NEWPORT — For the 21st straight year, Notre Dame claimed the Region 5 volleyball title. The Pandas beat St. Henry 15-7, 15-9 Saturday at Newport Central Catholic.

        “We don't like losing, especially to teams in our region,” said Notre Dame junior Andrea Lanham, the tournament's most valuable player.

        Notre Dame (27-8) and St. Henry (28-7) advance to the state tournament at Ryle High School and Gray Middle School. The Pandas meet Region 1 runner-up Owensboro Apollo at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Ryle, and St. Henry takes on Louisville Mercy at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Gray.

        Notre Dame's season is a rebuilding year that wasn't. With only three seniors on the roster and only two teams from Northern Kentucky making it to state, many thought this was the year to push out the Pandas.

        But coach Bob Wood saw lots of improvement from the regular season to playoffs.

        “I just think we're serving better,” Wood said. “It's not like we're serving aces; we're spotting the ball to the back, so (opponents) can't set up their offense.”

        Still, Notre Dame was in trouble in Saturday's first game. A pair of kills by St. Henry senior Rachel Kuebbing put the Crusaders ahead, 3-2, and St. Henry later tied the game at 5-5 on Kuebbing's serve.

        But Notre Dame scored four points on junior Cassie Bondick's serve. She later served out the match.

        Lanham had 20 assists, and Potter had eight kills.

        “You've got to play a solid game,” St. Henry coach Maureen Kaiser said. “We didn't play a solid game. We missed too many serves.”

        Potter finished with 11 kills and eight blocks. Lanham added 27 assists.

        If Notre Dame beats Apol lo, the most formidable foe awaits — six-time defending state champion Louisville Assumption, the No.1 team in the Vball.com national poll, in the quarterfinals at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

        Assumption beat the Pandas on Oct.2, 15-4, 15-5, 15-7.

        All-Tournament Team

        Chrissy Isaac (Boone County); Rachel Fisk (Simon Kenton); Angie Swope (Campbell County); Marcie Zellen (Beechwood); Jennifer Thiem (Newport Central Catholic); Stephanie Boh (St. Henry); Rachel Kuebbing (St. Henry); Kelly Potter (Notre Dame); Susie Grout (Notre Dame). Most valuable player: Andrea Lanham (Notre Dame).

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