In a matchup featuring nine of the last 10 state champions, Assumption came out on top once again.
The Rockets defeated Notre Dame on Saturday night at George Rogers Clark in the KHSAA state volleyball championship, sweeping the Pandas 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14).
It marked the fourth consecutive championship for the Rockets and the fourth straight season they’ve ended Notre Dame’s run.
Assumption delivered a dominant performance, recording 45 kills to Notre Dame’s 26 while adding 11 blocks.
The Rockets also held a significant advantage in hitting percentage, finishing at .201 compared to the Pandas’ .027.
“I feel like they were always on our outsides, which is kind of our bread and butter going to Teagan and Emma,” Pandas co-coach Hannah Colvin said. “They were always right there. It was hard to find spots on the floor because their block was so solid.”
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Assumption took the opening set behind a key run midway through. After a Makayla Roose kill made it 14-13, the Rockets went on a 6-1 run to build a 20-14 advantage.
Assumption finished the set with 17 kills to Notre Dame’s 10 while posting an 18% hitting percentage.
The Rockets controlled the second set from the start, jumping out to a 10-3 lead and never looking back. Their advantage grew to as much as 12 points at 23-11. The Pandas found some momentum late, closing the set on a 6-2 run, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
The third set followed a similar script, with Assumption taking control early and building a 9-4 advantage. The Rockets continued to dictate play, leading 15-8 and 18-9.
Notre Dame battled back to cut the deficit to six at 18-12, forcing an Assumption timeout. However, the Rockets responded and closed out the set to secure another state championship.
For Notre Dame, it’s never a rebuild, but rather a reload.
The Pandas graduate just three seniors, including Teagan Kondik, Ella Osterkamp and Emma Miller. Kondik and Osterkamp served as key pieces of the offense, with Kondik leading the attack and Osterkamp stepping into the starting setter role this season. Miller was also a vocal leader for the team.
Kondik leaves behind an illustrious career and will go down as one of the greats in Notre Dame’s program history.
“It’s awesome to be considered among people like Ava Tilden and Sydney Nolan,” Kondik said. “I’ve learned from them, I try to model my game after them, who I am as a person, who I am as a teammate. This season, it was just about being a great teammate. I try not to look at the accolades and I try not to look at the stats and stuff, so just you know being there for my team.”
Notre Dame will return several key contributors, including Region Player of the Year candidate Makalya Roose, along with Ella Breitling and Emma Redlinger, who stepped up in the postseason, and libero Kaia Tilden.
Dara Jackson, Charlotte Verst, Elise Grout and Sophia Bramlage will also return as important rotational pieces.
“This year was a great opportunity for us to grow and learn,” Pandas co-coach Madison Salkowski said. “I think that if you’re always doing the right things, then you’re never learning. You’re just continuing to do the same thing over and over. I think that this season threw a lot at us, and we were able to really just change around practices, lineups, everything like that to try and find the right fit. We were peaking at the right time. I think in postseason, we really found our groove.”
Assumption’s latest championship is the 26th in program history during the 47 years the state tournament has been held.
Notre Dame remains at 10 state titles, finishing as the runner-up for the third time in the past four seasons after capturing the championship in 2022.
The two programs have combined to win nine of the last 10 state championships, with St. Henry the only other school to claim a title during that stretch. Assumption has won seven of those championships, while Notre Dame has claimed two.
“This is my 38th year, and when I started, that school just beat our brains out every time we played them,” Rockets coach Ron Kordes said. “There’ll always be a deep respect for Notre Dame, and never ever would we be in a position to overlook them. They’re a heck of a program, and they’re a classy program. It’s kind of a rivalry or competition that you look forward to.”
ROCKETS DEF. PANDAS (25-21, 25-17, 25-14)
Game Stats
Kills: Assumption 45, Notre Dame 26
Aces: Assumption 4, Notre Dame 3
Errors: Assumption 17, Notre Dame 23
Blocks: Assumption 11, Notre Dame 6
Records: Assumption 39-3, Notre Dame 28-12
