By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
It should come as no surprise that Notre Dame and St. Henry have advanced to the championship final of the 9th Region volleyball tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Boone County High School.
This will be the 12th time in 16 years that the two Catholic school powerhouses have squared off in the regional championship match. Notre Dame has won seven of the previous 11 showdowns, but St. Henry took the title the last two years.
In regional semifinal matches on Tuesday, Notre Dame swept Highlands, 25-15, 25-17, 25-8, and St. Henry won a much tighter battle against Cooper, 16-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-15 to set up the rematch.
During the regular season, Notre Dame (27-11) defeated St. Henry (24-11) in their annual Playing For A Purpose match that raises funds for breast cancer research. The Pandas also won that charity match in 2017 and 2018 and then lost to the Crusaders in the regional final both years.
The 9th Region champion will advance to next week’s state tournament at Louisville Valley High School and play the 1st Region champion in an opening round match at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.
The semifinal matches in the 10th Region tournament at Harrison County on Wednesday will be Campbell County vs. Harrison County at 6 p.m. and Scott vs. Bracken County at 7:30 p.m.
Over the last seven years, Scott has won four 10th Region championships and Campbell County has won three, including last year’s title.
In the 8th Region, Simon Kenton will play a semifinal match against tournament host North Oldham at 6 p.m. Wednesday. North Oldham has won the regional title the last five years and defeated Simon Kenton, 3-0 in a regular season match last month.
Highlands is one of the final four teams in the girls state soccer playoffs. The Bluebirds, who won their last two matches in penalty kick shootouts, will play Louisville Sacred Heart in a semifinal match at 8 p.m. Thursday at Lexington Bryan Station.
Sacred Heart defeated Highlands, 2-1, in last year’s state championship final and won a regular season match between the two teams by that same score earlier this month.
VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
9th Region at Boone County
Wednesday
Championship: Notre Dame vs. St. Henry, 7 p.m.
10th Region at Harrison County
Wednesday — semifinals
Campbell County vs. Harrison County, 6 p.m.
Scott vs. Bracken County, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6:30 p.m.
8th Region at North Oldham
Wednesday — semifinals
Simon Kenton vs. North Oldham, 6 p.m.
Woodford County vs. Henry County, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
at Lexington Bryan Station
Thursday
Ashland Blazer vs. Greenwood, 6 p.m.
Highlands vs. Louisville Sacred Heart, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 8 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY STATE MEET
Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park
9:30 a.m. — Class 1A girls (Brossart, Villa Madonna, St. Henry, Walton-Verona)
10:15 a.m. — Class 1A boys (St. Henry, Beechwood, Brossart, Villa Madona, Walton-Verona)
11:30 a.m. — Class 2A girls (Scott, Highlands)
12:15 p.m. — Class 2A boys (Highlands, Scott)
1:30 p.m. — Class 3A girls (Ryle, Campbell County, Conner, Cooper, Notre Dame)
2:15 p.m. — Class 3A boys (Conner, Covington Catholic, Ryle, Campbell County, Simon Kenton)