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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS -- Assumption had won three straight state championships, but still Coach Ron Kordes' team doubted itself early in the season.
They lost to city rivals Sacred Heart and Mercy. Even in some matches they were winning, they were struggling, Kordes said.
"We just couldn't seem to relax on the court," he said.
But all of those doubts were erased last night at Northern Kentucky when the top-ranked Rockets dropped No. 4 Notre Dame 25-17, 25-13 to win their fourth straight state championship.
It is the Rockets' 14th title in the last 16 years.
"This is awesome, incredible," senior Kaitlynn James said. "This is the reason I came to Assumption. This makes all of the hard work so worth it. This is just so, so awesome."
James was dominant in the tournament, averaging 5.67 kills a game for the Rockets. She had 12 in the rout last night in front of a rowdy crowd of 1,767.
It was a battle of two of the most storied volleyball programs in state history. Combined, they have made 48 trips to the state tournament.
Assumption has won 14 state championships, including the last four. Notre Dame has won eight, but none since 1994.
Notre Dame, making its first trip to the title game since 2003, took it to Assumption early in the first game, taking a 10-4 lead, but the Rockets waited.
"Earn your points one at a time," Kordes told his players. "Stay composed."
They did, responding with seven straight points. With the game still close, Notre Dame had three straight defensive errors and allowed Assumption to gain even more momentum.
The Rockets opened the second game with two straight Sloane Donhoff aces. Just a few minutes later, Notre Dame was in an 11-5 hole.
Assumption used a 5-2 run, which included two aces from Stephanie Riley and three James kills, to end the game.
Donhoff earned Most Valuable Player honors. She also had three digs and two kills.
Riley had 23 assists and Maci Wachtel had a game-high five digs for the Rockets (39-3).
Assumption loses seven seniors off of this team, which has won four straight. Kordes said they'll be tough to forget.
"They're very gutty, very gutty," he said. "They had a lot of reasons to doubt themselves and they stuck together. Team chemistry was great and I'm very proud of them."
