With eight players having committed to play in college, the talent level on the Assumption High School volleyball team never was a question this season.
But the mentality of the team? That was a huge question mark.
“Anything that pushed against us, we would just fall away,” senior Kara Shacklette said. “We were very weak in our mind-set. We weren’t sure how to come together as a team.”
But after a roller-coaster first two months of the season, the Rockets found their way and returned to the top of the state. The coronation came Sunday with a dominating 25-5, 25-14, 25-10 victory over Owensboro Catholic in the final of the state tournament at Valley’s J.C. Cantrell Gymnasium.
After failing to make the state tournament last year, the No. 1-ranked Rockets (36-7) captured their 19th championship and fifth in the past six years.
“I’m so proud of the way they played the last three weeks,” coach Ron Kordes said. “I guess it’s that old adage about getting hot at the right time. I think that’s what we did. …
“They talk about a game being 80 percent mental, and I think it’s even higher than that. It changed over quickly, and that consistency showed up.”
All 15 players on the Assumption roster saw action Sunday, and each of them contributed. Shacklette (12) and Ana Crockett (10) led the way in kills. Shelby Olsen was masterful at her setter spot with 34 assists, and libero Allie Gregory had a match-high 13 digs and was named tournament MVP. Anna Palmer pitched in four aces.
Gregory said the Rockets finally came together as a team after a fourth-place finish in the Asics Challenge held Oct. 2-3 in Chicago. Assumption won its final 12 matches after that trip.
“Mistakes can either break people, or you can bounce back from that and keep fighting,” Gregory said. “I think that’s what we were doing. It was mental toughness.”
Natalie Jones had eight kills to lead Owensboro Catholic (35-9), which was playing in its first state final. Coach Brian Harbison said Assumption’s size and speed were a lethal combination.
“And they’re very, very aggressive servers, and that’s something we’ve struggled with all year,” Harbison said. “If we had any downfall all year, it’s our serve receiving.”
Assumption wasted little time asserting its dominance Sunday, jumping to an 11-5 lead in the first set and then scoring the final 14 points. Olsen had 16 assists in the set.
The Lady Aces showed some fight in the second set, taking a 12-11 lead on Alli Thompson’s kill. But the Rockets took over from there, scoring 14 of the final 16 points. Shacklette had nine kills and Palmer had all four of her aces during the set.
Kordes said the team concept – rather than relying on one or two stars – was evident Sunday.
“Our strength was we were solid in all positions,” he said. “That’s what we had to capitalize on. That’s where we had trouble early in the year, trying to find out who was going to do what.”
Assumption cruised in the third set, getting back-to-back kills by Crockett to finish the match.
Kordes admitted he wasn’t sure this Assumption team could reach this point but saw his squad gain confidence with victories over Sacred Heart, Mercy and Notre Dame in the final weeks of the regular season.
“We really didn’t seem like we trusted one another on the court,” Kordes said of the early struggles. “Sometimes you pay the price, and we got spanked around in Chicago a little bit. I think they saw what we were doing wasn’t going to work.
“They came back to their credit and were able to finish. What a difference when you’re out there playing with confidence.”
* All-tournament team: Allie Gregory (MVP), Shelby Olsen, Brooke Moore (Assumption); Alli Thompson, Natalie Jones, Lauren Brown (Owensboro Catholic); Hannah Talkers, Morgan Hentz (Notre Dame); Cayce Chaykowsky, Addie Farley (Henderson County); Morgan Elmore (Mercy); Jennifer Rebbin (North Oldham); April Wood (Pulaski Southwestern); Madison Jenkins (South Warren).
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.