Manual, Assumption move on in 7th semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee!</strong> Here's the&nbsp;link to the event page:&nbsp;<a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All four teams knew various players on each team would pound down a good number of kills in one of the tougher regions of the Commonwealth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It came down to the teams that defended better that advanced. The Assumption Rockets and host DuPont Manual Crimsons accomplished those feats in the 7th Region semifinals Wednesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption 3, Sacred Heart 0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets (30-8 overall) defended the potent Valkyrie offense well in both meetings during the regular season and did the same thing in the third and most important meeting of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wisconsin commit libero [player_tooltip player_id='172945' first='Kristen' last='Simon'] once again led the way digging her way into double figures and Auburn commit [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'] nearly joined her. The Rocket front line did a good job forcing the Valkyrie hitters high and wide if they did not get touches on the ball. Senior 6-2 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='477120' first='Janie' last='Eichberger'] led the way there with four blocks and the Valkyries had just one block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once the important first touches took place, Assumption dynamic setter [player_tooltip player_id='172952' first='Emilee' last='Fuller'] dished balls out well. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='172951' first='Bailey' last='Blair'] led the attack with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='172950' first='Emma' last='Barnett'] joining in on the action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets took advantage of lone runs in all three games. They scored seven straight after Sacred Heart scored the first point in the first game then built an 18-7 lead in the third game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets also served better. Blair and Fuller had a good number of aces and the Rockets limited the Valkyries to three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Valkyries (33-6) tried a number of different hits with their dynamic hitters [player_tooltip player_id='172949' first='Bridget' last='Egan'], [player_tooltip player_id='159350' first='Elise' last='Hart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159351' first='Anna' last='Powell'] along with setter [player_tooltip player_id='477212' first='Sarah' last='Kempf']. Senior libero Charlotte Moyer dug up a number of balls, but Sacred Heart could not keep up with the Rockets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart graduates eight seniors. They are Egan, Hart, Powell, Kempf, Moyer, Clara Crawford, Lydia Smith and Autiana Wilson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manual 3, Ballard 1 (21-25, 25-13, 25-12, 25-21)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One team had the quickness advantage and the other had the size advantage. Quickness won out in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crimsons (29-10) figured out ways to keep the Bruins out of system after the first game with their athleticism. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='477202' first='Aubrey' last='Montgomery'] left with an injury with the Crimsons up 12-7 in the first game. The Crimsons had to switch from a 6-2 to a 5-1 offense after that, but [player_tooltip player_id='253861' first='Abby' last='Gentner'] rose up to the challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='642357' first='Kennedy' last='Dawson'] and Calista Easley led the way on defense and [player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton'] gave the Crimsons some good touches at the net. Dawson and Fulton also had some key aces. From there, [player_tooltip player_id='588564' first='Brooke' last='Ciresi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768464' first='Avery' last='Schrenger'] put a number of balls down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard did build a 6-2 lead in the fourth game, but could not hold the lead. The game ended on a Ballard wide hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins had success in the middle with 6-6 [player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Ella' last='Grivna'] and 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening'] with nice sets from [player_tooltip player_id='477200' first='Natalie' last='Sanders'], but they could not stay with the athletic Crimsons. [player_tooltip player_id='750447' first='Megan' last='Helander'] led the defense with [player_tooltip player_id='479283' first='Ahtziry' last='Medina'] leading in serves. [player_tooltip player_id='752300' first='Journey' last='Gibson'] also gave the Bruins some balance at the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard (29-8) still broke the school record for number of wins in a season, won the first 28th District crown since 2020 and advanced to the region semifinals for the first time since the same year. The Bruins have six seniors in Sanders, [player_tooltip player_id='538292' first='Nia' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='395957' first='Piper' last='Blain'], [player_tooltip player_id='579792' first='Jocelyn' last='Marowelli'], [player_tooltip player_id='645148' first='Macie' last='Paxton'] and Makaylah O'Neil.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='588564' first='Brooke' last='Ciresi'], Manual - 25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Ella' last='Grivna'], Ballard - 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172951' first='Bailey' last='Blair'], Assumption - 13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='768464' first='Avery' last='Schrenger'], Manual - 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='159350' first='Elise' last='Hart'], Sacred Heart - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172949' first='Bridget' last='Egan'], Sacred Heart - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'], Assumption - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening'], Ballard - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172950' first='Emma' last='Barnett'], Assumption - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='752300' first='Journey' last='Gibson'], Ballard - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172952' first='Emilee' last='Fuller'], Assumption - 39</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='253861' first='Abby' last='Gentner'], Manual - 36</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477200' first='Natalie' last='Sanders'], Ballard - 31</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477212' first='Sarah' last='Kempf'], Sacred Heart - 26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='750447' first='Megan' last='Helander'], Ballard - 19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='172945' first='Kristen' last='Simon'], Assumption - 12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'], Assumption - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='642357' first='Kennedy' last='Dawson'], Manual - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Calista Easley, Manual - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='479283' first='Ahtziry' last='Medina'], Ballard - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawson - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fuller - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton'], Manual - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fulton - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477120' first='Janie' last='Eichberger'], Assumption - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grivna - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172951"],"_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":713454,"_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-6723b5b253913"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blair (pictured) rose up in a number of ways to lift the Rockets to the win. She pounded balls from the front row, angled different directions to dig up balls and unleashed a monster jump serve for big aces. Blair is very tough when she attacks running toward the net. Blair said the team has been working on all-out defense trying to prevent as many balls from hitting the floor as possible. She added the Rockets can rely on the defense even when balls do not fall on the other side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172952"],"_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":713458,"_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-6723b5b25396f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fuller was as steady as she's been quarterbacking the offense. Fuller watches the other side and listens to her teammates and coaches with where to put balls. She does a number of sets including one that sees two players attack the middle. Opponents have to watch both not knowing where the ball is going. Fuller also had some big aces. Fuller said the team did a good job staying composed in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212396"],"_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-6723b5b2539b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keiran is as reliable of a passer as anyone in the state. Balls carom off her arms like ping pong balls to the target for a high number of two and three-point passes. Keiran credited her blockers for setting up the defensive specialists well. Her experience is highly valuable to the Rockets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159350"],"_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-6723b7b3c89d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hart does a great job finding different ways to put balls down. Hart can smack balls to a number of places on the court. She did what she could trying to help the Valkyries back to the state tournament for the first time since 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["588564"],"_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-6723b7b3c8a32"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ciresi had a monster game rising up above the net and putting balls to different parts of the court away from the defenders. Ciresi constantly found ways around the tall Bruin blocks mixing in tips. Ciresi said the Crimsons tried to move around the Ballard defense and find their shots, not trying to hammer it every time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253861"],"_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-6723b7b3c8a73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Genter rose up to the challenge of running the offense when [player_tooltip player_id='477202' first='Aubrey' last='Montgomery'] went down in the second game. She has a good connection with her hitters, reads defenses well and puts passes at good angles for hitters to smack hard. Genter said everyone needed to bring more to the table when Montgomery went down and she was proud of the efforts from her teammates.</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":"","_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-6723b7b3c8ab3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fulton did a good job getting touches on balls at the net making things easier for the defenders. She also kept the Bruins out of system with some big serves. Fulton noted that importance of the yo-yo effect with serving to keep opponents on their toes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='752300' first='Journey' last='Gibson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ballard","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6723b7b3c8b47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gibson earned some valuable experience on the outside for the Bruins this season. She showed she can make some big kills to different parts of the court opening one-on-one opportunities for her teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->