The Simon Kenton Pioneers girls soccer team (14-4-4 overall) could not have asked to be in a better spot at this point in the post-season.
Simon Kenton is back in the 8th Region championships after shutting out the 9-9-1 Oldham County Colonels, 4-0 at Carroll County in the semifinals. The Pioneers are back in the region championship game for the first time since winning it two years ago.
“Our possession and speed of play is clicking,” said Hillary Johnson, Simon Kenton head coach. “We’ve continued to improve over the season. That’s a testament to their work ethic and their willingness to get better each game.”
Simon Kenton will take on the 18-2 South Oldham Dragons at 6 p.m. on Thursday back at Carroll County for the crown. South Oldham finished state runner-up last year losing 1-0 to Notre Dame in the state championship game and opened the season with a 5-0 home win over the Pioneers.
Simon Kenton had nine shots on goal and senior goalkeeper Olivia York had five saves. Senior defender/midfielder Sophie Decker scored twice for Simon Kenton with junior defender/midfielder Cam Ruble and freshman forward Reece Johnson scoring the other two goals. Ruble added an assist.
“We made a (formation switch) and I think we handled the adjustment really well,” York said. “I was impressed with them. It’s almost what we were waiting for. Everyone had the skill and we were just waiting for everything to click.”
Boys Soccer
10th Region Quarterfinals at Montgomery County
Campbell County 6, Harrison County 0
The Camels (10-9-2) won their first 10th Region Tournament game since driving to the region championship game in 2019 shutting out the Thorobreds (10-7-1).
Junior Noah Rittinger led the Camels with a hat trick of three goals. He leads Campbell County with 21 this year.
Junior Kaden Rose had two goals and two assists for the Camels and junior James Besecker had one goal and one assist. Sophomores Austin Bush and Brian Winder added assists.
Campbell County takes on the host Montgomery County Indians (13-9) in the region semifinals Thursday at 8 p.m. The title game is Saturday at 5 p.m.
Volleyball
Cincinnati Ursuline 3, Notre Dame 0
The Pandas (24-5) knew this would be a tough week to conclude the regular season. They lost by 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 scores to the Girls Greater Catholic League champion Lions (17-3).
Notre Dame has only lost to one Kentucky opponent. Three of the Pandas losses have come against GCL opponents. They lost to Mercy McAuley at home Aug. 27 then to Mount Notre Dame on Sept. 10 in the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament.
“We always know the Cincinnati teams are going to be exceptional,” said Jenna Leistner, Notre Dame Associate Head Coach. “That’s why we schedule them or at least try to schedule them every year because playing those teams only makes us better. It was a tough loss. But it hopefully shows us where we can improve on. We could improve our first contact, serve receive and blocking.”
Notre Dame had 27 kills, four blocks, 26 assists, 48 digs and four aces in the loss. Sophomore Ava Tilden had nine kills and senior Sydney Nolan had seven.
Freshman setter Lizzy Larkins had 14 assists with sophomore Lauren Ott contributing 11. Senior libero Kamden Schrand had 12 digs and sophomore Julia Grace had 10.
Ursuline had 39 kills, six aces, 48 digs and 10 blocks. Senior middle blocker Brooke Bultema and University of Kentucky commit led the Lions with 13 kills and sophomore Katie Gielas had eight with freshman Ella Grimes recording seven. Senior libero Sydney Breissinger had 23 digs and five aces with Bultema and sophomore middle blocker Lindy Radaszewski tallying three blocks each.
“In practice a lot, we work on shots and with (Breissinger) in the back row, it’s hard to put something down,” said Kayla Hostetler, Notre Dame senior libero. “We have to work with our roll shots that we have and even those didn’t get put down. We just have to come together, stay calm and realize we have to get points on different things instead of getting kills.”
The Pandas play host to Louisville Assumption (28-6) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame beat the Rockets, 2-0 (25-23, 25-19) in Chicago on Oct. 1.
St. Henry 3, Cincinnati Mercy McAuley 2
The Crusaders (21-7) played a Cincinnati Greater Catholic League team for the second time in five days. After losing at St. Ursula last week, St. Henry knocked off the Wolves (13-7) by 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 27-25, 15-7 scores.
St. Henry plays host to Holy Cross (28-5) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Holy Cross 3, Scott 1
The Indians (28-5) outlasted the Eagles (23-11) by 25-12, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20 scores in Taylor Mill.
“Our biggest issue is passing,” said Jill Hunt, Holy Cross Head Coach. “In the game they beat us in game two, we struggled with serve receive. They served super aggressive and that’s what kept them in the game. They were swinging pretty big too. They came to win. But in the end, I think we overtook them.”
Holy Cross had 40 kills, 38 assists, 52 digs and five aces. Senior setter Maya Hunt had 35 assists and 11 digs with junior Julia Hunt recording 29 kills and senior Rylee Hood tallying nine. Julia Hunt, Hood and senior libero Natalie Bessler had 10 digs each.
“(My court vision) helps because I can say this is spot is open from the middle then I rotate out and this spot is open,” Julia Hunt said. “For example when I go up in the middle and the right side helps, I know that spot is open. Then if the right back cheats up, then I know the corner is open. So it’s about seeing one spot and putting the other pieces together.”
Scott had 18 aces, 32 kills, 11 blocks, 27 assists and 26 digs. Senior setter Audrey Griffin had 25 assists, nine digs and seven aces. Freshman Milyn Minor had four aces and 13 kills. Senior hitter Makaylah Mitchell had 10 kills and three blocks and junior Brooke Balsley had three blocks.
Julia Hunt recently verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Washington. The Huskies are 13-3 overall and 5-1 in Pacific 12 action this year.
“The coaching staff is amazing,” Julia Hunt said. “I love (head coach Keegan Cook, assistant coaches Leslie Gabriel and Jason Mansfield). I feel like the people around them are also amazing. I think the players were a big part as well. None were cocky. Some players can be that way the higher they go up. I feel like they were real nice and supportive. The city (of Seattle) is also really nice so when I’m not playing volleyball, I can go out, do something and have fun.”
Holy Cross goes to St. Henry (21-7) on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. season and Scott concludes the regular season at Calvary Christian (15-11) on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Other Volleyball Scores:
Bellevue 2 (25-15, 14-25, 25-15), Augusta 1
Bishop Brossart 2 (25-15, 25-9), Newport 0
Calvary Christian 3 (25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 25-10), Cincinnati Trailblazers (Ohio) Home School 1
Conner 3 (25-17, 25-8, 25-20), Beechwood 0
Cooper 3 (19-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-10), Highlands 2
Dayton 2 (25-23, 25-23), Carroll County 0
Dixie Heights 3 (25-16, 25-20, 25-15), Newport Central Catholic 0
Heritage Academy 2 (25-23, 25-18), Holmes 0
Owen County 2 (26-24, 25-16), Walton-Verona 0
Walton-Verona 3 (25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17), Lloyd Memorial 1
