State Championship Game: Assumption pounds way to 26th crown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Notes: Do you want to get in front of Prep Dig Scouts? This is one big way to do it. The annual Kentucky Exposure Tour in Wilder is Nov. 28. Click on this link to register:</em> <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky</a>. <em>For 25 percent off, type</em> ET26Mike25OFF <em>at checkout.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It came three points away from stopping a year and even plays here and there in the semifinals, but the Assumption Rockets once again proved why no one in the Commonwealth has beaten them in more than two years after smacking their way to a four-peat with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14) win over the rival Notre Dame Pandas to conclude the season with an impressive 40-3 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Legendary head coach Ron Kordes said the Rockets become impatient at times after the semifinal win over Mercy in five sets. However, that proved to be far from the case in the championship game as four players hit double digits in digs led by all-around sound performances from [player_tooltip player_id='603778' first='Addison' last='Hurley'], [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='611743' first='Taylor' last='McKenzie']. [player_tooltip player_id='484323' first='Cheyenne' last='Reyes'] also had a good game as the libero along with [player_tooltip player_id='931035' first='Natalie' last='Whitsell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='883058' first='Lillian' last='Krutsinger'] also jumping in on the act. Whitsell also kept Notre Dame out of system with her serving. Hurley then distributed the ball well to Codey, [player_tooltip player_id='823336' first='Claire' last='Kleinhenz'], [player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'], McKenzie and even [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] as the Rockets dominated the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption out-blocked Notre Dame, 11-6 and hit .201 for the game landing 45 kills on 139 attempts with 17 errors. Defensively, the Rockets held the Pandas to just a .027 hitting percentage landing 26 kills on 111 attempts and 23 errors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We call the middle of the court the donut," Kordes said. "I've been preaching the donut all year long. All of a sudden, I think we had five of them. I thought, 'Why are we waiting until the very last match or whatever?' Maybe we'll get a head start on it next year."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame (28-12) gave as great an effort defensively as all season recording 67 digs to 55 for Assumption. [player_tooltip player_id='727131' first='Kaia' last='Tilden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774790' first='Elise' last='Grout'] had nice digs with [player_tooltip player_id='484250' first='Teagan' last='Kondik'] trying to do what she could to help the Pandas bring the gold back to Park Hills. [player_tooltip player_id='727143' first='Makayla' last='Roose'] also made some nice plays at the net on sound sets from [player_tooltip player_id='798218' first='Ellie' last='Osterkamp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='731698' first='Ellie' last='Breitling'] made some sound blocks. The Pandas could not get on a roll against the Rockets offensively like they had in previous postseason games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'], Assumtion - 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'], Assumption - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='611743' first='Taylor' last='McKenzie'], Assumption - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Claire Klienhenz, Assumption - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='484250' first='Teagan' last='Kondik'], Notre Dame - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='727143' first='Makayla' last='Roose'], Notre Dame - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='603778' first='Addison' last='Hurley'], Assumption - 33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='798218' first='Ellie' last='Osterkamp'], Notre Dame - 23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='727131' first='Kaia' last='Tilden'], Notre Dame - 18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kondik - 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Codey - 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='774790' first='Elise' last='Grout'], Notre Dame - 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hurley - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='484323' first='Cheyenne' last='Reyes'], Assumption - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='931035' first='Natalie' last='Whitsell'], Assumption - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKenzie - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kondik - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roose - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='731698' first='Ellie' last='Breitling'], Notre Dame - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'], Assumption - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hurley - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611724"],"_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":1062270,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aefdc0d53d72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Codey (pictured) earned the tournament's most valuable player honors with another solid all-around performance. Codey uses her nice vertical jump to take quality line shots and crosses. Codey played lights out on defense once again digging up a number of balls that came to her even if it meant lunging or swinging her arms out under control. An improved wrist snap has helped Codey pound balls down with a steeper downward trajectory. Codey said the familiarity with each other the Rockets have developed over the years in high school and club ball has helped build the trust in each other and led to even keel play needed to succeed in big games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883058"],"_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":1062273,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af002cbd9857"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Krutsinger (pictured) may not put up some of the dig totals as her teammates, but the team is so skilled that even digs here and there to a long way to success for the Rockets. Krutsinger does a good job trailing plays and stops her feet in her tracks when balls come her way to make those quality first touches. Krutsinger said her role to help the team defensively comes from the trust her teammates have in her to make it for the Rockets as opposed to doing it for individual glory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["931035"],"_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":1062279,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af002cbd98bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitsell makes her fair share of plays in the back row, but her serving played a big role in Assumption's latest state championship. Whitsell comes in and gives the Rockets quick points with those aggressive serves. Whitsell serves to different zones and tries to go after struggling passers. Whitsell said the Rockets work a lot on zone placement with serving so it has helped them figure out when to serve aggresively and when to take some speed off those serves. She added the pressure serving drills help the Rockets stay calm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["851613"],"_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":1062281,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af002cbd9911"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lee once again did her part to help Assumption control the net with her size and powerful vertical jump. Lee used those attributes to take powerful rips to deep corners on go routes. She gets up quick on ones before double blocks can form and does a good job pushing balls away from opponents. Lee is tough to hit balls through at the net. Opponents especially can't go soft on her. Lee said the team works a lot on blocking in practice finding different ways to continually improve there and it worked out in the championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484250"],"_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":1062284,"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af003edbb32a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kondik left everything on the court in her final game for the Pandas. Kondik got up and used her high attack point to power balls over and around blockers, especially when Notre Dame did get in system. She once again took powerful hits from the back row. Kondik mixes in nice off shots from the front and back rows. Kondik also does a great job stepping to balls and deliver smooth first touches to setters.</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 nearly three 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. 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