No. 2 Sacred Heart volleyball rallies to hand No. 1 Assumption rare loss at home
Trailing by two sets on the home court of the state’s No. 1-ranked team, the Sacred Heart Academy volleyball squad faced seemingly insurmountable odds Tuesday night.
“The energy in here, the momentum they had, it was loud and rocking,” Valkyries coach Brett Versen later said of the atmosphere at Assumption. “We were uncomfortable.”
But led by juniors Anna Powell and Bridget Egan, Sacred Heart mounted a historical comeback.
Powell posted 17 kills and Egan added 11 as No. 2-ranked Sacred Heart rallied past No. 1 Assumption 17-25, 17-25, 25-12, 25-13, 15-10.
It was Assumption’s first loss on its home court since falling to Cincinnati’s Mount Notre Dame in October of 2020. It was Sacred Heart’s first victory at Assumption since 2017.
“We weren’t going down without a fight,” Powell said. “That’s just Sacred Heart. That’s what our team is.”
Sacred Heart (9-2) had failed in the final set of its two losses this season, dropping a 2-1 decision to Marietta (Georgia) People on Aug. 29 and a 3-2 decision to Notre Dame last Thursday.
“We were done with not finishing,” Powell said.
Assumption (5-1) had lost just one set over its first five matches this season and seemed to be on its way to another sweep Tuesday night.
But after cruising through the first two sets behind a raucous home crowd, the Rockets lost their composure.
“You get that false sense of security,” Rockets coach Ron Kordes said. “We played so well those first two sets. They had trouble passing, and we took advantage of it. They started bringing the service, and we did not respond. We were out of system most of the time.”
Sacred Heart jumped to an 11-4 lead in the third set and a 9-2 lead in the fourth set.
Powell dominated in the fourth with seven kills.
“After I make an error and they keep setting me, they give me confidence that they trust me,” said Powell, who has committed to Georgia Southern. “Knowing they trust me, I can go out with all the confidence and not a worry in the world.”
Up 8-7 in the fifth set, Sacred Heart scored five straight points to take control. An Elise Hart kill and a Lila Norris ace sparked the run that made it 13-7.
An Assumption error ended it and sparked a wild Sacred Heart celebration.
“My disappointment is I felt like ball control was one of our strongest attributes,” Kordes said. “It kind of went away on us. We lost our composure, got impatient, hitting balls into antennas, trying to make too much happen with one swing. That doesn’t work.”
Julia Frederick had 10 digs and Sarah Kempf pitched in five aces for the Valkyries. Powell and Egan got it done on the offensive end.
“The way we run our offense, they get a lot of opportunities out there,” Versen said. “I don’t care if you get blocked. I don’t care if you miss one. I want you to keep going. Hopefully they learned tonight they can go out there and score against anyone.”
Top 25 rankings
Here’s the complete Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 released Tuesday: 1. Assumption, 2. Sacred Heart, 3. Paul Dunbar, 4. Notre Dame, 5. Mercy, 6. Bowling Green, 7. Great Crossing, 8. Central Hardin, 9. St. Henry, 10. Frederick Douglass, 11. North Oldham, 12. Elizabethtown, 13. Ryle, 14. McCracken County, 15. West Jessamine, 16. Manual, 17. Lexington Catholic, 18. Bullitt East, 19. Conner, 20. Warren East, 21. Taylor County, 22. Simon Kenton, 23. Greenwood, 24. Madison Central, 25. Boyd County
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA volleyball: No. 2 Sacred Heart beats No. 1 Assumption in 5 sets
