We’ll get to Assumption KY capturing the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament in a moment. First, let’s skip ahead to the Durango Fall Classic in two weeks in Las Vegas. And why are we talking about that given Assumption’s victory at the LIVT?
It’s because Assumption finishing on top of the 24-team field in Louisville makes for a remarkable storyline and sets up a tournament-championship of sorts at Durango. Mira Costa CA – the Ann Kang Invitational champion; Mater Dei CA – the Volleypalooza champion; Cornerstone Christian TX – the Nike TOC champion; and Assumption – the LIVT champ – are all participating at Durango.
Since we can’t help but always getting way ahead of ourselves, what type of potential ramifications are on the line when that 64-team event takes place? For starters, a possible national championship.
Mira Costa is currently our top-ranked team in the nation. After fending off Torrey Pines CA in five sets this past Friday, the Mustangs will remain there in our next update this week. Should Mira Costa finish first at Durango – without losing in between – no doubt it’ll keep its stranglehold on the top spot.
It gets a bit dicey after that.
What would happen if Mater Dei were to win? Who knows, given the Monarchs have a loss to Mira Costa and then dropped their second match of the season with a loss to Cathedral Catholic CA in Saturday’s Dave Mohs final. Mater Dei did defeat Cathedral Catholic at Volleypalooza, where Mater Dei downed Prestonwood Christian TX in the final.
Prestonwood Christian presents a monkey-wrench of sorts, given the Texas school is also set to play at Durango and is certainly talented enough to beat everyone there and take home the title. We don’t even want to think what that would do to the rankings given Prestonwood has three losses on its slate to date.
As for Cornerstone Christian, the Warriors certainly could be playing to take over No. 1 at Durango. The Warriors’ only loss on the season remains falling to Mira Costa in the final of the Ann Kang Invitational – or else there would be no debate as to who is No. 1 right now. Should Cornerstone capture the Durango championship, the school would have a serious argument to jump to No. 1 in the country.
Then there is Assumption.
The Rockets have already lost once this season, to Sacred Heart Academy KY in five sets. A quick note on Sacred Heart, which came into the LIVT with three losses already but did defeat previously unbeaten Mother McAuley IL on Thursday ahead of the tournament. Mother McAuely – which lost to Assumption in Saturday’s semifinals – extracted a measure of revenge by beating Sacred Heart in Saturday’s third-place match.
Sacred Heart going down to Notre Dame Academy KY in Saturday’s semifinals prevented a rematch between Assumption and Sacred Heart in the championship match. As it turned out, Assumption outlasted Notre Dame in the final, 25-14, 21-25, 25-16. So the Rockets currently sit with one loss.
No doubt Assumption will climb back up in our latest Top-50 rankings, but what happens to the Rockets should they prove the team to beat at Durango? They too could have a case for becoming the top team in the country.
The good news – or bad depending on the havoc it causes – is it’ll all play out soon enough in Vegas, which this year is proving the home of the champions.
As for the LIVT, a bit of the thunder was taken out of the weekend with results taking place before Friday. As we noted in our Day 1 recap, there were three teams which started the week undefeated and that could have set up a thrilling LIVT.
The tournament still produced like it always does, it’s just the storylines changed quickly. That’s because previously undefeated St. Ursula Academy OH fell to Seton OH on Tuesday for its first loss. As stated above, Mother McAuley lost to Sacred Heart on Thursday. That left Notre Dame as the only unbeaten team in the field. But obviously Notre Dame is no longer undefeated having fallen to Assumption in the championship. And like Assumption, now sit with one loss on its schedule.
Assumption fought past St. Ursula, 23-25, 25-15, 25-16, in the quarterfinals. St. Ursula finished in fifth place after sweeping past Clearwater Central Catholic FL, 25-14, 25-18.
Notre Dame had its hands full in both the quarters and semis. First, Notre Dame edged St. Henry KY, 25-21, 19-25, 25-19, before getting past Sacred Heart, 26-24, 19-25, 25-20.
