7th Region Recap: Assumption win state again even as gaps narrow

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Assumption Rockets are used to the role of the hunted. Despite having that target for a number of years, Assumption continues to find ways to stave off challenges whether in the region or the state tournament from the other four Dominant Five members.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arch rival Notre Dame took the Rockets to a fifth set in the state championship game and led 12-7. However, the Rockets (40-4 overall) rallied to pull off the 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 19-25, 17-15) victory. The Rockets return their top five kills leaders in dynamic sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'], [player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'], Tayor McKenzie and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484327' first='Emily' last='Poteraj']. Senior hitter [player_tooltip player_id='212398' first='Ella' last='Askin'] graduates along with libero [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'], setter [player_tooltip player_id='212400' first='Jillian' last='Bohannon'] along with defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='212399' first='Kathryn' last='O'Toole'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212397' first='Iris' last='Williams'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graduation hits the Rockets the most on defense. However, they tend to reload. [player_tooltip player_id='484323' first='Cheyenne' last='Reyes'] and Madelyn Faulkner are candidates to step in on defense and [player_tooltip player_id='603778' first='Addison' last='Hurley'] or [player_tooltip player_id='456584' first='Ramsie' last='Turner'] could take over at setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart (20-18) struggled some with inexperience, but made its way back to the region championship. Junior lefty [player_tooltip player_id='484247' first='Taylor' last='Frey'] had the expected monster season with [player_tooltip player_id='895476' first='Addy' last='Ayres'], [player_tooltip player_id='484425' first='Kaitlyn' last='Wohl'], [player_tooltip player_id='484424' first='Aubree' last='Payton'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='826292' first='Gracie' last='Eybel'] giving the Valkyries the balance they're used to seeing. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='788409' first='Cate' last='Bakken'] took the setter role by the horns with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='253864' first='Campbell' last='Miles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253869' first='Hilary' last='Pehlke'] leading on defense. The likes of [player_tooltip player_id='746474' first='Rose' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='748192' first='Bella' last='DeSensi'] hope to step into some defensive roles for Sacred Heart next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Christian Academy of Louisville (30-7) took a hit in the preseason when [player_tooltip player_id='601632' first='Kayleigh' last='Rogers'] suffered a season-ending injury in the Bluegrass Games. However, others stepped forward and lifted the Centurions to the 28th District crown and a spot in the region semifinals. Sophomores Olivia Lewis and Celia Harvey stepped into the setting roles with [player_tooltip player_id='771856' first='Kyla' last='Roy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='875198' first='Kally' last='Roy'] leading the way on offense. They return along with [player_tooltip player_id='919474' first='Maddie' last='Ramey'] and Justice Hardin offensively for CAL. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='479282' first='Katrina' last='Oswald'] and [player_tooltip player_id='261118' first='Kylee' last='Sells'] on defense graduate. However, juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484282' first='Mia' last='Boyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='745824' first='Lexi' last='Schaffner'] return there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DuPont Manual (23-14) has been building something special for years. The Crimsons have a number of players on the white teams at the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy where head coach Richard Weaver coaches. They hope to be very serious region challengers when more make the top red teams. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton'] made the KIVA 17 Red team for this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual saw seven hitters record double-digits in kills on the way to another 25th District crown. [player_tooltip player_id='768464' first='Avery' last='Schrenger'], [player_tooltip player_id='804780' first='Avery' last='Easley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='817274' first='Nadia' last='Bishop'] graduate. However, [player_tooltip player_id='851639' first='Ally' last='Hamilton'], [player_tooltip player_id='919482' first='Kali' last='Dearborn'] and Kamryn Bauman return. All three setters in [player_tooltip player_id='484420' first='Alyssa' last='Faber'], [player_tooltip player_id='912909' first='Morgan' last='Horning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='912912' first='Lexi' last='May'] return as do the three digs leaders in [player_tooltip player_id='792726' first='Calista' last='Easley'], [player_tooltip player_id='484421' first='Suzetta' last='Fuller'] and Marlowe Jeffreys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard (29-5) tied the school record for most wins in a season falling just one win short of 30. The Bruins controlled the net with the size of 6-6 [player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Ella' last='Grivna'] and 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='629192' first='Marleigh' last='Tripp'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='752300' first='Journey' last='Gibson'] gave the Bruins an outside presence. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='783574' first='Gabby' last='Stinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='752334' first='Ruby' last='Tennen'] split the setter duties with senior [player_tooltip player_id='750447' first='Megan' last='Helander'] having a nice season at libero. [player_tooltip player_id='479283' first='Ahtziry' last='Medina'] also played a big role on defense for Ballard. [player_tooltip player_id='919506' first='Brooke' last='Holdcraft'] played on the MAVA 15 Select team with Gibson and Tennen last spring and could step into a huge hitter role this fall for Ballard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484322"],"_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-693f840714da4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Faulkner (pictured) received some varsity experience this season and will use the club season to get ready to step into a huge role for the Rockets next year. She has turned into an aggressive, resilient back row player. She moves her feet quickly then squares her body up to balls to make solid passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484425"],"_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-693f840714e1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wohl is an aggressive outside hitter for the Valkyries. She puts the right amount of power into balls to keep balls away from blockers and defensive specialists. She takes quality out of system swings and angles balls off blockers. Wohl had 157 kills for Sacred Heart this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919474"],"_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-693f887ff05b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ramey turned into a solid hitter for the Centurions this fall. Ramey has a nice arm swing and understands angles well. She finds different ways to execute against taller players, often angling balls off blockers for points. Ramey even throws defender for a loop using her off (left) hand for tap kills. She sends tough shots down lines. Ramey had 291 kills for CAL this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919482"],"_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-693f9363d4492"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dearborn uses her size to her advantage for the Crimsons. Dearborn is highly effective on ones distributing balls all over the court. She can pound balls to the back row on one play then tip it to the shallow parts of the court on the next. Dearborn is also an effective blocker. Dearborn had 126 kills and 32 solo blocks for Manual this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919506"],"_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-693f97b2c8e56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Holdcraft has great potential for the Bruins. Her size makes a difference at the net. She smacks balls hard with a good wrist snap from the middle and the pins. holdcraft mixes in tips to different parts of the court to catch defenders off-guard. Holdcraft also has great timing on her blocks at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly two years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->