LouisvilleCatholicSports.com

School ceremony held to recognize 2011 champions

Assumption High School's state volleyball championship win is going to cost the school some money.

But it's an expense that Rockets athletic director Bobby Blair and principal Becky Henle will surely have no problem signing off on.

As of Monday afternoon, when Assumption recognized the 2011 Kentucky High School Athletic Association state volleyball champs with a school-wide ceremony, the banner hanging in the gymnasium only had room for 15 different years that symbolize each individual title.

And after earning the school's 16th championship in volleyball history over the weekend, it's time for the Rockets to order a bigger piece of cloth.

Monday's ceremony started with the team carrying the state championship trophy into the gym through a sea comprised of fellow Assumption classmates. Blair, Assumption head Coach Ron Kordes and the five seniors - Katie George, Chelsea Bowles, Dallas "Dee" Zimmerman, Taylor Long and Phoenix Fowler - all took turns speaking at the podium and spent time thanking parents, the community, fans, the school, etc.

Kordes, who referenced the team's only loss of the year - a 2-1 loss to Chatahoochee High School (GA) in the finals of the Louisville Invitational Tournament on Sept. 10, said many people have asked if he'd like to have that one back to try again. He says "no."

"That game sent us and the girls a message," said Kordes. "It showed that there are teams out there that can beat you on a given night."

Following that LIVT loss in mid-September, the Rockets rattled off 27 straight match wins, including the 2011 Durango Classic championship in Las Vegas, the Asics Challenge in Chicago, district and regional titles and four last wins between Oct. 28-29 to capture the championship, allowing AHS to finish its season with a 43-1 record.

Assumption will also be in the discussion for a national championship next month once all of the teams around the country finish up their respective seasons.

Kordes had some more good news during his address to the crowd. He announced that senior captain George, who was named MVP of the state tournament over the weekend, would also be officially named the 2011 Gatorade Kentucky Volleyball Player of the Year on Tuesday, making George the 13th recipient of that honor in program history.

Assumption alum Jeni Houser, who is playing as a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, earned the award in 2010.

Past Gatorade Kentucky Volleyball Players of the Year from Assumption:

• Tiffany Whitlock, 1996-97
• Sarah Pomeroy, 1997-98
• Tiffany Whitlock, 1998-99
• Shelly O'Bryan, 1999-2000
• Amanda Cecil, 2000-01
• Julie Purcell, 2001-02
• Julie Purcell, 2002-03
• Christina Kaelin, 2004-05
• Christina Kaelin, 2005-06
• Kaitlin Craven, 2006-07
• Kaitlynn James, 2007-08
• Jeni Houser, 2010-11
• Katie George, 2011-12