Richmond-Burton volleyball team advances to supersectional after dominant win
Mia Furlan recorded seven kills as the Rockets defeated Genoa-Kingston in straight sets to reach the state tournament for the first time in 14 years.
By Yara Nasser ·
Richmond-Burton volleyball players secured a spot in the Class 2A Mendota Supersectional on Thursday after defeating host Genoa-Kingston in the sectional championship match. The Rockets won the match 25-9 and 25-13, a result that ends the season for Genoa-Kingston and propels Richmond-Burton into the next round of playoffs.
The outcome marks the first time since 2012 that the Rockets have advanced to the supersectional level. The team finished its regular and postseason play with a 37-2 record, marking the third consecutive season in which the program recorded at least 30 victories. This sectional title is the first for the school since 2012, when it placed second in the state in Class 3A.
Mia Furlan led the offensive effort with seven kills, including the final point of the match. Her teammate Dani Hopp, a six-foot senior committed to Coastal Carolina, recorded 14 kills. Furlan entered the match with the second-most kills on the team but ranked seventh in hitting percentage. She committed no hitting errors during the match according to coach Eric Schulze.
Schulze, in his first year coaching the Rockets, credited the team for its preparation in the 24 hours leading up to the game. He noted that the players reviewed extensive film to identify their attacking strategy. The Rockets did not trail at any point in the match. The only tied score occurred in the second set when the count reached 1-1 after serving errors from both sides.
The Rockets will face Westmont in the Class 2A Mendota Supersectional on Monday. Westmont earned its berth by defeating IC Catholic 24-26, 25-15, and 25-21 in the Regina Dominica Sectional. Richmond-Burton has not lost a match or a set to a Class 2A opponent this season. Its only loss came against Rockford Christian, which moved to Class 1A this year.
Furlan, a junior in her third year on varsity, is a regular starter for the first time. Schulze said the coaching focus for her has shifted from accumulating kills to reducing points given up. Furlan acknowledged periods earlier in the season where her performance dipped, describing those struggles as internal and mental rather than external.
She cited the support of her coaches and teammates during those slumps. Furlan pointed to Hopp as a role model for her confidence and movement at the net. Hopp’s presence provided a standard of play for Furlan to emulate throughout the season.
Genoa-Kingston finished the season with a 29-10 record. Coach Taylor Spellman, in her third year, expressed pride in the program's postseason run and its school records. Presley Meyer broke the career aces record with 194, Aubrey Simon set the single-season blocks record with 36, and Addison Langton set the single-match digs record with 28.
The Cogs had not played in a sectional final since their 2022 state championship run. Spellman described the season as a collection of battles and memories that the team will carry forward. The final score of 25-9 and 25-13 reflected the defensive dominance of the Rockets throughout both sets.
