Notre Dame volleyball coach Leslie Litmer said winning two state volleyball titles in three years, including the 2020 and 2022 crowns, is a good and hard thing.
“It’s a good thing because you’re happy to see all of the hard work pay off for the players,” Litmer said. “It also makes it really hard because it just puts a bigger target on your back. While you also want to cherish those memories and celebrate, continue celebrating the hard work that was done and all of those accomplishments, it’s also keeping it in perspective – that OK, you still have to work harder, you have to work harder than last year.”
When it comes to volleyball, the targets the Pandas have are as wide as nearby Covington Catholic’s football field is long: 10 state and 36 regional titles since 1979, every 35th District championship from 2010-22, 33rd District championships from 2005-2009, a pair of 32nd District trophies in 2003 and 2004, and two 18th District crowns in 2001-02.
Having co-coaches has worked well with Litmer, a 2010 graduate, and 2009 alumna Jenna Leistner.
“We split up the duties,” Litmer said. “The defensive side of the game is kind of my end, and then Jenna takes on the offensive side and the setter work with our assistant, Madison Salkowski (a 2016 graduate).”
Junior outside hitter Ava Tilden’s 272 kills was tops among the returnees. Sophomore Audrey Dyas and junior Riley McCloskey join her on the front line.
The Pandas appear strong in the back line, too. Junior setter Lauren Ott and sophomore setter Lizzy Larkins had 684 and 545 assists, respectively.
“That was both their first year competing at varsity, and they did a great job,” Litmer said.
Holy Cross (30-9 last year)
Indians coach Jill Hunt was undeniably happy on Aug. 4.
The reason: It was the day the University of Washington – her daughter Julia’s college choice – and the University of Oregon left the Pac-12 for the Big 10, joining UCLA and USC.
Which means, beginning next summer, Hunt’s family won’t have to fly to Boulder, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Pullman, Washington, Corvallis, Oregon or Northern California to watch Julia. Instead, closer trips to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Bloomington, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio are possible. What’s more: Julia’s desire to play in the Big 10 will happen.
“Isn’t that awesome?” Jill Hunt said. “It totally made my day … There was a big celebration that day.”
With Julia Hunt’s college future a lot more settled, Holy Cross addresses the obvious – dethroning Notre Dame.
Jill Hunt and Becky Houston are the co-coaches – Hunt runs most of the practices, while Houston handles the administrative duties. They coach the games together.
“(Houston’s) the calm to my storm,” Jill Hunt said.
Julia Hunt’s statistics were eye-popping last season: 664 kills (which was 53% of the Indians’ 1,245), 127 blocks and 246 digs.
Holy Cross’ roster is a bit deceiving: there are seven seniors, but only Hunt played much in 2022.
The Indians bring one of the Ninth Region’s tallest front lines – Hunt at 6-foot-2, junior Kyah Ryan at 5-foot-11 and senior Camille Lowe at 5-foot-10. Sophomore Olivia McHenry and freshman Lucy Lenihan are the setters.
Beechwood (19-16)
First-year coach Matt Long is the Tigers’ fourth coach since 2020. He’s no novice – he’s coached at Notre Dame and Dixie Heights.
Long spent the last three years watching his daughter, former Dixie Heights and IUPUI freshman Maia Long.
The elder Long thought he was done coaching – until he wasn’t.
“Beechwood has been knocking on my door, even when Maia was still playing I was still coaching,” he said.
The Tigers are young – Paige Greis and Emma Pabst are the only seniors. “I’m trying to get (Pabst) to become more of a back row player for me,” Long said.
Sophomore Piper Steinmetz and freshman Isabel O’Brien had 162 and 125 digs, respectively in 2022.
“Between (sophomore) Isabel Baaker, (sophomore) Kendale Lair and Isabel O’Brien, those are going to be some people we’re going to try to run our offense through a lot as outside hitters and just as attackers,” Long said.
At 5-foot-11 and 5-foot-9 ½, respectively, freshmen Macy Armstrong and Rachel Lewandowski are the tallest Tigers.
Holmes (6-22)
Second-year coach Brittany Vancini is living a full-circle moment; she’s coached most, if not all, of this year’s roster since sixth and seventh grade.
“We’re always hopeful; that’s what I always tell my girls,” Vancini said. “Don’t get me wrong: I love to win, it would be nice. If anything, we’re going to show people that we can keep up.”
Holmes has only one senior, setter Zyia Burton, who had 80 assists and 47 digs.
“I have a very young team; a majority of my team are actually freshmen, which is fine,” Vancini said. “They’re actually a very good – really good – group of freshman girls. They played for me sixth, seventh and eighth grade.”
One of the freshmen, defensive specialist/outside hitter Jaida Barnes, played in 27 games last season; she added five kills, six assists and 26 digs.
“She’s really good up front, but she also can play back row really well,” Vancini said. “She almost has her jump serve; that’s what we’ve been working on in practice.”
Covington Latin (1-17)
The Trojans have not competed in the district tournament since 2019.
Seven players from last season are expected to return: juniors Emily Ehrman, Elizabeth Greelish, Kriti Kumar and Alexianna Stokes and sophomores Miranda Howell, Jocelyn Shrontz and Mary Swaney. Joining them are: seniors Danica Przanowski and Elizabeth Russell; juniors Riley Anderson, Kyla Davis, Elizabeth McWhinnie and Georgia Pratt; sophomores Brenna Frederick, Talula Lane, Chelsea Martinez and Jill Matherne; eighth-grader Kennedy Roby; and seventh-grader Elizabeth Prudhomme.
Heather Maudlin is the new coach.
