Emotional end to home slate comes with Raiders finishing off perfect season at The Pit

The Quincy Notre Dame defense blocks a shot by Quincy High School outside hitter Kaley Summers during Monday night's match at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Pit provided the perfect atmosphere to goodbye, even if it had Emma Hoing shedding tears. “I was so emotional tonight,” Hoing said. “I cried.” She also delivered. A senior outside hitter on the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team, Hoing threw down a team-leading eight kills to power the Raiders to a 25-19,…

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Raiders embrace need to alter ending in their pursuit of state tournament success

Quincy Notre Dame junior setter Annie Eaton will engineer an offense that is expected to be dynamic enough to help the Raiders make another run at a state tournament berth. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — George Santayana is credited with saying it. Courtney Kvitle is echoing it. And the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players are embracing it. So what is the mantra the early 20th century philosopher popularized that rings true today? Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The Raiders clearly haven’t forgotten.…

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Dominant run on Hoing’s serve sends QND volleyball team to 10th straight victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Eva Breckenkamp, left, and Emma Hoing share a laugh between points during Wednesday night's sweep of Rushville-Industry at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As each Emma Hoing topspin serve befuddled the Rushville-Industry volleyball players, the Quincy Notre Dame advantage grew more insurmountable. “It’s kind of fun,” said Hoing, the junior outside hitter who enjoyed a nine-point run on her serve during the second set of Wednesday night’s match at The Pit. “I just want to keep…

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Abundance of options thanks to experience and depth should make QND volleyball team dynamic

Junior outside hitter Emma Hoing is one of seven returnees expected to give the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball an edge this fall. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Depth is a luxury the Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball players appreciate. It also creates a challenge they embrace. “If you’re working hard, it makes another person work hard,” senior outside hitter Avery Keck said. “You’re pushing each other all the way. You’re competing for a spot, but you’re also supporting your team…

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QND’s Hoing helps Rockwood Thunder club volleyball team qualify for nationals

The Rockwood Thunder 16 Navy club team, featuring Quincy Notre Dame's Emma Hoing, poses for a team photo with Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, whose sister Aaliyah plays on the team. Submitted photo

QUINCY — Emma Hoing and her club volleyball team saved the best for last. Playing in their fourth and final national qualifier, the Rockwood Thunder Volleyball Club, based in St. Louis, finished second in the Big South Qualifier in Atlanta two weeks ago to earn a spot in the Girls Junior National Championship. Hoing, a…

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‘You could taste it’: QND lets late lead get away in third set of super-sectional

Members of the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team can't hide their feelings after the final point of Friday night's Class 2A super-sectional game at Clinton High School. | David Adam

CLINTON, Ill. — Four points. Four lousy, stinkin’ points. The Quincy Notre Dame girls volleyball team dominated the first set, overcame a disastrous second set and rebounded to lead 21-15 in the third set of Friday night’s Class 2A super-sectional volleyball match at Clinton High School. “You could taste it,” senior captain Maggie Drew said.…

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Eaton’s save propels QND volleyball team to first super-sectional bid since 2017

The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team celebrates after scoring the final point of the first set during Wednesday's sectional at Knoxville High School. | David Adam

KNOXVILLE, Ill. — The score was about to be tied. Instead of setting the ball to Kennedy Adair, Macomb’s Avery Rexroat opted to use her left hand to dump the ball deep and into the corner of the Quincy Notre Dame backcourt. Once the ball landed on the floor, Macomb would tie the first set…

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Raiders get on same page, ignore distractions to sweep Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame's Lilly Marth digs a shot from Quincy High School during Tuesday night's match at the Pit. The Raiders won 25-18, 25-16.

QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke was keenly aware of the inherent distractions Tuesday night’s match brought. The city rivalry was front and center. The Pink Night celebration drew a bigger crowd. And a planned post-match recognition of Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle’s 100th career victory would lose some luster if the Raiders fell to…

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No messing around: QND strong in all facets, hands Southeastern first loss

Quincy Notre Dame's Abbey Schreacke hits the ball past the block of Southeastern's Amanda Stephens during Tuesday night's volleyball match in Augusta. David Adam

AUGUSTA, Ill. — From the moment her team stepped on the bus Tuesday night, Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle liked what she saw. “Tonight was the first time I felt like they were on a business trip,” Kvitle said. “They weren’t goofy, they weren’t overly excited, they were just happy. They were here…

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