By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Campbell County and St. Henry were among the eight volleyball teams that posted 3-0 victories in the opening round of the state tournament on Friday at Valley High School in Louisville.
St. Henry defeated North Oldham, 3-0, behind the play of senior outside hitter Maria Tobergte, who had 12 kills and three service aces for a team-high 15 points. Junior middle hitter Zoe Epplen had seven kills, one block and one block assist for 9.5 points.
The other stat leaders for the Crusaders were senior setter Bridget Bessler with 28 assists and freshman libero Abigail Schaeffer with 14 digs. The team’s other freshman starter, Taylor Preston, had eight kills on 16 attempts for a .500 attack percentage.
The Crusaders will play McCracken County in the state quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The winner will return for a semifinal match at 7 p.m. against the Greenwood-Louisville Mercy winner.
Campbell County made its first state tournament appearance since 2013 a successful one with a 3-0 win over Central Hardin. Defense carried the Camels to the victory. They finished with 10 team blocks and 39 defensive digs.
The scoring leader for Campbell County was Elyse Wieland with 13 kills, one service ace and three block assists for 15.5 points. Karli Siry was 8-for-16 on kill attempts and had one block assist for 9.5 points. Senior setter Lauren Vineyard had 29 of the team’s 32 assists.
The quarterfinal matches in the lower bracket on Saturday are Louisville Assumption vs. Henderson County at 1 p.m. and Campbell County vs. Pulaski Southwestern at 2:30 p.m. The winners will meet in a semifinal match at 8:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL STATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday at Louisville Valley High School
Louisville Mercy (33-6) vs. Greenwood (36-5), 10 a.m.
St. Henry (32-9) vs. McCracken County (33-8), 11:30 a.m.
Louisville Assumption (40-0) vs. Henderson County (23-11), 1 p.m.
Campbell County (23-12) vs. Pulaski Southwestern (28-13), 2:30 p.m.
Semifinal matches, 7 and 8:30 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Saturday – Quarterfinals at two sites
Lexington Henry Clay (11-8-3) vs. Boyd County (16-1-1), 1 p.m. at Lexington Dunbar
Louisville St. Xavier (23-2-1) vs. Corbin (11-8-1), 3 p.m. at Lexington Lafayette
Highlands (22-1-3) vs. Daviess County (21-2-1), 5 p.m. at Lexington Dunbar
Louisville Butler (18-3-1) vs. Hopkinsville (18-6-2), 7 p.m. at Lexington Lafayette
GIRLS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Saturday – Quarterfinals at two sites
Sacred Heart (22-1-1) vs. North Laurel (14-7-2), 1 p.m. at Lexington Lafayette
West Jessamine (15-3-5) vs. Russell (14-4-1), 5 p.m. at Lexington Lafayette
Highlands (21-4) vs. Greenwood (17-2-3), 3 p.m. at Lexington Dunbar
Bardstown Bethlehem (23-2-2) vs. Henderson County (19-2-1), 7 p.m. at Lexington Dunbar
CROSS COUNTRY REGIONAL MEETS
Saturday at Sherman Elementary School, Dry Ridge
Class A boys, 1 p.m.
Class A girls, 1:45 p.m.
Class AA boys, 2:30 p.m.
Class AA girls, 3:15 p.m.
Class AAA boys, 4 p.m.
Class AAA girls, 4:45 p.m.