Friday, August 20, 1999
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: KENTUCKY PREVIEW
Notre Dame coach feels deja vu
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
Notre Dame volleyball coach Kim Gunning hasn't used the words “rebuilding year” in five seasons.
Gunning's Northern Kentucky colleagues consider her a master builder, again voting her Pandas the top team in The Enquirer's preseason poll. Campbell County, Newport Central Catholic, Boone County and St. Henry round out the top five.
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VOLLEYBALL POLL
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1. Notre Dame Academy (12) ....... 174
2. Campbell County (6) ....... 165
3. Newport Central Catholic ....... 133
4. Boone County ....... 108
5. St. Henry ....... 107
6. Simon Kenton ....... 98
7. Highlands ....... 59
8. Beechwood ....... 33
9. Bishop Brossart ....... 23
10. Conner ....... 20
Holy Cross 19, Villa Madonna 11, Ryle 10, Bellevue 8, Calvary Christian 4, Dixie Heights 2, Walton-Verona 1.
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Notre Dame finished second to four-time defending state champion Louisville Assumption in the state tournament last year and was ranked 10th in the final Vball.com national poll. Gunning said this year's situation reminds her of 1994, when Notre Dame won the state title.
“That year we graduated six,” Gunning said. “I graduated six this past year.”
Only three spots in this year's starting lineup are certain — junior Kenna Milner at setter, junior Michelle Davis at outside hitter and senior Anna Rothert at middle hitter.
“They play in the offseason like all my kids do,” Gunning said. “With Kenna and Michelle, with that year of experience, that's going to be valuable to the rest of us.”
Especially with Notre Dame's schedule: Assumption, Louisville Sacred Heart, Cincinnati Mercy, Louisville Mercy, and Ohio state champs St. Ursula and Mount Notre Dame await. Plus, there are tournaments in Chicago and San Jose, Calif. Gunning said it has forced at least one change.
“I kept 12 on my team; I normally keep 10,” Gunning said. “Let's put it this way; there are three postions open to the remaining nine players.”
Campbell County was perhaps Northern Kentucky's most improved team last year. The Camels finished with a 30-5 record and reached the state semifinals by knocking off Sacred Heart.
The better news: The top five starters return. Senior Dawn Sparks led the team with 3.4 kills per game, and senior outside hitter Charmian Craig, sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Craig and junior middle hitter Jennifer Kennedy all averaged at least two kills per game. Junior setter Leah Ballinger had 8.2 assists per contest.
“We're one year stronger in experience ... and I feel the leadership from our seniors is a strength,” coach Dena Ravenscraft said.
Like Notre Dame, NewCath lost six seniors. Coach Jenny Mertle said she's changing from a two-setter lineup to a one-setter alignment to take advantage of senior Angie Tullis' skills.
Boone County coach Tracy Schaefer said she's keeping just nine players. Look for the Rebels to build around senior setter Lauren Maegly.
“(Maegly was) in the top five in assists last year,” Schaefer said.
St. Henry suffered through a 14-21 season in '98. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Ruh (116 kills) and sophomore middle hitter Rachel Kuebbing (93 kills and 30 blocks) figure to lead the team this year.
“We have five returning starters,” coach Maureen Kaiser said. “We're still young.”
Simon Kenton returns three starters from last year's state quarterfinalist squad. Senior setter Katie Day holds single-season and career school records for assists, senior outside hitter Kendra Hornsby had 201 kills last year, and senior middle hitter Tami Rehkamp had 94 kills and 90 blocks.
Like Notre Dame and NewCath, Highlands has to rebuild because the Bluebirds lost three starters. Senior outside hitter Annie Arnzen, senior middle hitter Kasey Worthington and senior setter Jade Hughes are the only certain starters.
The only thing Beechwood hasn't done in coach Jim Delong's four years is reach the state tournament. This year is the Tigers' best shot; four starters return from last year's 23-11 team.
Beechwood's strength is its front line. Senior outside hitter Renee Meyrose averaged 3.5 kills per game, senior middle hitter Lindsey McDermott was next with 3.0, and junior outside hitter Jenny Spence averaged 1.2.
Bishop Brossart struggled to a 13-18 record last year. The Mustangs have two starters returning, senior middle hitter Bridget Kirst and junior outside hitter Beth Fortner.
Conner returns four starters from last year's 15-13 team: senior middle hitter Amanda Donohoo (258 kills, 4.3 per game), senior setter Heather Statum (277 assists, 5.4 per game), senior outside hitter Heather Long and junior outside hitter Stacey Martin.
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