Richmond-Burton Claims Third Straight Regional Title

Dani Hopp recorded 16 kills Thursday night as top-seeded Richmond-Burton defeated No. 4 Boylan 25-9 and 25-17 in the Class 2A regional final in Richmond. The victory marks the third consecutive regional championship for the Rockets, who improved to 35-2 on the season.

The team has dominated the tournament with aggressive serving and defensive coverage that spans the entire court. This consistency allowed them to advance to the Genoa-Kingston Sectional, where they will face No. 2 Riverdale, 23-10, at 7 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal match.

Hopp, a 6-foot outside hitter, has been a central figure in the Rockets' success. Her performance against Boylan followed a strong showing two nights earlier when she set a school record with 10 aces in a two-set win over North Boone in the regional semifinals.

Coach Eric Schulze noted that Hopp is hitting at a .415 clip this season. Her efficiency helped Richmond-Burton build a 4-0 lead in the first set, which they maintained throughout the game. Hopp also recorded eight digs during the match.

The second set saw the Rockets pull away quickly. Malorie Komar served from the line, helping the team take a 10-0 lead. Komar's ace accounted for the sixth point of that run. The Rockets extended their advantage to 18-8 before Boylan began to chip away at the deficit.

Boylan lefty libero Paige Trenhaile served an ace that cut the deficit to 19-14. This forced Schulze to use his only timeout of the match. Mia Furlan followed the pause with a dink kill to stop Boylan's momentum. Furlan recorded four of her six kills during the opening set.

Hopp and freshman Helaina Thibadeau combined for three straight points to finish the match. Thibadeau added five kills and two block assists. Josie Franckowiak distributed 24 assists for the Rockets, along with two digs and one ace. Addy Woods contributed eight digs and an ace, while Komar collected five digs.

Sophie Nelson had two kills, and Bri Shufelt recorded two block assists. Freshman Blakely Sterbenz contributed one dig and helped establish an early lead with her serve in the first set. Lanee Cooley, the team's libero, finished with a team-high nine digs, one assist, and one ace.

Schulze praised the team's ability to stay calm during Boylan's brief rally. He stated that the players had been focused on refining small details in practice for several weeks. The coaching staff emphasized keeping plays simple and maintaining defensive positioning throughout the night's play.

Hopp, who has not had her vertical jump professionally measured, estimates her leap reaches the mid-to-high 20s in inches. Her teammate Cooley guessed it is likely in the high 20s. Schulze attributed Hopp's success to a combination of elite athleticism and high basketball intelligence on the court.