St. Henry Crusaders win state volleyball championship in dominating fashion
Led by tournament most valuable player Taylor Preston’s 25 kills, St. Henry swept Mercy 3-0 to win the 2021 KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Championship on Saturday night in Winchester.
The 25-15, 25-18, 25-14 victory gave St. Henry (36-8) its second state volleyball championship and first since 1981 in the full-state field. St. Henry has also won six All “A” Classic state championships over the last decade, including this year’s contest.
Preston, a senior and an Oklahoma commit, was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Cora Taylor and Abigail Schaefer. Taylor had a match-high 42 assists. Schaefer led the team with 13 digs.
The state volleyball tournament began at top seeds’ sites around the state on Monday and continued Friday and Saturday at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
St. Henry defeated Sacred Heart 3-1 and Mercy topped Central Hardin 3-1 in the semifinals that began Saturday morning.
Earlier in the tournament, 12th Region champion West Jessamine defeated 11th Region champion Great Crossing 3-2 to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals. West Jessamine lost 3-0 to Sacred Heart in Friday’s noon quarterfinal game.
This was the fifth straight runner-up finish for Mercy (30-11) and their 20th state finals appearance, second-most to Assumption’s 23. The Jaguars have won seven state titles, the last coming in 2014.
All-Tournament Team
Sydney Collins, West Jessamine; Kenzie Austin, Bowling Green; Brianna Terpening, Montgomery County; Audrey Biggs, Boyd County; Kayla Bryant and Emily Young, Sacred Heart; Lindsey Vest and Addie Atcher, Central Hardin; Chloe Newton, Ella Telley, and Maddie Hagan, Mercy; Cora Taylor and Abigail Schaefer, St. Henry; Most Valuable Player—Taylor Preston, St. Henry.
