Richmond-Burton Volleyball Secures Third Straight Regional Title
Dani Hopp recorded 16 kills as the Rockets defeated Boylan 25-9, 25-17 to advance to the Genoa-Kingston Sectional.
By Luca Harrison ·
Richmond-Burton volleyball players have dominated the Class 2A regional tournament for three consecutive years, and their latest victory on Thursday night extended that streak. The Rockets defeated No. 4 Boylan 25-9, 25-17 in the regional final held in Richmond.
Senior outside hitter Dani Hopp led the offense with 16 kills, driving the team to a decisive win that secured their place in the Genoa-Kingston Sectional. Coach Eric Schulze noted that Hopp is hitting at a .415 efficiency this season, a statistic he described as exceptional given her elite athleticism and court intelligence. Schulze, who has coached for 30 years, called it one of the most statistically incredible seasons he has witnessed.
The Rockets controlled the first set from the start, building a 4-0 lead after Hopp buried her first two attacks. They never relinquished that advantage, with Hopp contributing to the final five points of the set. In the second set, Malorie Komar served an ace to help establish a 10-0 lead. The Rockets extended their margin to 18-8 before Boylan mounted a brief comeback.
Boylan lefty libero Paige Trenhaile cut the deficit to 19-14 with an ace, forcing Schulze to use his only timeout. Mia Furlan ended the run with a kill, and the Rockets closed out the match with three straight points from Hopp and freshman Helaina Thibadeau. Hopp also recorded eight digs, while Josie Franckowiak distributed 24 assists, two digs, and one ace.
Hopp, who stands 6 feet tall, has not had her vertical jump officially measured. She estimates it to be in the mid-to-high 20s in inches, a figure her teammates believe is even higher. Libero Lanee Cooley, who recorded a team-high nine digs, described Hopp’s vertical as comparable to a Division I jump. Hopp said the team’s energy and consistency in practice translated directly to their performance on the court.
The Rockets, who improved to a 35-2 record, will face No. 2 Riverdale (23-10) in a sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Addy Woods added eight digs and an ace for Richmond-Burton, while Komar collected five digs. Furlan had four of her six kills in the opening set, and Thibadeau added five kills and two block assists.
Schulze stated that the team has focused on refining small details in recent weeks. He noted that the players kept things simple and maintained strong defensive positioning throughout the match, allowing them to capitalize on their early leads against the Lady Titans.
