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RANKINGS
THE RANKINGS: No. 9 Tompkins is "Unbreakable" with St. Rose, Funk, Elsasser on the court
TOMPKINS IS FRESH OFF A 30-WIN CAMPAIGN IN 2024.
The Falcons reached the Area Round of the playoffs. Allison Merrell enters year 13 ofleading this program (272-114) and returns four starters into the huddle to lead this crew.
District 19-6A Newcomer of the Year Elsa St. Rose registered a team-leading 379 kills and chipped in 274 digs in 2024.
Also returning is Yale-commit Callie Funk, who registered 238 kills, led the team with 77 blocks and earned first-team, all-district honors. Texas State-commit Emma Elsasser is back after being an honorable-mention, all-district pick.
Other key returners include Drew Merrell and Natalie Kitts. Keys to success for the Falcons in 2025 include having a strong offensive threat, having great defenders and chemistry.
The motto for this squad this season is “Unbreakable” as the Falcons will try and piece together another deep playoff run.
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The stars of 2024-25 Tompkins Volleyball
RETURNING TO PROMINENCE: No. 12: Tompkins Falcons dead-set on going back to State
NO. 12 -- TOMPKINS FALCONS
Head Coach: Allison Merrell
2023: 30-10/Regional Quarterfinalists
WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE VARSITY SQUAD RETURNING FOR 12TH-YEAR COACH ALLISON MERRELL AT TOMPKINS, THE FALCONS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A TEAM TO CONTEND WITH.
In 2023, this squad went 30-10 overall and reached the third round of the playoffs.
Libero Brooklynn Merrell (496 digs, 102 service aces) is back after being named the District 19-6A Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-State selection as a junior. First-teamers including setter Caelyn Dumas (468 assists, 281 kills, 255 digs) and middle blocker Callie Funk (217 kills) also return.
Others to watch include second-team, all-district outside hitter Christin Cowart (343 kills) and honorable mention pick middle blocker Simi Elliott (116 kills, 68 blocks) are all returning to the huddle for 2024. Dumas is verbally committed to Marist College, while Elliott is verbally committed to Brown University.
According to Merrell, the keys to their success in 2024 will be their defense and blocking. This group is not far removed from the UIL-6A State Tournament in the 2022-23 season.
Could this be the year they make it back?