It’s almost as predictable as leaves falling from the red maple trees in Park Hills.
Notre Dame vs. Louisville Assumption in the state volleyball tournament.
The Pandas and Rockets meet for the 48th time at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
In Friday’s quarterfinals, Notre Dame eliminated first-time participant Knott County Central, 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-10). Assumption did the same to McCracken County, 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-14).
Saturday is also a duel between the last two state champions. Assumption (32-8) is the defending titlist – defeating Notre Dame for the trophy – and the Pandas won in 2022.
“I think it’s something that’s never really out of our minds,” Notre Dame junior Audrey Dyas said.
Notre Dame co-coach Jenna Leistner preaches staying in the moment.
“It’s a new team, new year,” Leistner said. “It’s still in the back of our memory.”
Assumption has dominated the series. According to KHSAA records, the Rockets are 39-8 since 2001, including state titles in 2002, 2007 and 2013.
This year, however, the Notre Dame (33-3) has prevailed. They beat the Rockets, 2-0, at the Mother McAuley 2024 Asics Challenge Oct. 5 in Chicago and 3-2 Oct. 15 in Park Hills.
Notre Dame and Assumption play similar styles – a 5-1 alignment with a single setter.
Three Assumption players merit attention Saturday. Bailey Blair had 11 kills against McCracken County, Emma Barnett had 10, and Emilee Fuller had 34 assists.
“(Blair will) be one of our big concerns,” Leistner said. “We’ll definitely know where she is on the court at all times. She hits front row, she hits back row.”
Knott Central (31-10) sought divine inspiration Friday. The backs of their warmup shirts carried the slogan “Don’t Give Up – 41 Will Come,” a biblical reference to the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for their rebellion against God, the 40 days Goliath taunted Israel before David killed him with a slingshot and a stone, and the 40 days and nights Satan tempted Jesus in the Judean Desert.
Knott Central trailed by just 13-11 in the first set on Faith Pollard’s kill – just in time for Notre Dame’s 12-2 run.
“We watched a lot of film on them early (Friday),” Dyas said. “We figured out (Pollard) was their best hitter and blocker. We tried to stay away from her and respect that.”
Dyas led the Pandas with 16 kills, Ava Tilden had 15, and Teagan Kondik had 10. Lizzy Larkins served 50 assists.
The Patriots took a 3-1 lead in the second set on Dyas’ and Tilden’s attack errors and Julia Grace’s service miscue. Not to worry – an Ella Goetz kill capped a 24-7 run.
Notre Dame had no trouble in the third set – the Pandas led 20-8 at one point.
Leistner said Notre Dame and Scott – the Eagles meet Louisville Mercy at 11 a.m. Saturday in the first semifinal at 11 a.m. – representing Northern Kentucky is “awesome.”
It’s Louisville vs northern Kentucky Saturday.
“We were talking about that on our drive here,” Leistner said. “Like, how awesome is it that the team before us is a team that is just 10 minutes down the road from us? … It just says how good volleyball is up in Northern Kentucky.”