By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
For the ninth time in 12 years, Notre Dame and St. Henry will meet in the championship final of the 9th Region volleyball tournament.
Both teams won semifinal matches on Wednesday to set up the rematch. Notre Dame defeated Highlands, 3-0, and St. Henry knocked off Beechwood, 3-1. The regional final will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Holmes High School with the winner advancing to next week’s state tournament at Valley High School in Louisville.
A berth in the state tournament will also be on the line when Scott and Campbell County square off in the 10th Region championship match for the fourth consecutive year at 7 p.m. Thursday at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester. Scott defeated Montgomery County, 3-0, and Campbell County defeated Harrison County, 3-0, in semifinal matches on Wednesday.
Notre Dame has a 9-2 record in 9th Region championship matches over the last 11 years. St. Henry claimed regional titles in 2006 and 2010, but Notre Dame won the tournament the last six years. In the only match between the two teams this season, St. Henry won the first two sets and Notre Dame rallied to take the next three for a 3-2 victory.
Scott defeated Campbell County in the 10th Region championship the last three years and the Eagles won both matches between the two teams this season.
Soccer teams prepare for state tournament quarterfinal matches
Four local soccer teams will compete in the quarterfinals of the boys’ and girls’ state tournaments on Saturday at Lafayette and Fredrick Douglass high schools in Lexington.
Notre Dame and Simon Kenton are among the final eight teams in the girls’ state tournament. Ryle and Campbell County made it to the quarterfinal round of the boys’ state tournament.
The Simon Kenton girls’ team will play Louisville Sacred Heart, the top-ranked team in the state, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Fredrick Douglass.
Two years ago, Sacred Heart defeated Simon Kenton, 3-0, and Notre Dame, 1-0, in the first two rounds of the state tournament and went on to win the championship. Last year, Simon Kenton made it to the semifinals and lost to eventual state champion West Jessamine, 1-0, in a penalty kick shootout.
BOYS’ SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday — Quarterfinal matches
Daviess County vs. Perry County Central, 2 p.m. at Lafayette
Louisville St. Xavier vs. Oldham County, 2 p.m. at Fredrick Douglass
CAMPBELL COUNTY vs. Warren Central, 4 p.m. at Lafayette
RYLE vs. Corbin, 4 p.m. at Fredrick Douglass
Wednesday, Nov. 1 — Semifinal matches at Lafayette
Daviess County-Perry County Central winner vs. Ryle-Corbin winner, 6 p.m.
St. Xavier-Oldham County winner vs. Campbell County-Warren Central winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4 at Lafayette
Championship match, 5 p.m.
GIRLS’ SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
Saturday — Quarterfinal matches
NOTRE DAME vs. Corbin, noon at Fredrick Douglass H.S.
Bowling Green vs. West Jessamine, noon at Lafayette H.S.
SIMON KENTON vs. Louisville Sacred Heart, 6 p.m. at Fredrick Douglass H.S.
Daviess County vs. Russell, 6 p.m. at Lafayette H.S.
Thursday, Nov. 2 — Semifinal matches at Lafayette
Daviess County-Russell winner vs. Notre Dame-Corbin winner, 6 p.m.
Bowling Green-West Jessamine winner vs. Simon Kenton-Sacred Heart winner, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 4 at Lafayette
Championship match, 7 p.m.