This story originally appeared in the September 6 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here.
While teammates pack up their bags after smashing volleyballs in practice, the Notre Dame captains stick around to discuss history.
Julia Grace and Lauren Ott are two of seven seniors playing for the two-time defending 9th Region champions. The Pandas made it all the way to last season’s state championship final, but fell to Louisville Assumption. Grace, last year’s Northern Kentucky Girls Volleyball Coaches Association Division I player of the year, is a savvy setter. Ott, an NKGVCA Division I honorable mention, is a hustling defensive specialist.
They helped the Pandas start the 2024 season 4-0 with victories against Boone County, Cincinnati Mercy McAuley, Beechwood, and McNicholas.
“I think the team is looking pretty good,” Ott said. “We work really hard in practice and the girls are excited about what we can do.”
Ott paced the Pandas in assists after the first week of matches. Grace led in digs. They are part of a legion of quality players who have a knack for keeping the volleyball in the air.
“That’s the whole point. That’s the goal. Don’t let the ball hit the floor,” said Grace, who verbally commitment to Xavier University almost a year ago. “That’s part of what we work on.”
The larger picture frames an even bigger goal: win a state championship. After numbering all the ways they can keep the volleyball from hitting the hardwood, the captains number the state crowns. There are 10 in all, second only to Louisville Assumption’s state record 22.
Two seasons ago, Grace and Ott were sophomores on the last state championship-winning Pandas squad. There is major motivation for a second crown. And they hope those who haven’t won state get to experience the euphoria.
“It’s the best feeling,” Ott said.
Having been around the program for four years, Grace and Ott qualify as experts on recent vintage Notre Dame volleyball. They know how the Pandas have fared against Louisville powers Assumption, Mercy and Sacred Heart. They know another state crown would be Notre Dame’s third in five years.
When asked what the 2020, 2022, and 2024 Pandas have in common, Grace knew the answer. There is a Grace sister on all those teams. Her older sister, Emma Grace, was a senior on the 2020 state-winning squad before heading to Xavier. Julia Grace was a sophomore on the 2022 state-winning team. Which means if the Pandas win it all this fall, they will once again do it with Grace. Only this time, it’ll be with Julia.
“Yeah, me and my sister are totally aware of that fact,” Julia said. “She encourages me with messages. I would love to win state again. It’s rare to have sisters do something like that and it would be super cool.”
It would also be super cool for Pandas senior Lacey Hostetler. She was the team leader in service aces after the first week of play. She was a sophomore on the 2022 state title-winning squad. Her sister Kayla Hostetler was a sophomore on the 2020 state-winning Pandas.
“Back in 2020 when we won, it was such a relief after not winning state for a long time. There is more belief,” says Pandas co-coach Leslie Litmer.
Litmer shares the position with fellow former Panda Jenna Schreiver. They both were Notre Dame assistant coaches back in 2020.
“But after we won it that year, it was like, now what?” Litmer continued. “When we became co-head coaches, we just wanted to make sure the girls could live off that past success. And maintain the belief while moving forward. In that sense, it’s an important component to still have those girls who helped us win state in 2022.”
Of course, there are plenty of other Pandas whose families don’t have a stake in past crowns. But those players dearly want to join Notre Dame’s family of state champions. This includes Ott and three other Pandas heading to NCAA Division I programs. Like Grace, all-NKGVCA first-team standout Ava Tilden has verbally committed to Xavier. Riley McCloskey, an all-NKGVCA second-team pick, is a Memphis commit. Audrey Dyas is heading to Wake Forest.
Tilden is among the team’s kill leaders. Dyas is a blocks leader. Grace Portwood led the Pandas in kills after the first week. Portwood and Ella Goetz were co-leaders in blocks. Lizzie Larkins is among the assist leaders.
“A lot of girls are contributing,” Litmer said. “The kinds of conversations we’re having this early in the schedule is exciting because it shows where we are at. We have a long way to go. We want to be honest with the process. And make sure we’re doing all the things we need to do to reach our goals.”
