By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Eight volleyball teams that made it to district finals this week will compete in the 9th Region volleyball tournament that’s scheduled to start on Sunday at St. Henry High School.
The field will include Ryle and Cooper from the 33rd District, St. Henry and Villa Madonna from the 34th District, Notre Dame and Beechwood from the 35th District and Highlands and Newport Central Catholic from the 36th District.
Highlands won the 36th District title on Tuesday and will play a district runner-up in the first round of the region tournament. The other district winners will be determined Wednesday and Thursday.
A draw to determine 9th Region pairings is set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Henry.
Notre Dame (27-3) was voted the state’s top team in this week’s Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The Pandas, last year’s state runner-up, received 17 of 21 first-place votes from coaches around the state.
Other Northern Kentucky teams in the state rankings are No. 4 St. Henry, No. 9 Ryle, No. 18 Beechwood and No. 20 Simon Kenton.
Simon Kenton won a 32nd District semifinal match on Tuesday to earn a berth in the 8th Region tournament at Eminence High School. The bracket for the 10th Region tournament at Bracken County will include Scott and Brossart, the finalists in the 37th District.
Volleyball district tournament finals
32nd DISTRICT AT GRANT COUNTY
Simon Kenton vs. Grant County, 6 p.m. Thursday
33rd DISTRICT AT RYLE
Ryle vs. Cooper, 6 p.m. Thursday
34th DISTRICT AT LLOYD
Villa Madonna vs. St. Henry, 6 p.m. Wednesday
35th DISTRICT AT NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame vs. Beechwood, 7 p.m. Wednesday
36th DISTRICT AT BELLEVUE
Highlands defeated Newport Central Catholic, 3-0 (25-13, 25-10, 25-12)
37th DISTRICT AT CALVARY CHRISTIAN
Scott vs. Brossart, 6 p.m. Thursday