. [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'] is back on defense and [player_tooltip player_id='212400' first='Jillian' last='Bohannon'] could take over at setter with [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'], [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212398' first='Ella' last='Askin'] the returning hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='212399' first='Kathryn' last='O'Toole']'s role could expand more from her serving role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart (33-6) will look different next year with the graduation of nine seniors after losing to Assumption in the region semifinals. Gracie Eybel is the leading returning hitter with [player_tooltip player_id='253869' first='Hilary' last='Pehlke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253864' first='Campbell' last='Miles'] leading the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DuPont Manual (29-11) has been building for years and took Assumption to 30-28 and lost the second game of the region championship, 25-23. The Crimsons graduate five seniors including [player_tooltip player_id='253861' first='Abby' last='Gentner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='477202' first='Aubrey' last='Montgomery']. [player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768464' first='Avery' last='Schrenger'] are the leading returning hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard (29-8) once again set a school record for the most wins in a season and the Bruins will see two Southeastern Conference middle blocker commits in 6-6 [player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Ella' last='Grivna'] and 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening'] return along with libero [player_tooltip player_id='750447' first='Megan' last='Helander']. A new setter needs to emerge, but the Bruins have a strong freshman class led by [player_tooltip player_id='752300' first='Journey' last='Gibson'] hoping to help take some next steps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Christian Academy of Louisville (32-5) also put together a solid season winning the Class 2A state championship behind freshman sensation [player_tooltip player_id='601632' first='Kayleigh' last='Rogers']. The Centurions graduate five seniors, but do return [player_tooltip player_id='484282' first='Mia' last='Boyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='479282' first='Katrina' last='Oswald'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Solid Returning Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212348"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67426f3255972"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grivna uses her size and athleticism well to control the net. She has great timing on quicks and short sets, sending them hard to the back parts of the court. Grivna also does a good job timing her blocks. Grivna is also a solid server for the Bruins. Grivna had 308 kills, 25 solo, 81 assisted blocks and 50 aces this past season leading the Bruins to a 29-8 record with a 28th District championship and spot in the region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484326"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67426f32559d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hooe has turned into a force at the net for the Rockets. She reads hitters well and adjusts her hands to make good touches on balls. Hooe has learned how to use her size to her advantage to control the middle of the net. Hooe takes short sets and sends balls to different parts of the court mixing in hard and soft spikes. Hooe had 156 kills, 20 solo and 48 assisted blocks to help the Rockets to their 24th state championship in 33 years this past season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253864"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67426f3255a1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Miles may take over the libero spot next season for the Valkyries. Miles has shown the propensity to slide and even go to her knees to make big digs. She squares her arms up to balls well to make solid two to three-point passes. Miles adds in a nice jump serve. Miles had 130 digs and 26 aces helping Sacred Heart to a 33-6 record and spot in the region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484427"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":724195,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67426f3255a5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fulton has turned into a solid player in the front for the Crimsons. She mixes in hard shots and shoves to the sides of taller players. Fulton slams down overpassed balls and can hit balls off blockers out of bounds for points. Fulton has also become an incredible blocker for the Crimsons. Fulton had 242 kills, 69 solo and 30 assisted blocks, leading Manual to a 29-11 record, a 25th District title and spot in the region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484282"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6742726ad6d98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Boyd does a great job not just getting to balls, but squaring her body up to them to make consistent two to three-point passes. Boyd finds herself on the ground a good bit hustling after balls. Boyd can also send a tough jump serve to the back row. Boyd had 207 digs and 53 aces helping CAL to a 32-5 record, a Class 2A state championship and a spot in the region tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->