Weekend volleyball tourney has 7 top-25 high school teams

Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Associationpre-season poll
1. Assumption
2. Mercy
3. Sacred Heart
4. Louisville Holy Cross
5. St. Henry
6. Newport Central Catholic
7. Notre Dame
8. Henry Clay
9. Ryle
10. Lone Oak
11. Greenwood
12. Apollo
13. Owensboro Catholic
14. Manual
15. Oldham County
16. Paul Laurence Dunbar
17. Butler
18. Eastern
19. Covington Holy Cross
20. Central Hardin
21. Tates Creek
22. North Oldham
23. Presentation
24. Scott
25. South Oldham

Lafayette plays host to the Bluegrass Invitational Volleyball Tournament at Kentucky Basketball Academy this weekend.

Seven teams in the pre-season top 25 poll are in the 16-team competition, including No. 8 Henry Clay, the defending BIVT and 11th Region champion.

The BIVT field also features No. 9 Ryle, No. 10 Lone Oak, No. 11 Greenwood, No. 16 Paul Laurence Dunbar, No. 21 Tates Creek and No. 24 Covington Scott.

Greenwood is led by All-America candidate Courtney Smith.

Lafayette Coach Chris Langston said the BIVT is a valuable early-season learning experience for players and coaches.

"You get seven matches in two days, and that gives you an opportunity to move people around, compete at a high level, and see who's going to be able to help you throughout the season."

Pool play is Friday night and Saturday morning.

The tournament championship will be played Saturday at 4 p.m.

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