HighSchoolSports.net - At the Heart of It

Notebook: Assumption Rockets No. 1 in national ranking

Assumption High School has the No.1 volleyball team in the United States, according to MaxPreps.com.

The website, one of two national polls, has the Rockets (4-0) atop its Xcellent 25 even though they were only No.3 in the Kentucky coaches' preseason poll. Mercy is No.1 in the state and 23rd in the Xcellent 25.

Assumption, which has won 14 of the past 18 state titles, is also No.2 in the PrepVolleyball.com national poll.

Coach Ron Kordes' Rockets will get a major test this weekend in Muncie, Ind. On Friday they'll meet Muncie Central, ranked No.18 nationally by MaxPreps and No.2 in Indiana's Class 4-A, then Saturday will compete in the Muncie Burris Tournament. Burris is No.7 in MaxPreps and No.1 in Indiana's Class 2-A.

Gumm fires 61

North Hardin sophomore golf sensation Lydia Gumm won her fifth consecutive Kentucky Invitational Tournament last weekend with a tournament-record 9-under-par 61, seven strokes better than West Jessamine senior Emily Haas in the 95-player field.

Gumm, a two-time Kentucky Miss Golf, had 10 birdies and a bogey at Lakewood Country Club. Her previous low at the course was a 66 last year when she won the 10th annual KIT.

Miller to Evansville

Mercy basketball standout Juliann Miller, who led the state-champion Jaguars at 13.8 points a game last season, has committed to the University of Evansville. She was on the Sweet 16 all-tournament team and also a member of the All-Seventh Region team.

Nuggets

Forcht Bank, the title sponsor for the state baseball tournament the past three years, has signed an agreement with the KHSAA through the 2013 season.

Former Jackson County High School and University of Kentucky basketball star Sarah Elliott is the new girls' coach at Lawrence County High.

St. Xavier moved back to No.1 in the boys' soccer coaches' poll. Male is No.2, followed by South Oldham, Manual and Ballard.

Despite ties with Christian Academy and Lexington Catholic, Sacred Heart stayed atop the girls' soccer coaches' poll. Notre Dame is No.2, followed by Manual and LexCath, with Tates Creek and West Jessamine tied for fifth.

The Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, Tates Creek, LexCath and Assumption soccer teams all will compete in this weekend's Zionsville (Ind.) Lady Eagle Invitational, which features four teams in the ESPN Powerade Fab 50 national rankings.

Jody Demling can be reached at (502) 582-7176.