Assumption ended Notre Dame's season for the fourth year in a row, sweeping the Pandas 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-14) in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) state volleyball championship Saturday, Nov. 7, at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.

The loss gave Notre Dame its third runner-up finish in the past four seasons, according to LINK nky. The Pandas' last state title came in 2022.

Assumption's blocking proved decisive. The Rockets recorded 11 blocks and 45 kills to Notre Dame's six blocks and 26 kills. Assumption hit .201 for the match. Notre Dame managed just .027.

"A lot of people counted us out for even making the state tournament. Even though it sucks to lose, don't hang your heads for a second because you should still be really, really proud that we were playing for a state championship," Notre Dame co-coach Hannah Colvin said, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The first set was the closest. Notre Dame took a 9-7 lead before Assumption seized control. A 6–1 Rockets run extended a 14–13 lead to 20–14, and Assumption held on to win 25-21.

The second set was lopsided from the start. Assumption jumped to a 10-3 lead and stretched it to 23-11. Notre Dame closed on a 6-2 run but fell 25-17.

In the third set, Assumption built a 9-4 lead and kept pulling away. The Pandas cut the deficit to six at 18-12, forcing an Assumption timeout. The Rockets regrouped and closed out the set 25-14 to clinch the title.

Emma Redlinger led Notre Dame with nine kills in the championship match. Libero Kaia Tilden had 18 digs. Senior Teagan Kondik, named to the all-tournament team, had eight kills on 46 attacks, well below her average of 16.3 kills in the three earlier state tournament matches, the Enquirer reported.

Setter Ellie Osterkamp, also an all-tournament selection in her first full season as a starter, finished with 23 assists and 1,104 for the season.

Kondik's career ends on the big stage

Kondik, Osterkamp and defensive specialist Emma Miller are the three graduating seniors. Kondik led the attack all season and entered the year as a Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association all-state honorable mention, according to a LINK nky season preview published in August.

Her postseason run included the 9th Region championship, where she delivered the match-winning kill to complete a reverse sweep against Beechwood on Oct. 29 and earn tournament MVP honors.

Pandas reload for 2027

Notre Dame returns several key contributors. Makayla Roose, a preseason Region Player of the Year candidate. Ellie Breitling and Redlinger all stepped up in the postseason. Tilden returns at libero. Dara Jackson, Charlotte Verst, Elise Grout and Sophia Bramlage will also return as rotational pieces.

Co-coach Colvin pointed to the younger players' growth, according to the Enquirer: "We're losing three really great people but the people below them have learned from them."

The Pandas started the season 5-4 and carried 11 losses into the postseason. They then won eight straight postseason games before falling to Assumption in the final.

Assumption's title was the program's 26th. Notre Dame remains at 10. The two programs have combined to win nine of the last 10 state championships, with St. Henry the only other school to claim a title during that stretch.