In his first season as head coach, Brett Versen has the Sacred Heart volleyball team ranked No. 1 in Kentucky and No. 7 in the nation. C-J file photo
Brett Versen knew there would be obstacles when he took over a Sacred Heart Academy volleyball program that was nationally ranked and featured nine seniors hungry for a state championship.
But with 40 matches behind him and the final weekend of the season approaching, Versen said the transition in his first season as the Valkyries’ head coach has gone as smooth as possible.
“When you have such heavy presence of upperclassmen, it’s always tough in their last year when you have someone new come in and you have to do things different than you’re used to,” Versen said. “You have to get used to what to expect out of them and what they’re like on the bench.
“The only real obstacle was getting comfortable with each other. I feel like they trusted us and they were all excited and they bought into what we were trying to do.”
The proof has been on the court, where the Valkyries have posted a 36-4 record on their way to a No. 1 state ranking and a No. 7 national spot in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25. Sacred Heart is a heavy favorite to capture its second state title – and first since 2003 – during this weekend’s state tournament at Valley High School.
The Valkyries will open play at 12:30 p.m. Friday against Central Hardin (35-4), which is ranked No. 20 in the state.
“All year we’ve wanted them to enjoy the ride and then hold that trophy up at the end,” Versen said. “We knew this was a special group that was capable of a lot.”
Versen was named Sacred Heart’s coach in March after Eric Garvey stepped down. Garvey led the Valkyries to three regional titles and two state runner-up finishes (2008 and 2009) during his nine seasons.
Versen is an Ohio native who played four seasons of volleyball at Ohio State University. He served as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky and James Madison before taking over as head coach at North Oldham in 2014. He led the Mustangs to a 52-17 record and back-to-back Eighth Region titles in his two seasons before taking the Sacred Heart job.
“I didn’t change my approach or the way I coach when I left North and came here,” Versen said. “Our goals there were the same as here, and that’s shooting to win a state championship. Coming to Sacred Heart, I knew that was their expectation to win state championships.”
A 3-0 loss to Assumption on Aug. 31 provided an early hiccup, the Valkyries quickly rebounded and defeated Assumption on their way to winning the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament. They took fourth place at the Durango Fall Classic in mid-September in Las Vegas and won the title at the Nike Tournament of Champions in early October in Phoenix.
Senior Paige Hammons said Versen provided a calming influence as the Valkyries deal with their own high expectations.
“It was a huge weight,” Hammons said. “We went through ups and downs all season like, ‘We’re not good enough.’ Brett was like, ‘I believe in you all,’ and that’s all that mattered. Our team always had each other’s back, and that shows on the court. If we made a mistake, it was fine. We knew we had the next point.”
Hammons, who is headed to the University of Florida, is one of six Sacred Heart seniors who have committed to play volleyball in college, joining Lauryn Bennett (Emory), Megan Crush (American), Nadia Dieudonne (Xavier), Kaelin Gentile (Northern Kentucky) and Ellie Stigger (Transylvania).
Versen said the team’s overwhelming depth has allowed it to compete at such a high level.
“It’s not just the six or seven who are on the court; it’s all 15 on the roster,” Versen said. “There are no weaknesses really. Everyone is capable of playing and performing on the highest level of high school volleyball.”
While Sacred Heart and No. 8 North Oldham (27-9) are expected to reach the semifinal in the bottom half of the state tournament bracket, the top half appears to be much more competitive.
No. 3 Mercy (30-10) is the highest-ranked team in the top half of the bracket but faces a tough opener against No. 5 Notre Dame (24-11) at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Mercy beat Notre Dame 25-20, 25-16, 25-18 on Sept. 1.
No. 4 Henry Clay, No. 13 McCracken County, No. 16 Greenwood and No. 22 Scott also are in the top half of the bracket.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
* When: Friday-Sunday.
* Where: Valley High School.
* Friday’s schedule: Henderson County (29-9) vs. Apollo (33-5), 9:30 a.m.; North Oldham (27-9) vs. Allen Central (29-6), 11; Sacred Heart (36-4) vs. Central Hardin (35-4), 12:30 p.m.; Raceland (29-4) vs. Whitley County (30-9), 2; West Jessamine (30-8) vs. Letcher County Central (31-9), 3:30; Scott (31-8) vs. Greenwood (31-8), 5; Mercy (30-10) vs. Notre Dame (24-11), 6:30; McCracken County (30-10) vs. Henry Clay (34-6), 8.
* Saturday’s schedule: Quarterfinals at 10 a.m., 11:30, 1 p.m. and 2:30; semifinals at 7 and 8:30 p.m.
* Sunday’s schedule: Final, 2 p.m.