Mater Dei sophomore Koerkenmeier’s transformation helps lead Knights to state crown

At 6-foot-5, Mater Dei sophomore Alyssa Koerkenmeier draws immediate attention the moment she takes the floor.

On Saturday, she held it.

Koerkenmeier recorded a triple-double — the first of her young career — with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots as the Knights smacked Byron 62-46 in the Class 2A championship game at CEFCU Arena. Koerkenmeier was 10-for-15 from the field.

The triple-double was the first in girls state tournament history, as was the state championship for the Knights (27-7). Led by Koerkenmeier, Mater Dei set a single-game state record with 15 blocks.

“When I get the ball, I want to score,” Koerkenmeier said. “Being in this arena, on this stage, is a very cool experience. There’s so much energy. I want to go straight to the basket.”

That also was Byron’s mindset. But unfortunately for the Tigers (34-3), that was the area patrolled by Koerkenmeier, who repeatedly turned away short jumpers in the lane.

The blocks provided the Knights with game-lasting momentum and motivation, and often were converted into critical baskets at the other end of the court.

“Just having the presence of me in the lane affects everybody’s shot in general,” Koerkenmeier said. “If I can get a hand on the ball and affect their shot, that’s a game-changer. It gets the energy going in the gym, too.”

Mater Dei coach Craig Zurliene, in his second season, has witnessed Koerkenmeier’s noteworthy transformation in basketball. She’s also a dominant middle blocker in volleyball who will at some point have to decide what will be her sport of preference.

“She’s maturing, both physically and mentally, at an exponential rate,” Zurliene said, something Knights senior Julia Korte also has closely observed.

“I’ve seen her since she was in grade school,” Korte said. “It’s really cool to see her grow and to be one of her teammates. I’m really proud of how far she’s come.”

Koerkenmeier is obviously having more fun these days. During her freshman basketball season, that didn’t always seem to be the case. Perhaps she was just trying to fit in and adjust to the high school competition. Being 6-5, she couldn’t fly under the radar.

“It’s so much fun out there,” Koerkenmeier said. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t in my basketball mindset yet. Now it’s just an amazing feeling.”

‘Shopping is hard’

Koerkenmeier acknowledges the “perks” that come with being 6-5.

“With sports, volleyball and basketball, everything is a lot easier,” she said.

“(But) clothes are not good. Shopping is hard.”

Koerkenmeier completed the triple-double in the fourth quarter when she logged her 10th block. Mater Dei fans cheered loudly when the feat was recognized on the scoreboard.

“When it happened, I didn’t know I had made that mark,” Koerkenmeier said. “I heard the fans cheering. I looked up and it said it on the big screen. I was like, ‘Wow, I just did that.’ That’s been a career goal for me. Especially in the state championship game, for me to get my first triple-double, that’s amazing.”

More from Koerkenmeier

Koerkenmeier isn’t always satisfied with just swatting away an opponent’s shot. On many occasions, she’s able to recover the ball and get the team into fast-break mode.

“My dad has told me that if I block a shot, I have to go out there and grab it,” Koerkenmeier said. “So that’s always in my head. I want to prove that after getting a stop, I can help my team reverse (course) and go into offense.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find the ball. You don’t quite know where your momentum is going. But if I can see that ball and grab it, that gets the energy up even more.”