By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Two small-school teams have big dreams going into the girls volleyball post-season playoffs that start this week with district tournaments.
Beechwood is considered the top contender in the 9th Region for the first time in team history. The Tigers finished the regular season with a sparkling 32-3 record that includes a victory over Notre Dame, one of Kentucky’s premier programs that has won 39 region and 10 state championship trophies.
Brossart won its only 10th Region title in 2022, but the Mustangs are a strong contender this year after finishing the regular season with a best-ever 31-3 record and going 10-0 run against region opponents.
The first step for both teams is district tournament openers on Tuesday when Beechwood faces Holmes and Brossart takes on Campbell County. The winners of those matches advance to district finals and earn region tournament berths.
Barring any upsets, Beechwood will meet Notre Dame in the 35th District final on Thursday.
In their regular season match two weeks ago, Beechwood won the first two sets, 25-21, 25-18, and Notre Dame rallied to win the next two, 25-17, 25-18. There were multiple lead changes in the tie-breaker set before the Tigers pulled out a 15-9 decision.
A public school team has never won the 9th Region volleyball title since the current playoff format was established in 2003. That was also the last year that Beechwood made it to the region final.
Brossart senior Callie Ritter ended the regular season as the state leader in blocks (116) and Scott junior Emory Sullivan tops the list in service aces (132).
In Northern Kentucky area stats, the other leaders are Conner junior Charlotte Patton in kills (474), Brossart senior Aubrey Rebholz in assists (915), Ritter in solo blocks (76), Beechwood senior Macy Armstrong and Highlands junior Bella Thomas in block assists (56) and Calvary Christian sophomore Madison Stelzer in digs (551).
Girls volleyball district tournament schedules
32ND DISTRICT AT WILLIAMSTOWN
Monday
Walton-Verona vs. Williamstown, 6 p.m.
Simon Kenton vs. Grant County, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship match, 6:30 p.m.
33RD DISTRICT AT CONNER
Tuesday
Ryle vs. Boone County, 5:45 p.m.
Conner vs. Cooper, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6 p.m.
34TH DISTRICT AT LUDLOW
Monday
Ludlow vs. Lloyd, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
St. Henry vs. Ludlow-Lloyd winner, 5 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Villa Madonna, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship match, 6 p.m.
35TH DISTRICT AT HOLMES
Tuesday
Beechwood vs. Holmes, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Holy Cross, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
36TH DISTRICT AT NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Monday
Bellevue vs. Newport, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Dayton, 6 p.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Bellevue-Newport winner, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship match, 7 p.m.
37TH DISTRICT AT SCOTT
Tuesday
Brossart vs. Campbell County, 6 p.m.
Scott vs. Calvary Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship match, 6 p.m.