By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After winning their team’s first district title last week, Cooper volleyball players made history once again by reaching the 9th Region championship final for the first time.
Cooper defeated Newport Central Catholic, 24-26, 25-18, 25-23, 25-20, in the regional semifinals on Wednesday at Ryle High School to advance to the title match. The Jaguars will face perennial power Notre Dame at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the winner getting a berth in next week’s state tournament.
Notre Dame defeated St. Henry, 25-11, 25-10, 25-21, in Wednesday’s other semifinal match. The Pandas have made it to the state tournament the last four years and it will take a major upset to break that streak.
Cooper junior outside hitter Kaity Smith had 25 kills and 14 defensive digs in her team’s semifinal win over NewCath. She surpassed the 1,000 mark in career kills during the four-set match.
Rebecca Ruppel also recorded a double-double for the Jaguars with 12 kills and 22 digs. Junior setter Taylor Klein had 29 assists and Morgan Kelly played well at the net, getting six blocks to go along with seven kills.
District rivals Brossart, Scott will meet again in 10th Region title match
The Bishop Brossart volleyball team that finished the regular season with a sketchy 16-15 record will play in the 10th Region championship final for the first time in the history of the program.
Brossart knocked off Harrison County, 25-17, 25-3, 25-9, in the semifinals on Wednesday and plays defending champion Scott in the title match at 7:15 p.m. Thursday at Harrison County County High School.
Scott has a 2-0 record against Brossart this season, including a victory in last week’s 37th District final.
Brossart’s stat leaders in the regional semifinal match were outside hitters Emma Verst and Cassie Reinhard, who had a combined total of 31 kills The other big numbers were 36 assists by setter Lindsay Leick and 21 digs by libero Maddie Flaugher.
Scott defeated Bracken County, 25-8, 25-1, 25-18, on Wednesday to earn a return trip to the regional final. The Eagles committed only one error in the second set of that match.
Scott sophomore setter Jordan Tapp had 20 assists. She distributed the ball so well that the kill leaders were Jessica Tapp with nine and Morgan Berning with eight. Kelly Franxman scored nine aces on 20 serves for the Eagles.