Beechwood's volleyball team is one win from making school history.
The Tigers (35-4) play Notre Dame (24-11) for the 9th Region championship at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Dayton High School. A Beechwood victory would make the Tigers the first public school to win the region title since the current playoff format was adopted in 2003, according to the Northern Kentucky Tribune.
The Pandas have won four consecutive 9th Region championships.
Beechwood earned its spot with a dominant three-set sweep of Conner on Wednesday, Oct. 28, winning 25-18, 25-17, 25-19. Senior Isabel O'Brien, named the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association's 9th Region Player of the Year, led the Tigers with 16 kills and three aces, Link NKY reported. O'Brien, a Bellarmine University recruit, leads Beechwood in both kills and defensive digs this season.
The Tigers used key runs in each set to pull away. A 5-0 stretch turned a 16-15 first-set lead into a comfortable margin. In the second set, the serving of Skylr Estep and O'Brien sparked a 9-3 run. Eighth grader Payce Adams finished the match with a kill to send Beechwood to the region final.
"It's definitely special getting to be a part of school history. I couldn't be more excited," O'Brien told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Notre Dame reached the final by beating St. Henry 27-25, 25-14, 25-17. Senior Teagan Kondik recorded a match-high 19 kills, with 11 coming in the opening set. Trailing 25-24 in that first set, the Pandas got a kill from Makayla Roose before Kondik delivered back-to-back kills to take the lead.
Pandas co-head coach Hannah Colvin said her team adjusted its defense after losing to St. Henry during the regular season.
Thursday's match is the third meeting between the two 35th District rivals this season. Beechwood won a five-set match Oct. 10 before Notre Dame won the 35th District championship. The winner advances to the 16-team state tournament.
Beechwood coach Matt Long, who also coached the Tigers in their last regional final appearance in 2003, led the team to consecutive All ‘A’ state championships in 2025 and 2026. Beechwood is ranked No. 4 and Notre Dame No. 2 in the state coaches poll.
