<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2BLNHP_1GzjWJ8t00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2BLNHP_1GzjWJ8t00" width="1569" height="1045" ><figcaption>Lake Catholic’s Ryann Schneider and another blocker go up against NDCL’s Audra Smith on Sept. 17. (Barry Booher/For The News-Herald)</figcaption></figure>The block is one of the things Lake Catholic volleyball has emphasized over the last three seasons. The work has helped net the team four straight state championships.Over the last three years, Lake Catholic has combined for 633 blocks with a myriad of players playing roles in the wall up front. One of the key parts to the improvement in that front has been head coach Tess Connolly-Alcantra.When she played for Lake Catholic, Connolly-Alcantra had 75 blocks in her final two seasons.One of the focal points she wanted to have when she came into the program was re-establishing the block. And in the three years she’s been at the helm, the team has been over the 200-block mark every season.“A big block and kind of starting our defense around it is super important,” Connolly-Alcantra said. “It makes our defensive life a little bit easier, and we have one of the best defensive specialists in Lola Loncar. It’s really cool to see that they can kind of execute a game plan and force people to hit toward Lola, which is awesome. Our block does a really good job of identifying strong hitters cheating toward them.”This season, the block has been led by junior Emma Riebe and senior Sophia Raguz, who have a combined 194 on the season and are a valuable part to the game plan.The back row of the Cougars has been able to help keep the team in system through sets and able to create opportunities later in sets where the block can capitalize.The Cougars work well in tandem, and every facet of the game lends itself to the other.“One of the things that helps us has been the work with Coach Kevin (Cheng),” Raguz said. “He was a middle. He’s helped us a lot through our practices. He teaches us all his techniques he learned in college. And that helps us a lot.”But the block doesn’t just stop at the duo, as several other attackers are also getting in on the fortification of the front line. Mackenzie Smith is third on the team with 0.8 blocks, with setter Emily Dunavant at 0.5.What’s interesting is all four are different on the block itself. Players such as Ahnna Bergant and Ryann Schneider are also intricate parts to the block.The depth allows them to work with the static blocks or swing blocks while being able to work on the line block and cross-court blocks.“We do a lot of jumping as well and lifting with Coach (Jimmy) King,” Riebe said. “We just work on it a lot. We try to put in the work every single day to make our blocks better, our hips better and just every aspect of it.”The players have continued to buy into the block, and it’s allowed them to spread out across the front row as a whole. Entering the season, Emma Riebe was used purely as a middle but now is also able to provide support from the pin as well.It makes the block that much more dangerous, being able to have a wall across the front row rather than just the middle. Connolly-Alcantra has been very pleased with the growth.“Our right sides do a lot of work out there, too,” Connolly-Alcantra said. “We do blocking almost every single day with our middles. I know Emma is around the top 10 in the division in total blocks which is insane. Sophia is almost at 100. It’s really cool to see them grow, and they’re being super strong in that aspect.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1MsJzy_1GzjWJ8t00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MsJzy_1GzjWJ8t00" width="1860" height="1240" ><figcaption>Lake Catholic sets up its block against Beaumont on Sept. 24. (Brian Fisher/For The News-Herald)</figcaption></figure>The block is going to be even more crucial for the state-round games. But the Cougars are prepared for that type of challenge.In eight games in the state round, they have combined for 49 blocks, which is an average of just over six blocks a set.And they are excited to do it again.If Lake Catholic wants to hang a fifth straight banner for volleyball and sixth overall, they will need to have the rejections ready.“Having a touch on the block helps every time,” Riebe said. “It’s not getting slammed in our libero’s or DS’s face. It just give more of a pushup. It’s easier for us to identify and understand what they’re doing. That allow us to change our block and to make our attacks more sufficient.”Raguz added: “We’ve gotten influence from the Budrys-Rini twins (Ava and Avery) and Layla (Kastner). They’ve influenced our block, influenced our talent and be as good as them or even better.”The Cougars look to reject the other D-IV state semifinalists en route to a fifth straight state title. That quest starts with a state semifinal against Ottawa-Glandorf on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.</div></body>

Block Source: News-Herald.com

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The block is one of the things Lake Catholic volleyball has emphasized over the last three seasons. The work has helped net the team four straight state championships. Over the last three years, Lake Catholic has combined for 633 blocks with a myriad of players playing roles in the wall up front. One of the key parts to the improvement in that front has been head coach Tess Connolly-Alcantra.

Lake Catholic volleyball: Cougars emphasizing block leads to even more attack depth

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The block is one of the things Lake Catholic volleyball has emphasized over the last three seasons. The work has helped net the team four straight state ch

Lake Catholic volleyball: Cougars emphasizing block leads to even more attack depth

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