By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Notre Dame and St. Henry will meet in the 9th Region volleyball championship final for the eighth time in 12 years since the 2012 realignment after both teams won semifinal matches in three straight sets on Tuesday at Cooper High School.
Notre Dame, the defending state champion and top-ranked team in the latest Kentucky volleyball coaches poll, got past Conner, 25-17, 25-9, 25-18, to reach the region tournament final for the 12th consecutive year.
St. Henry swept Ryle, 25-16, 25-13, 25-7, in a match between teams ranked No. 6 and No. 9 in the state coaches poll. Two years ago, the Crusaders defeated Notre Dame in the region final and went on to win the state tournament.
The showdown for this year’s 9th Region title is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Cooper High School.
Notre Dame has a 4-3 record against St. Henry in 9th Region finals played since 2012. This season, the Pandas won two matches against the Crusaders by scores of 2-1 and 3-1. The winning margins in four of the seven sets was four points or less.
The leading hitters for St. Henry on Tuesday were seniors Alivia Skidmore and Anna Guard. After scoring seven of their team’s last 13 points in the second set, they provided six points during a 10-3 run to start the final set.
Notre Dame had balanced scoring in its semifinal victory with good passing setting up multiple kills by juniors Ava Tilden and Riley McCloskey and sophomores Grace Portwood and Audrey Dyas through out the match..
In two tournament first-round matches on Tuesday, Simon Kenton defeated Eminence, 3-0, in the 8th Region and Campbell County won a tight scoring battle against George Rogers Clark, 3-0, in the 10th Region.
In semifinal matches on Wednesday, Simon Kenton will play North Oldham for the first time this season and Campbell County will be going for its second victory against Harrison County.
Volleyball region tournament schedules
9TH REGION AT COOPER HIGH SCHOOL
Thursday
Championship match: St. Henry (31-8) vs. Notre Dame (29-5), 6:30 p.m.
8TH REGION AT EMINENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Oldham County vs. Grant County, 6 p.m.
North Oldham vs. Simon Kenton, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
10TH REGION AT HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Wednesday
Scott vs. Bracken County, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Harrison County, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6:30 p.m.