Inside Assumption’s tournament win, Science Hill’s big run

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Assumption Rockets came into the tournament as the top seed and left with a second straight Showdown at the Sunsphere championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets (7-0 overall) only dropped one set in the six victories. It came in a 25-22 loss in the second set against the Briarcrest Christian Saints. The third set stayed tight with the 25-time KHSAA state champion Rockets outlasting the Saints, 15-13 scoring the last two points. Briarcrest has won six of the last eight TSSAA Division II-AA state championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption did it without sound outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'], making up her production with the usual depth. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='484323' first='Cheyenne' last='Reyes'] has stepped into the libero role and senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='603778' first='Addison' last='Hurley'] continued her strong play. The likes of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='931035' first='Natalie' last='Whitsell'], [player_tooltip player_id='785586' first='Lacey' last='Prather'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484322' first='Madelyn' last='Faulkner'] made a number of defensive plays with senior hitters [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'], [player_tooltip player_id='484327' first='Emily' last='Poteraj'], juniors [player_tooltip player_id='611743' first='Taylor' last='McKenzie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'] gave Assumption the usual balance. Even sophomore pin [player_tooltip player_id='823336' first='Claire' last='Kleinhenz'] got in on the balance. Codey and junior hitter [player_tooltip player_id='940345' first='Autumn' last='Mattingly'] said they expect to be back in a week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Science Hill came into the tournament as the 22nd seed, but made it to the championship with wins over four teams seeded higher than them. The Hilltoppers took down seventh seed Brentwood, eighth seed Lovett School (Georgia), fifth seed Sacred Heart and 17th seeded Father Ryan to make it to the title game. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='801983' first='Isa' last='Dau'] along with senior defensive specialist Kaitylyn Wallace and sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='952575' first='Claire' last='Lamb'] gave Science Hill quality play in the back row allowing junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='952563' first='Lucy' last='O'Daniel'] to run the offense. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='842073' first='Bryleigh' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='812534' first='Clara' last='McBride'], [player_tooltip player_id='831123' first='Chloe' last='Conner'], junior [player_tooltip player_id='952566' first='Lizzie' last='Clark'] along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='952574' first='Briley' last='Streitz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='952571' first='Sofia' last='Pavlovich'] took quality swings the entire tounament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of players put together a quality two days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1021993,"_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-6a8b912b80730"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hooe helped out the defensive specialists a good bit by constantly getting her hands on balls. She uses her size well at the net timing up hitters and denying balls from coming over the net. Hooe is back to her old self on ones. Hooe pounds them to a number of different zones on the court. She has a great combination of speed and control on those swings. Hooe said the Rockets are expected to keep an even keel on the court, adding the Rockets keep encouraging each other throughout games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["831123"],"_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":1022003,"_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-6a8b9edb2dd42"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Conner is a solid all-around player for the Hilltoppers. She tools blocks and sends across nice crosses. Conner makes quality out of system hits to the middle and can take solid swings from the back row. She does not hesitate to take swings on second contacts and provides quality net backup. Conner makes a number of nice first contacts in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946589"],"_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-6a8b9edb2ddf8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Burk helped Father Ryan to the gold semifinals with quality decision-making on her sets. She has quick hands and executed a variety of long and short sets. Burk puts across deceptive setter dumps and makes the simple passes on defense. She reads opponents well and tries to put hitters in great position to put balls down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["958326"],"_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":1022013,"_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-6a8b9edb2deaa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Floyd has a number of powerful hitters to set up and takes full advantage of them. Floyd has quick hands and executes a vareity of long and short sets. Floyd also makes a lot happen on defense. She has great reflexes to keep balls alive and forms sound double blocks with teammates. Floyd showed she can win jousts against powerful middles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484248"],"_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-6a8b9faf67a5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jasgarszewski is back from an injury and is making a huge difference for the Valkyries. Jasgarszewski has a good connection with her hitters and it consistently shows on the court. Her return lets the other main hitter from last season take some swings. She does not lean much to avoid tipping off blockers. Jasgarszewski also uses her size well to form good double blocks with her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1005143"],"_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":1022024,"_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-6a8ba101a18bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hammond has developed into a quality option for the Crusaders. Hammond mixes in hard and soft shots down lines. She pushes overpassed balls away from opponents and tips balls over blocks when defensive specialists are playing back. Hammond needs to improve on not hitting into blocks as much, but she'll figure that out with her work ethic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for two years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigkentucky/#">prepdigkentucky</a>, @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigtennessee/#">prepdigtennessee</a>&nbsp;or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a>&nbsp;on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy, @PrepDigTN or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky, Tennessee or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky or Tennessee rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->