The action comes fast at an event like the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament (LIVT)! Friday’s pool play – featuring eight pools of three teams – kicked off at 6:30 pm and within a few hours the gold bracket was all set for Saturday. With just the pool winners advancing from Friday’s play, there was no margin for error. No pools ended in a three-way tie. Here’s how the gold bracket measures up:
— Mother McAuley IL v Sacred Heart Academy KY
— Notre Dame Academy KY v Mount Notre Dame OH
— St. Joseph OH v St. Ursula Academy OH
— Assumption KY v duPont Manual KY
Catch our Day 1 rundown below plus team spotlights and under the radar players.
Top-seeded Mother McAuley’s 2-0 showing looked fine on paper but the undefeated Macs were close to tasting defeat for the first time. It took three sets to dispatch Walton GA, 20-25, 27-25, 25-17, (third sets are played to 25) and ultimately win its pool after sweeping Cardinal Gibbons NC.
Assumption – the No. 2 seed – had a much smoother ride, allowing 20 points or more in just one set in sweeps over Ryle KY and Presentation KY.
Pool 3 was where the action was! All three matches went the distance and when the smoke cleared it was the No. 3 team in the pool in St. Joseph which came out ahead. St. Joe upset No. 3 seed St. Henry KY in the opener, 25-19, 19-25, 26-24. St. Joe then knocked off Maryville TN in three, 27-29, 25-15, 25-22, to move to 2-0. St. Henry clipped Maryville, 25-20, 18-25, 25-23, to close the pool but neither had a shot at advancing at that point.
Mount Notre Dame and Clearwater Central Catholic FL meet in the 1 v 2 match in Pool 4 with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Clearwater Central struck first but Mount Notre Dame hit last to advance, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18.
Notre Dame Academy held down the No. 5 seed by going 2-0 in Pool 5. The Pandas swept Knoxville Catholic TN – winning Game 2 26-24 after trailing 24-22 – and Padua Franciscan OH to make the gold bracket.
In Pool 6, it was St. Ursula Academy – the No. 2 team in the pool – delivering the goods with a 2-0 mark. The Bulldogs topped St. Joseph Academy MO and Male KY in posting a culminative score of 100-58.
There was big news out of Pool 7 where duPont Manual upset Mercy Academy KY. Manual – the No. 2 team in the pool – bagged one for the public schools. The private schools are so dominate in Kentucky high school volleyball but Manual broke through in fine fashion with the three-set victory, 23-25, 26-24, 25-21, as senior outside Nya Bunton put the finishing touches on it with a backrow blast. Manual then swept Henry Clay KY to end its pool and move on.
Sacred Heart Academy – in a very small upset – uprooted No. 8 seed Paul Laurence Dunbar in straight sets. SHA was the No. 9 seed and No. 2 team in the pool and then went on to sweep Notre Dame Academy OH to remain in the hunt.
TEAM SPOTLIGHTS
We spotlighted the top seeds in our preview. Let’s take a look at the teams we didn’t highlight which are still in the mix for the LIVT championship on Saturday.
SACRED HEART ACADEMY – The Valkyries are among the underdogs in the gold bracket and will look to surprise Saturday. Sophomore outside Anna Powell is the team’s kill leader followed by another sophomore in middle Elise Hart. The young attack continues with another sophomore in outside Bridget Egan, who is just back from injury after missing much of the season. Senior Lainee Mack is instrumental in what she brings to the lineup. She’s both a setter and the team’s dig leader. Junior Kaeley Thoney Walz also sets for SHA.
ST. JOSEPH – The Jaguars are led by sophomore S/RS Annabelle Groomes. She’s a 5-star recruit as a setter but she showed her offensive capabilities swinging from the front row Friday. The lefty was hard for opponents to stop. She’s the team’s kill leader and second in assists behind junior setter Olivia Castelluccio. Also featured is junior outside Hannah Alvarez and junior middle Hannah Foor, as well as senior libero Reilly Wadden.
ST. URSULA ACADEMY – The Bulldogs have four key senior contributors in middle Ivey Stocks, setter Luca Fickell, libero Sydney Majick and pin hitter Ava Siefke. The team’s kill leader however is junior outside Addy Brus. Junior Molly Dorger hits for a high percentage out of the middle and entered Friday’s play as the block leader.
DUPONT MANUAL – Leading the charge for the Lady Crimsons is senior Nya Bunton. The 5-star recruit plays middle in club and is headed to Texas but lines up on the outside for Manual. She’s a major force who can overwhelm defenses. With Bunton on the outside it’s senior Cecilia Roberts and junior Mary Hoerter taking up the middle spots. Senior Berkley Humphries and sophomore Aubrey Montgomery share setting duties, with Montgomery also hitting across the front row. Sophomore Kennedy Dawson does well at libero for the Lady Crimsons.
UNDER THE RADAR PLAYERS
We’ll have our normal presentation of the tournament Show Stoppers once Saturday’s action wraps up. For now, we highlight under the radar players who caught our eye Friday.
Taylor McBride SR MB Male KY – The tallest member on the roster, McBride adds much needed size to the lineup across the front row. She’s a capable scorer when she gets a good look. She’s also a strong server who can help earn points from the line.
Mia Telechbush JR L Dunbar KY – Telechbush is part of a scrappy Dunbar lineup that is undersized. She does well making hustle plays and keeping rallies going.
Delaney Gash JR RS Dunbar KY – There’s not much height on the roster but Gash does bring some size to the front row. She adds a bit of scoring punch.
Zoe Baliva SO OH St. Joseph’s Academy MO – Baliva entered the weekend as the second-leading scorer. The underclassman has a lively arm and can generate pace when she gets a good look.
Emma Barnett SR MB Mercy KY – Barnett doesn’t draw the defenses attention quite like her teammate in the middle but she can make plays on both sides of the ball.
Meredith Brown SR MB Mercy KY – Brown is almost automatic on the attack. She hits for a very high percentage. Her height helps being 6-3, as she can range over the block and find the open space.
Anna Powell SO OH Sacred Heart KY – Powell has potential. She’s 6-1, so she has the size. When it’s lined up she can let it go and connect.
Lainee Mack SR S Sacred Heart KY – Mack brings leadership and a steadying presence to the floor. She’s also a strong defender.
Elise Hart SO MB Sacred Heart KY – Hart is a high-energy middle. She can find the open spots in the floor and doesn’t try to overdo it with her attacking.
Kamden Schrand SR L Notre Dame Academy KY – Schrand is part of a solid defensive make up for the Pandas. She’s steady out of serve receive and can pass half the court.
Julia Grace SO DS Notre Dame Academy KY – Grace helps hold down the back row with her strong defense. She made more than a few digs to extend the point and keep her team alive.
Alyssa Adams SO L Knoxville Catholic TN – Adams is a scrapper who isn’t afraid to get after it in keeping balls alive.
Bellamy Parker JR OH Knoxville Catholic TN – An undersized outside at 5-9, Parker doesn’t back down. She’s a springy jumper who gets off the ground quickly and she’s aggressive with her swings.
Josie Schroder SR MB St. Henry KY – Schroder is the team’s best blocker and adds a defensive presence when she across the front row.
Brooke Green SR MB Clearwater Central Catholic FL – Green entered as the team’s leading scorer. She draws the defense’s attention and even when they know she’s getting the ball she can be tough to contain.
Hannah Alvarez JR OH St. Joseph OH – Another undersized outside, Alvarez is one of the main threats for St. Joe. She’s physically strong and hits a heavy ball.
Hannah Foor JR MB St. Joseph OH – Foor also has a strong arm. When in system the Jaguars look to get her the ball and she can reward with a big hit.
Katie Wilking SR MB Mount Notre Dame OH – Wilking is active. She’s always moving and does well to make herself an option. She can run the slide too and is a reliable scoring threat when in system.
Jessica Neiman JR RS Padua Franciscan OH – The lefty right side is the team’s kill leader. She does well staying aggressive and keeps on swinging.
Luca Fickell SR S St. Ursula Academy OH – Fickell does well running the offense and getting her hitters involved. She also brings size to the front row which aids in blocking or being a threat to go over on two.
