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Kentucky’s No. 1 Assumption volleyball team to play without Texas commit Sydney Helmers
Portrait of Jason Frakes
The Assumption High School volleyball program will be without powerful outside hitter Sydney Helmers this season.
Rockets coach Ron Kordes said Tuesday that Helmers, a senior, quit the team last week.
“She told us she wasn’t having fun and didn’t want to play anymore,” Kordes said. “I’m confused. I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. Obviously, we’re a better team with her if she wants to be here.”
The 6-foot-4 Helmers was a first-team All-State pick last year after leading the Rockets with 421 kills. She missed the postseason after suffering a concussion in October, her second concussion of the year. Assumption finished 30-6 after falling to Sacred Heart in the semifinals of the Seventh Region Tournament.
Helmers has committed to the University of Texas and is the nation’s No. 33-ranked recruit in the Class of 2023, according to PrepVolleyball.com. Manual’s Nya Bunton, also a Texas commit, is the only Kentucky player ranked higher than Helmers in the class.
Assumption is ranked No. 1 in the state in the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason poll and is set to open its season at 7 p.m. Tuesday at No. 13 Male.
Kordes said he’s “leaving the door open” if Helmers wants to return to the team.
“As time goes on, that’s more difficult,” he said. “It’s to the point now that I’d probably leave that in the players’ hands. … When you’ve done this as long as I have, you’d think you’d have come across everything. But this is a new
