3A Recap, Reaction: Assumption Rallies Against Kuemper

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CORALVILLE - </strong>The Assumption Knights found themselves in a difficult spot on Wednesday having dropped the first set of their state semifinal matchup against Kuemper Catholic. Second-seeded Assumption was being pushed by the underdog, which was the aggressor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption didn't panic. An experienced group of student-athletes responded. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"They put a challenge to us, for sure," Assumption sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='694203' first='Belle' last='Cotton'] said. "We talked about knowing how to play Assumption volleyball. We had to get those nerves out. When we did that, I think we executed pretty well." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption took the next three sets - 25-17, 25-17, 25-16. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We did not have the best first set," Assumption setter [player_tooltip player_id='389006' first='Carsyn' last='Kelley'] said. "They were a great team, scrapping hard. We just had a moment where we needed to take a deep breath after that first set. Let's reset. We know that we've got these next couple." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelley was excellent on Wednesday. She handed out 39 assists, picked up 11 digs and produced nine kills. [player_tooltip player_id='230661' first='Ellah' last='Derrer'] delivered 18 kills for the winners, while Cotton chipped in 11 kills and three blocks, and [player_tooltip player_id='630696' first='Erin' last='Robbins'] had nine kills and five blocks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption, like many other onlookers, probably thought the last step of their desired journey would be defeating No. 1 Western Christian for Thursday's championship. That won't be the case after Humboldt upset the Wolfpack in Wednesday's other semifinal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption understands what it needs to do no matter who is on the other side of the net. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'd say it's going to take every single one of us, no matter who you are," Kelley said. "We're going to have to scrap harder than we've probably ever scrapped before. We're going to have to be smarter, hit harder than we have, and I think we can do it."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Addy Anthofer paced Kuemper with 11 kills, while also adding 10 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='753919' first='Elsa' last='Tiefenthaler'] dished out 27 assists and came up with 19 digs, while [player_tooltip player_id='800437' first='Kaylie' last='Simons'] also had 19 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/_-sMh75a7sc","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/_-sMh75a7sc </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->