Notre Dame Academy's 1994 volleyball team earned a spot in LINK nky's "50 Greatest NKY Prep Sports Teams in 50 Days" countdown, published Aug. 2. The Pandas' eighth state championship that year was also their last for 26 years, a gap that stretched until the program broke through again in 2020.

The 1994 squad was the crown jewel of coach Kim Gunning's dynasty.

Gunning compiled a 360-75 record at Notre Dame between 1989 and 2014, winning three state titles and finishing runner-up seven times. Her teams captured district, regional, and Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference championships every season during that stretch.

Team MVP Becky Tenkman Mirick anchored the 1994 roster as a three-year starter, All-State selection, and NKY Player of the Year. She went on to play at the University of Cincinnati, where she earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors and in 1997 became only the third Bearcat to record 1,000 kills as a junior. Tenkman Mirick graduated as UC's all-time leader in kills, aces, digs, block attempts, and kill attempts.

Darlene Tierney rounded out the star power. A two-time state champion and Northern Kentucky's Most Outstanding Volleyball Player as a senior, Tierney played at Xavier University before launching a coaching career that began at the club level in 1996. She coached at Ursuline Academy and was hired in May as head girls' volleyball coach at McNicholas High School in Cincinnati.

The selection panel, assembled by LINK nky sports editor Evan Dennison, chose the 50 teams based on state championships, dominance, and standout players and coaches. The series began June 22 and runs into August.

The dynasty didn't end in 1994. Notre Dame now owns 10 state championships, most recently in 2022, and reached the 2025 state final before falling to Louisville Assumption in five sets. Co-head coaches Hannah Colvin and Madison Salkowski lead the 2026 squad, which opens its season in mid-August with the KHSAA state tournament set for early November.