That is “Dots,” VolleyballMag.com’s weekly take a look at 10 issues in highschool volleyball, previous or current, that curiosity me and hopefully will curiosity you. Search for Dots each Tuesday till the final highschool state championship in November:
• In most states, parochial, Christian and different non-public faculties normally have the leg up on public faculty volleyball competitors for myriad causes, together with earlier begins and the flexibility to attract from a wider space.
That has not been the case traditionally in Texas, the place the general public faculty league, UIL, has been constantly stronger than the non-public faculty leagues, led by TAPPS.
That could be altering.
Over the previous few years, the privates have lured away profitable public faculty coaches Ryan Mitchell (Lovejoy and others) and Mike Carter (Reagan of San Antonio) they usually have reworked Prestonwood Christian Academy and Cornerstone Christian, respectively, into elite nationwide packages with expertise to compete on the very highest ranges.
That is making a backlash among the many public faculties in Texas which have loved superiority for the virtually 25 years I’ve been overlaying the game.
Simply final week, the McKinney College District close to Dallas canceled Boyd Excessive College’s scheduled match versus Prestonwood. These groups performed earlier within the yr and Boyd (17-1) surprised the Plano faculty (14-3) in 5 units. However the extremely anticipated rematch was nixed earlier than first serve.
“We wished to schedule groups which can be in UIL and comply with UIL rules,” Boyd coach JJ Castillo instructed the Dallas Morning Information. “I believe it’s as a result of the principles are so totally different for personal faculties and public faculties.”
• Within the 32 years that Ron Kordes has been teaching Louisville Assumption, the Rockets have gained Kentucky’s single-class state event a ridiculous 22 instances; ridiculous, due to the presence of different extremely aggressive packages, like Mercy Academy, Sacred Coronary heart, Notre Dame and St. Henry, to call just a few. Certainly, throughout that span, Assumption has branded itself as maybe the nation’s most profitable program, with a number of legendary nationwide titles to its credit score.
However after profitable eight titles between 2010 and 2019, one thing unusual has occurred in Kentucky the previous three seasons: Assumption has not gained a state title. Notre Dame gained in 2020 and final season, with St. Henry taking the crown in 2021.
• On Saturday, Assumption took a step in the direction of reclaiming its place atop Kentucky volleyball when it gained the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Match, a prestigious 24-team occasion that featured powerhouse packages from Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee and Florida, in addition to the very best of the Bluegrass State.
The Rockets completed the two-day occasion 5-0 and at the moment are 16-1 on the yr, however the profitable wasn’t simple. After sweeping Henry Clay to open its Friday pool, Kordes’ crew was pushed to the complete three units in its ultimate 4 matches however managed to prevail in all of them. Assumption downed St, Ursula of Cincinnati within the quarterfinals, outlasted Chicago’s Mom McAuley within the semifinals and handed Notre Dame its first lack of the yr within the championship match, 25-14, 21-25, 25-16.
“We lastly performed this previous weekend in line with the imaginative and prescient I had for us this season,” Kordes mentioned. “By the start of our season, I’m not certain what was lacking. Possibly too tight, however we struggled with consistency of play.”
Assumption’s lone loss on the season got here in 5 units late in August to Sacred Coronary heart, which misplaced to Notre Dame in an LIVT semifinal.
“The Sacred Coronary heart match we misplaced after profitable the primary two units was so disappointing as a result of we did not combat again after the momentum modified,” Kordes mentioned. “This previous weekend jogged my memory of a few of our Assumption groups of previous. Though 4 of our 5 matches went three, we didn’t get down and continued to combat our means again into the match.”
• The Dave Mohs Orange County Championships this previous weekend featured most of the finest groups from Southern California. Fierce competitors eradicated many groups ranked within the CIF State prime 25, however left No. 2 Mater Dei of Orange County and No. 3 Cathedral Catholic to battle for the championship. The 2 groups had met as soon as earlier than, with Mater Dei profitable, 28-26, 25-23, within the semifinals at Volleypalooza in Texas in August.
The rematch was as aggressive, with Cathedral Catholic, final yr’s undefeated state and nationwide champions, profitable, 15-10 within the third, after the groups break up 25-18 selections. Michigan-bound center Jenna Hanes was named event MVP.
“Cathedral had a superb ultimate and we couldn’t gradual Jenna down irrespective of how exhausting we tried,” Mater Dei coach Dan O’Dell mentioned.
The Monarchs had been hampered by the lack of junior setter Ayva Ostovar, who was injured the day earlier than the event began. That left Mater Dei with having Julia Kakkis
setting a 5-1 moderately than with the ability to additionally assault from the appropriate in three rotations.
“Our offense turned too predictable in the long run as our middles had been unable to assist offensively,” O’Dell mentioned.
For Cathedral Catholic, libero Maya Evens, pins Tiana Owens and Ayva Moi and setter Amanda Saeger additionally had been catalysts.
Coach Juliana Conn mentioned that getting the revenge win was candy for her crew.
“I’m simply completely happy that we had been capable of play them once more so rapidly and are available out on prime,” she mentioned. “We had been simply extra consisting than the final time we performed them and we had been capable of shut down their massive hitters. Amanda made Jenna and Tiana shine on the web, whereas Maya and Ayva had been anchors on serve obtain.
I’m proud that we adopted the sport plan to a T and confirmed actually good teamwork.”
• Wayzata has gained three straight Minnesota large-class state championships and could also be on its solution to one other in 2023.The Trojans at the moment sit 9-0 to start out the season, thanks largely to a 5-0 weekend in capturing the Southwest Minnesota Problem in Marshall. Scott Jackson’s crew dropped only one set, within the championship match to Champlin Park. Champlin Park is the final in-state crew to defeat Wayzata, carrying out the feat on Sept. 28, 2002.
Stated Jackson: “We had numerous gamers play effectively over the course of the week however one specifically shined: Olivia Swenson. Olivia carries a giant load for our crew. She is keyed on by our opponents usually as they arrange their protection, and she or he is requested to serve powerful, deal with a ton of opponent serves, and performs a giant function in our protection. She’s an infinite a part of our success.”
For the week, which additionally included a 3-1 win over Lakeville South (one other crew that defeated it in September, 2022) the senior exterior hitter had 49 kills whereas hitting 0.324, handed a 2.22 on 50 receptions, served at 93%, and tallied 30 digs, 6 blocks, and 6 assists.
• Millard West of Omaha, the fourth-ranked Class A crew within the state, gained the 9hh Annual Kearney Invite over the weekend by defeating previously-unbeaten and Class B No. 2 Bennington within the finals.
Senior Kaelin Pribyl led the cost with 21 kills with only one error, hitting a blistering .488. Junior libero Sierra Pokharel led the defensive cost with 17 digs.
The Wildcats are 12-4 on the season.
• Papillion-La Vista South is the top-ranked Class A crew in Nebraska. The defending state champion Titans are 12-0 to start out the yr, together with a 2-1 win on Sept. 4 versus St. James Academy of Kansas.
Papio South is led by OH Lauren Medeck, S/RS Charlee Solomon, S Kyra Dyrstad and libero Kami Dyrstad.
St. James is 11-2 on the season and ranked second in Kansas’ 5A classification.
The Thunder leaders are S Reese Messer, libero Mya Bolton and MB Julia Headley.
• Papillion–La Vista South and St. James met for the primary time ever within the fall of 2011 at St. James. It was such a giant deal that the match was televised within the Kansas Metropolis space and all through the state of Nebraska. Certainly, the Nebraska’s two main highschool reporter on the time, Ron Powell and Mike Patterson, made the three-hour drive from Nebraska to personally cowl the match, which featured future Cornhusker stars Kelly Hunter, Kadie Rolfzen and Amber Rolfzen.
I additionally was there for the superb occasion. Right here’s what I wrote in regards to the contest, edited for brevity (not less than as a lot brevity as I can muster):
Nebraska energy Papillion-La Vista South, the No. 2 crew within the nation, remained unbeaten Wednesday evening after twice rallying from a set right down to defeat homestanding St. James Academy, the Kansas energy ranked No. 3 nationally, in 5 units earlier than a raucous Thunder crowd in Lenexa, Kansas.
The distinction within the marathon match, in the end, was blocking. The taller Titans had 15 solo blocks and several other extra tandem rally snuffers. St. James had simply 5.
“If you block a ball, it’s an immediate level,” famous Papio South coach Gwen Egbert. “We had multiple ball that was simply spiked. That’s an enormous thrill for our aspect and it’s like ‘oh crap!’ for his or her aspect. I believe that flipped the momentum and gave us confidence.”
“They’re a significantly better blocking crew than we’re and that harm positively,” agreed Thunder coach Nancy Dorsey.
The match featured a distinction in kinds, as Papio South performs an influence sport behind three future Nebraska Cornhuskers, 6-3 twins Amber Rolfzen and Kadie Rolfzen, who play on the surface; and 5-11 Kelly Hunter, who units and hits; whereas St. James is defensive minded, with a unbelievable libero, Sheridan Zarda, who can also be Nebraska sure, and two others, OH Annie Reilly and setter Paige Brown, who’re among the many finest nationally on protection of their respective positions.
The match additionally was for bragging rights. Each groups completed the 2010 season ranked No. 1 within the nation, Papillion South by each ESPNRise and MaxPreps, St. James by PrepVolleyball.com.
Papio South made the journey from Omaha the proprietor of a 22-0 mark and coming off of a Saturday sweep of Lincoln Pius X, the second finest crew in Nebraska. St. James entered the competition at 29-0 and on Saturday swept Bishop Miege, defeating the crew thought of second finest in Kansas for the third time this season. In different phrases, this was a match up clearly worthy of a packed home, estimated at 1,200, within the Thunder Zone, in addition to a dwell tv viewers each in Kansas Metropolis and all through the state of Nebraska.
The primary set was a blueprint for the way the complete match can be performed. A constantly spectacular protection, aggressive, error-free serving and opportunistic offense helped St. James race to an 18-9 lead.
Down massive, Papio South rallied behind its block.
Having given up a nine-point lead, St. James wanted to make a play to keep away from a collapse that just about assuredly would impression the remainder of the match. The Thunder bought it when Reilly, who was a DS final yr, hit excessive palms off the Papillion block for a kill. She adopted with a killer prime spin ace that had the frenzied pupil part bellowing “level St. James Ah!” even louder than traditional. MB Katie Dulek, St. James’ tallest participant at 6-0 “on a superb day,” added a kill to increase the Thunder result in three. Not even one other Titan block, this one from Kadie Rolfzen, may change the top outcome, a 25-22 St. James win, achieved when 5-6 sophomore OH Arianna Individual’s swing hit the web, caromed over the Titan double block and down.
The fifth set began with a questionable again row block referred to as on Brown and continued with 4 extra Titan factors.
Down by 5 factors, St. James mounted a rally behind 4 Reilly kills and Zarda’s stellar protection, attending to inside two at 9-7.
“After it was 5-0, I noticed willpower on our faces that we weren’t going to exit like this; that if we lose, we had been happening swinging and enjoying our sport,” Reilly mentioned.
After an trade of factors gave the Titans six pictures to win the match, the Thunder saved 4 of them on Reilly’s serve to get inside 14-12 as the group went wild.
However coming all the way in which again was not within the playing cards for St. James. The Papillion South block, so massive the complete evening, rose up when it wanted to most and intimidated a Thunder attacker into making an attempt a shot she couldn’t execute. When the ball discovered the web, Papillion-La Vista South had gained the match of the yr.
“It was actually, actually enjoyable to play them,” Dulek mentioned. “That was some good volleyball. I like enjoying at such a excessive stage. That crew is nice. They pound the ball. Fortunately we’ve a superb protection.”
“I like enjoying groups that may problem you mentally and bodily,” Reilly added. “Credit score to them. They performed out of their minds and deserved to win.”
“We’ve got not had a match like that each one season,” mentioned Hunter. “That match was intense each level and a lot enjoyable.”
“Once we had been down 4-0 and 10-1 [in Game 2], I used to be questioning whether or not we had been going to compete,” Egbert mentioned. “After which we began to make some performs. We had a number of blocks. We needed to do one thing as a result of we weren’t going to match up with them defensively. I imply we had been digging some balls, however not like they had been.
“We haven’t performed a crew like this all yr. It was an awesome match to be part of.”
Amber Rolfzen and Kadie Rolfzen mixed for 42 kills and Kadie had 30 digs to steer Papillion South, however after the match all agreed that the Titans’ well-distributed block was the distinction within the match.
“A block is sort of a kill in that it will get you some extent but it surely additionally does one thing to the hitter on the opposite aspect,” mentioned Dulek. “A block can mess with individuals’s head. Earlier than the match I turned to a different hitter and mentioned we’re all going to get blocked but it surely’ll be okay. We’re going to maintain going.”
“I used to be pleased with our hitters, as a result of once they bought blocked they bought blocked,” Dorsey mentioned. “There was no overlaying that. However they stored swinging.”
Reilly led the way in which offensively for St. James with 25 kills. Individual added 19, however had solely three within the ultimate two units. Defensively, 4 Thunder gamers amassed greater than 20 digs, with 32 from Brown and 25 from Zarda main the way in which.
After the match, Dorsey, who’s 5 months’ pregnant with a child woman, was requested whether or not St. James gained or misplaced that match.
“I might say each,” she responded. “Most thought they had been going to roll over us with three Nebraska recruits. I truly had reporters from Nebraska calling and asking if my line up was correct, like, ‘Is your left aspect actually 5-6?’ I assumed it was humorous as a result of the scale distinction is admittedly astronomical. We talked to our crew how that doesn’t matter and on the finish of the day I don’t suppose it did.
“We’re a bunch of teeny tiny little issues who’ve been underestimated and missed their entire lives. This was their alternative to indicate people who they’re legit and that the nationwide championship banner hanging of their fitness center is legit. I believe they did that.”
• Missouri Class 5 defending champion Lafayette is 10-0 to start out 2023. The Lancers on Saturday gained the Rockwood Traditional, that includes a number of the finest groups in Missouri — Cor Jesu, Eureka, Jackson, Kickapoo, Liberty North, Marquette, Nixa, St. Teresa’s Academy – in addition to St. James.
Lafayette’s run included wins over Kickapoo, Liberty North and St. James, the Thunder’s second loss on the season.
Senior Libero and UIndy commit Mia Moser for the victors, averaging over three digs per set and passing over a 2.2 on serve obtain.
• This ultimate Dot is an odds-and-ends one…
We wrote final week in regards to the Missouri showdown between Kickapoo and Nixa earlier than final Wednesday’s showdown between the 2 then-undefeated groups. Which crew gained? Nixa in revenge, 15-13 within the fifth!
Amelia White had 12 kills, 18 digs and three aces to steer Nixa. Paige Pearcy and Taylor Wooden added 24 digs apiece.
Bella Faria had 16 kills, 19 digs and 4 aces for Kickapoo. Kya Johnson added 22 digs and 4 aces.
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Coach Betty Wroubel, a beautiful ambassador for the sport, just lately collected profession win 1,700 (not a misprint) for Notre Dame Prep of Pontiac, Michigan. Wroubel has been teaching on the varsity stage for 35 years…
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Senior MB Julia Hunt of Covington Holy Cross (KY) surpassed two large profession milestones this week.
On Saturday, the Washington recruit bought her 500th block. She adopted that up three days later with profession kills No. 2,000, a part of a 40-kill evening in a reverse-sweep win …
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Junior libero Aniya Warren bought profession dig No. 1,000 this week for Benet Academy within the Chicago space …
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Louisiana’s Archbishop Hannan took third within the McGill-Toolen Catholic Cup in Alabama however was capable of defeat the host faculty and defending 7A champion Soiled Dozen through the event. Hannan has two with outrageous profession marks: senior setter Sarah Kirsch, with effectively over 3,000 assists and Senior OH Sophia Bonnaffee, with greater than 1,300 profession kills …
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Lucy Beckham, a faculty in Mount Nice, South Carolina, is just 4 years previous, however it’s nonetheless making volleyball highlights.
This previous week, 6-1 senior OH and crew captain Maggie Elliott exceeded 1,000 profession kills. She’s been on the crew since her freshman yr in 2020, when the season was minimize quick because of Covid. Beckham is a Florida State seaside volleyball recruit …
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Madison Quest, a 6-3 junior OH dedicated to Wisconsin, just lately celebrated her 1,000th profession kill for Milwaukee’s Divine Savior Holy Angels.
Till subsequent time …
