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Prep Sports Notebook: Calvary Christian volleyball team wins first All ‘A’ Classic regional title


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

After the Calvary Christian volleyball team won its first 10th Region All “A” Classic championship last week, coach Becky Stelzer had to pick three of her players for the all-tournament team.

Stelzer said that was hard to do because “each girl rose above and beyond to help us achieve this goal.” But the coach ended up selecting juniors Caroline Abney, Alona Borden and Anna Wolf for the honors.

Calvary Christian seniors, left to right, Katie Plummer, Camryn Parker and Olivia Palasek pose for photos with the regional championship trophy.

Abney walked off with the most valuable player trophy for being a versatile team leader for the Cougars. At the net, she had 16 kills and three blocks. She also scored on five service aces and had 12 assists as a setter.

“For the entire tournament, she was a vital asset to the team,” the coach said. “She is a talented player who sees the floor well and continues to learn and grow in her talent.”

In the semifinals, Calvary Christian knocked off nine-time regional champion Brossart in a three-set thriller by scores of 20-25, 25-21, 25-22. After losing the first set, coach Stelzer said her players showed their mental toughness by winning the next two.

“They made some small adjustments individually to their play and they got back out there and worked to win,” she said. “They never gave in. They never stopped working.”

Calvary Christian will make its debut in the All “A” Classic state tournament Sept. 14-15 at Eastern Kentucky University. After the 16 regional champions go through pool play, they will be seeded in single-elimination championship and consolation brackets.

St. Henry won last year’s small-school state volleyball tournament and the Crusaders earned a return trip on Monday by defeating Holy Cross in the 9th Region All “A” Classic final.

St. Henry senior Maria Tobergte received the regional tournament’s most valuable player award. Two of her freshmen teammates — Abby Schaefer and Taylor Preston — were also named to the all-tournament team by coach Maureen Kaiser.

NewCath sweeps 9th Region All “A” Classic soccer titles

Newport Central Catholic won the 9th Region All “A” Classic championship games in boys and girls soccer on Saturday at Beechwood.

The NewCath girls defeated St. Henry, 1-0, with Jalyn Vogt getting the lone goal off an assist by Anna Petroze. Vogt was named most valuable player on the all-tournament team that included Kacy and Kara Zimmerman and Taylor Feldman of NewCath.

In the boys final, NewCath won a penalty kick shootout against St. Henry to come away with a 2-1 victory. Ben Glaser was named most valuable player for the Thoroughbreds and teammates Stephen Kelly, Connor Enxel and Jarrod Gabbard joined him on the all-tournament team.

The All “A” Classic boys and girl state soccer tournaments will be played Sept. 22-23 in Frankfort.

Cross country runners open season with impressive races

Two cross country runners from Conner were the top local finishers in the St. Xavier Tiger Run, the first major race of the season, last Saturday in Louisville.

In the girls race, Conner freshman Ashlyn Vanlandingham placed fifth in a field of 186 runners with a time of 20:00.08. There were more than 260 runners in the boys race and Conner junior Peyton Fairchild came in 10th. He crossed the line with 16:36.31 showing on the clock.

This Saturday, most of the top cross country runners in Northern Kentucky will compete in the Grant County Invitational at Sherman Elementary School. The girls varsity race is set for 8:30 a.m. followed by the boys varsity race at 9:15 a.m.


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