VBallBlue

KVCA posted their player and coach of the year award for each region. Link below: http://affiliates.avca.org/Portals/3/2014%20KVCA%20Regional%20winners%20release.pdf

I've seen NDA Ryle NCC and St. Henry. IMO the 9th is NDAs to lose. However, anyone is beatable, even by those they have already beaten. Just ask Mercy about Sacred Heart. If the others can bring their "A" game and get a few breaks, there's always a chance.

Jewell played entire match. Mercy played not to lose and we know how that usually turns out. SH was on a roll and played the best I have sent them play this year. The "blind" draw has always irked me. And this years bracket is especially bad. You've been smacked for assuming ND winning the 9th but I agree with you. Seen several other 9th teams and if ND plays to win, they will. Not too familiar with last years issues, but I can see that ND plays as a team better this year than last. The rest of the state will never agree to a seeded tourney. They might go to some kind of class. I'd like to see a return to the old method. Region runner ups went to state as well. Or, go double elimination--softball does it. Their are too many good teams from Lou/Lex/NKY that never get to go that could easily win other regions. Not disparaging other regions just stating what everyone who has actually watched state tourneys know--there is just no comparison in the level of play.

Roster was at full strength last night. What, pray tell, was heard over at AHS? My curiousity is intrigued. On another note, did Elpers and Sauer play last night? They have been sitting parts of the more recent matches.

Sacred Heart won 3-2 over Mercy at SH 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 27-25, 15-10. Very tense match from start to finish. Mercy didn't play their best after the first set and SH played very well overall. SH seems to be peaking at the right time. Goodbye #1 national ranking, but maybe this will make it clear to them that everyone is beatable. Would have been nice to finish with an unblemished record, but I think a good loss at a good time.

Game 1 was a runaway for Mercy. They jumped on NC early and never let up. When NC did get an attack opportunity, Mercy either blocked the attack or the back row defense dug it up. NC didn't have the size at the net to stop the Mercy hitters. In game two, I agree that NC buckled down and played better. They jumped out to and early lead but lost it at 4. I believe this highlights the weak point for Mercy--loss of focus. As a team, they get a little sloppy when they don't feel they need to play as hard to win. This has cost them when playing both Assumption and Mother McAuley this year. However they came back and stretched the lead to 21-9. I'll disagree at this point with Lawboy's correspondent that Mercy is 4 deep at each position. Once Mercy started subbing out, they lost most of their offense and size in the front. Hitting/blocking not as strong and the backrow had to work harder. Garvey had to put a couple back in to close out the game. NC played their best of the night in this one. They outhustled Mercy to start and never gave up. It took the Mercy starters to finish the set. To be honest, I'm not sure what happened in game three. NC didn't seem to be in the game. Mercy jumped out to an early lead and used the opportunity to sub early and often. The starting setter sat this one out and the backup OHs and middles played most of the way. As Lawnboy said, the wheels fell off the bus for NC. It was 22-8 at one point and they didn't have the fire they showed in game two. My takes, NC has a good solid team. Backrow played well but didn't have much help from the blockers. Where have all the big blockers from NC gone? I know several years ago they had quite a few. Mercy, when the starters are in, has a front row few can contend with. Size, verticals, hitting power. A strength over last year is that they mix it more. Last year they went to Crable too often and defenses could key on that. Mercy's backrow is good but not great in my opinion. Not as deep as it could be but sufficient if the blocking game is working. Nowhere near as good top to bottom as Assumption or ND from the matches I've seen. This should be their year at state, but you never know.

Mercy wins the third 25-15

The wheels did seem to fall off the bus. Your correspondents cell signal is better than mine. 22-8 Mercy.

15-5 Mercy

9-3 Mercy in third. Backup setter in this set.

Mercy wins game 2 25-16

22-14 mercy

Most starters for Mercy other than setter out now. 21-9. Middle came back in.

2 aces by Jewell and it's now 17-8 Jags.

13-7 now. JV game was bad. Very bad.

In game 1, Mercy wins 25-7. NewCath couldn't muster much offense or defense to stop the Jags.

Mercy beat Assumption tonight 3-1 25-23, 16-25, 25-18, 25-23. Tough to beat anybody three times--won't have to see the Rockets again until--knock on wood--the state finals. Looked like Elpers for AHS was hurting and didn't play much if at all in the last sets. However, they seemed to play better without her as others stepped up their play. Their back row defense was again outstanding. Not sure about why they couldn't travel to NewCath, but it might have something to do with their fall break next week--bus driver out of town?? I'll be at the game Monday and will post some scores if I can get a signal in that gym. The cell tower seemed to be overloaded tonight.

KHSAA rules mandate that all regular season, district, regional, and state games be a best 3 of 5 format. By advance mutual agreement, a regular season match only may be best 2 of 3--usually done because of time constraints when teams might be traveling a fair distance on school nights. If they don't both agree, it's 3 of 5. Been that way since 2012 season. The Louisville Catholic schools have played best 3 of 5 for years.

Mercy beat NDA. Better game than first match. Mercy went 3 with Assumption and won again. Again, a much tougher match than earlier this season. Kordes changed up his lineup some. Mercy will face McCauley from Chicago in final.

Mercy freshman and jv both won. Freshman 2-0 I believe--I was late and JV went three. Mercy won first, Assumption took the second. The officials line judging apply also to the Assumption/Sacred Heart games as well. The games last year at Assumption suffered from some really bad line and touch calls. Apparently they agreed to with the officials from that point forward. The girls really have no business calling a game at that level. A few can do it well despite the pressure, but most don't want to do it all.

Hit the wrong button on phone. Like I expected, Mercy controlled the net and Assumption was digging up hits left and right. Assumption had no answer to the Mercy frontline and they powered down hit after hit. Assumption' defense kept them in the matches, but Mercy was able to put together runs and kills when they needed them. Great match and a packed house. Interesting to note that there were official line judges for the match this time around. After some controversial line calls last year by the Assumption JV/freshman players, it was agreed that officials would be used in their matches going forward. They meet again later at Mercy, and might face each other this weekend at the LIVT. If you can make it, the LIVT looks to have a great field this year.

Mercy beat Assumption tonight in straight 25-21, 25-23, 25-21. Liked I ex

I've seen situations like this during girls volleyball games for the last 20 years. There is actually no rule to prohibit making noise during any part of a game--with the exception of artificial noisemakers. I've seen it ignored, and I've seen refs stop the game to give warnings. Usually the fall back excuse for the ref is the unsportsmanlike conduct reason. Go to a club tournament and listen to the noise you'll find there. Unless someone is cursing at a particular player, nothing is done. A common occurrence is the call of "balls up" right when the server is swinging at the ball. It's not done as a notice that the balls on its way--it's done to hopefully unnerve the server at the point they're making contact with the ball. You've never heard noise til you've played a Puerto Rican team at AAUs--even at the 10 year old level. The girls get used to it. A good player is able to ignore the distractions off the court and play their game. No different than a free throw at a basketball game.

Mercy beat NDA 3-0 tonight 25-12, 25-20, 25-16. Scrappy defense throughout by NDA, but they just didn't have enough offense to pull out a win. NDA came alive during the second set, and Mercy seemed to lose focus at the same time. Mercy pulled out the set with offense however. In all three sets Hentz was their only consistent offensive threat and also played well in the back on defense. Thelen and Salkowski mustered some offense during the second, but didn't provide much help in the others. #1 Saelinger provided some needed defense, but the Mercy hitters just kept coming. NDA has to develop some other offensive options--if you stop or limit Hentz, they will lose. Mercy and Assumption will face each other Monday night at Assumption. Mercy offense vs Assumption defense--this one will be interesting.

My mistake--game was at Mercy and they won 3-0, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14. Mercy didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders for the entire match--a little sloppy at times, but still was too overpowering for Sacred Heart. SH needs to develop some more offensive options other than Hammond. They also had way to many service errors. Mercy will be traveling north to face St Henry next week on the 2nd, followed by NDA at home on the 4th and Assumption at their place on the 8th. Assumption's strength is back row defense. If they can frustrate your hitters enough to make mistakes, they will beat you. Hitting not as strong this year, but they can score points.