Season in Review: 9th Region

For four years in a row, it has not necessarily been a given, but the Ryle Raiders, St. Henry Crusaders and Notre Dame Pandas have won their district tournaments then advanced to the region semifinals. It has just turned into a matter of which team would be the fourth one to join them.   That fourth team wound up being the Highlands Bluebirds this year in Jim DeLong's second season back as head coach. Highlands has dominated the 36th District Tournament winning eight years in a row, but had struggled to make it past the first round of the region tournament the last four years. The Bluebirds earned that elusive win with a 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-12) victory over Cooper to advance to the region semifinals for the first time since 2019.   Notre Dame (34-4 overall) came into the season favored to three-peat as region champions and did so. The Pandas advanced to the state semifinals before losing a tough 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-22, 15-25, 15-9) battle against eventual state champion Assumption. Notre Dame beat Assumption twice during the regular season including a 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 16-14) battle in Park Hills on Oct. 15.   The Pandas still had plenty to celebrate. They won the prestigious Asics Challenge in Chicago for the first time in school history. They graduate seven seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='210633' first='Ava' last='Tilden'], [player_tooltip player_id='210634' first='Julia' last='Grace'], [player_tooltip player_id='159327' first='Riley' last='McCloskey'], [player_tooltip player_id='253867' first='Hannah' last='Dannenberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='477121' first='Lacey' last='Hostetler'], [player_tooltip player_id='269766' first='Lauren' last='Ott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='231876' first='Ella' last='Goetz'], but do return setter [player_tooltip player_id='379687' first='Lizzy' last='Larkins'] along with powerful hitters [player_tooltip player_id='312234' first='Audrey' last='Dyas'], [player_tooltip player_id='484250' first='Teagan' last='Kondik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='507601' first='Grace' last='Portwood']. Expect players like [player_tooltip player_id='741504' first='Emma' last='Redlinger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='571992' first='Katie' last='Zwick'] to step into bigger roles next season.   St. Henry (33-6) reloaded after huge graduation losses from the previous year. The Crusaders have two seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='159378' first='Corrine' last='Blackburn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159389' first='Elizabeth' last='Casey']. They had three freshman in [player_tooltip player_id='610406' first='Kenadi' last='Sieg'], [player_tooltip player_id='709517' first='Violet' last='Main'] and [player_tooltip player_id='612108' first='Madelyn' last='Keipert'] that played a lot and will only improve in the offseason. The likes of [player_tooltip player_id='451098' first='Madi' last='Demler'], Gianna Butler, Caroline Tabeling and [player_tooltip player_id='594619' first='Emily' last='Helmers'] returning will also help St. Henry's cause next year. St. Henry fended off challenges from Beechwood, 3-1 (25-16, 25-15, 11-25, 25-21) then Ryle, 3-2 (25-15, 15-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-10) in the semifinals to make it to the championship game.   Ryle (24-9) came into the season with high hopes per usual. The Raiders recorded a memorable 2-0 (26-24, 25-21) win over eventual state champion Assumption in the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament on Sept. 14. They hung tough with Notre Dame at home on Oct. 9 until the best hitter [player_tooltip player_id='210710' first='Lucy' last='Trapp'] had to leave with a season-ending injury.   The Raiders also lost promising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='535265' first='Rachel' last='King'] for the season. However, that opened up opportunities for players like freshman [player_tooltip player_id='712121' first='Ashley' last='Towner'] and Madison Arstingstall to receive some valuable experience. The Raiders graduate Trapp, [player_tooltip player_id='253871' first='Karsyn' last='Griffin'] and Rebecca Kramer, but return setter [player_tooltip player_id='212347' first='Morgan' last='Heater'] along with defensive specialists Lucy Baker, [player_tooltip player_id='486910' first='Ria' last='Furuta'] and [player_tooltip player_id='334217' first='Francesca' last='Hansel'] to go with eighth grade hitter Layna Wilkinson.   Highlands (29-10) came a long way beating Cooper for just the second, third and fourth times in school history this season. The Bluebirds had a good mixture of experience with four seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='395942' first='Ella' last='Cox'], [player_tooltip player_id='486907' first='Lyla' last='Bottom'], Ellie Mohr and [player_tooltip player_id='486914' first='Sydney' last='Schomaker'] to go with some promising young talent such as [player_tooltip player_id='608333' first='Bella' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='590644' first='Alexis' last='Steinhauser']. The Bluebirds could have a big senior class next year led by [player_tooltip player_id='276170' first='Hayden' last='Gessner'], Mia Perron, [player_tooltip player_id='590640' first='Liz' last='Perkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='503792' first='Ava' last='Muzumdar'].   Beechwood (25-9) has turned in two solid seasons in Matt Long's return to the sidelines. The Tigers hope to improve even more with the return of experienced players [player_tooltip player_id='456263' first='Rachel' last='Lewandowski'], [player_tooltip player_id='484443' first='Macy' last='Armstrong'], Isabel Baaker, [player_tooltip player_id='456668' first='Skylr' last='Estep'], Maggie Dawson, Teegan Becker, [player_tooltip player_id='594624' first='Kendale' last='Lair'], [player_tooltip player_id='484442' first='Isabel' last='O'Brien'] and Piper Steinmetz.   Villa Madonna (22-8) made it to the region tournament for the first time since 2015 behind a solid senior class with [player_tooltip player_id='210638' first='Maya' last='Kondik'], Catherine Gifford and Rebecca Raziano. The Vikings return one of the top eighth graders around in Ellie Breitling to go with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='612251' first='Mary' last='Chadwick'], Anna Raziano and [player_tooltip player_id='248435' first='Victoria' last='Sebald'].   Cooper (13-21) made it back to the region tournament for the first time since 2021 besting Conner, 3-1 (18-25, 25-12, 25-15, 25-18) in the 33rd District semifinals. The Jaguars graduate seven seniors including [player_tooltip player_id='159399' first='Audrey' last='Schilling'] and Dani Depenbrock, but do return sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='535268' first='Addison' last='Warth'] and promising freshman outside hitter Isabella Taylor.   Conner (20-17) took some lumps with heavy graduation from the previous year, but the Cougars return some nice young talent in [player_tooltip player_id='484447' first='Shylyn' last='Koerber'], [player_tooltip player_id='602465' first='Annika' last='Berwanger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='579836' first='Charlotte' last='Patton']. The Cougars graduate six seniors in the spring.   Newport Central Catholic (15-21) had some struggles despite having a senior-laden squad. Madison Wolf turned in a solid senior season leading the Thoroughbreds in kills with 275 and Vivi Fassler set her up well. NewCath returns a nice back line with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='693877' first='Piperlyn' last='Kramer'], [player_tooltip player_id='540518' first='Paytin' last='Reckers'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484445' first='Jordyn' last='Reckers']. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='512719' first='Charlotte' last='Stevie'] also saw a good bit of action at setter. The Thoroughbreds hope to see players like Maura Franzen and Maddie Sandfoss step into big roles offensively.   Players to Watch Next Season    Zwick (pictured) has the size and athleticism to make more of an impact for the Pandas next season. Zwick takes hard swings from the pins and middle, constantly finding ways to put balls down. Zwick also helped form a number of solid double blocks this season.     Butler gave the Crusaders a nice option outside this season. Butler showed she can effectively put balls down off blockers and to the opposite line in go routes against solid defenders. Butler had 141 kills helping St. Henry go 33-6, win another 34th District crown and make it back to the region championship game.     Towner will only improve as the result of varsity experience this year. Towner has solid swings and will only add to that arsenal during club season. Towner is in sync with her teammates at the net forming tough double blocks. She is outstanding at making things happen out of system.     Estep only grows with experience. She does a great job looking at defenses and putting balls where they need to go. Estep sets her feet well. She is able to take effective swings when the Tigers are out of system and is a nice passer. Estep had 715 assists and 195 digs leading Beechwood to a 25-9 record last year.     Kramer quietly ranked among the region leaders in aces last year constantly serving to different parts of the court to different defenders. Kramer could even send shallow serves to the front left side making it difficult on defenders. Kramer turned into a reliable passer for the Thoroughbreds this past fall. Kramer had 281 digs and 70 aces for NewCath.

For four years in a row, it has not necessarily been a given, but the Ryle Raiders, St. Henry Crusaders and Notre Dame Pandas have won their district tournaments then advanced to the region semifinals. It has just turned into a matter of which team would be the fourth one to join them.