MJO
Permission to re-publish by LouisvilleCatholicSports.com (story and photo by Chris Jung, LouisvilleCatholicSports.com)
[caption id="attachment_5041" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Staff Sgt. Kris Serna, 2/75th Recruiting and Retention Battalion, presents the National Guard and MaxPrep tour of championship trophy to Assumption High School Head Vollyball Coach Ron Kordes, Jan. 12. (photo by Chris Jung, LouisvilleCatholicSports.com) "]
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Assumption High School volleyball Head Coach Ron Kordes called it "the icing on the cake" on Wednesday afternoon, as the 2010 Kentucky volleyball state champion Rockets were honored by Max Preps and the National Guard as the No. 5 high school volleyball program in the country.
AHS, who went 37-4 this past season, defeated Mercy Academy on Oct. 30 to capture the KHSAA championship and was in the national rankings and polls virtually all season. During the 2010 campaign, the Rockets also played in the Durango Fall Classic (Las Vegas, NV), Muncie Burris Tournament (Muncie, IN), and the Asics Challenge (Mother McAuley, IL).
"Obviously it's an honor any time you're recognized nationally," said Kordes. "I want to thank, again, MaxPreps. Any organization that gets behind and supports high school sports is great."
Kordes' team was led by Kentucky Miss Volleyball Jeni Houser and an experienced group of senior players. Houser, who will play for the University of Notre Dame next year, also earned several individual, national honors throughout the season.
"It's a very pleasing season with the national recognition," said Kordes. "And also to have Jeni (Houser) as the Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky and on the Under Armour All-American Team, and all six seniors going on Division-I scholarships to college, I don't know how it could have been much better. I guess it could have been by going undefeated and winning it all, but that's so unrealistic with the schedule we play. We're tickled to death with the season and the kids did a great job and I was glad to see the seniors go out like this. They deserve it."
Max Preps, who recognizes high school teams and programs around the country on its "Tour of Champions," was represented at Wednesday's ceremony at Assumption High School by co-sponsor United States National Guard Staff Sergeant Kris Serna and Sergeant First Class Runyaro Goss. Those two members of the Kentucky National Guard presented the award's trophy to Kordes and the team in front of the entire school in the Assumption gymnasium.
"Every time we have a (local) school that makes it this far, (the Kentucky National Guard) takes the time to honor them," said Serna. "The Kentucky National Guard is local to the community, and that's where we mainly interact, so it's nice when we have our local schools accomplish something like this, especially when it's built off teamwork, dedication, and the motivation it takes to establish the winning tradition that Assumption has."
Kordes, who learned this past week that his daughter Anne was returning home to coach the University of Louisville women's volleyball team, was a proud Dad when talking about what an exciting few days it's been for his family.
"Wow," said a beaming Kordes. "That's a dream come true. I told her when she left about 13 or 14 years ago that the chances of doing what you do and getting to do it at home is slim and none.
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