Rockets reach first supersectional since 2012

Richmond-Burton volleyball players secured their place in the Class 2A Mendota Supersectional on Thursday by sweeping the host Genoa-Kingston Cogs. The Rockets won the sectional championship match with final scores of 25-9 and 25-13. This victory marks the program’s first supersectional appearance since 2012.

Mia Furlan, a junior, led the Rockets with seven kills, including the final point of the match. Her teammate Dani Hopp, a senior, recorded 14 kills. First-year coach Eric Schulze noted that Furlan did not make a hitting error during the game. He described her performance as clean and smart, citing her recent improvement after a slower stretch earlier in the season.

Furlan expressed that she enjoyed every moment of the contest. She stated that the team remained positive even when they faced minor struggles, focusing on supporting one another. She credited her coaches and teammates for their consistent belief in her abilities throughout her development.

The Rockets, now 37-2, have not lost a match or a set to a Class 2A opponent this year. They opened the season against Rockford Christian, a team that dropped to Class 1A, but every other match against 2A competition resulted in a sweep. The team has posted at least 30 wins for the third consecutive season.

Genoa-Kingston finished the season with a 29-10 record. This was the first time the Cogs played in a sectional final since their state championship run in 2022. Third-year coach Taylor Spellman said she was proud of the battles her team fought and the memories they created during the long postseason.

Several Cogs players set school records during the campaign. Presley Meyer broke the career ace record with 194. Aubrey Simon set the single-season block record with 36. Addison Langton broke the single-match dig record with 28. Spellman emphasized that the players were special in their own ways and that she looked forward to supporting their futures.

The Rockets will face Westmont in the Mendota Supersectional on Monday. Westmont earned its berth by defeating IC Catholic with scores of 24-26, 25-15, and 25-21. The Genoa-Kingston season ended with Thursday’s loss.

Schulze said his players prepared well by watching film in the 24 hours before the match. He observed that the Rockets executed their plan flawlessly in the first half of the game. The team never trailed in the match, with the only tie occurring at 1-1 in the second set after a series of serving errors.