Highlands volleyball drops tough one to NC

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Gracie Schweitzer (middle) digs up the ball while Emma Delagrange (31) gets in position in Thursday's game at Newport Central Catholic.

The Blue and White has as much balance as it has in a number of years.

The Highlands Ladybirds volleyball team (12-11 overall) hoped to use it to knock off the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (14-14) in 36th District action Thursday on the Hill. Highlands gave a great effort, but came up short in a 3-1 (25-13, 25-22, 24-26, 28-26) loss. The Ladybirds dropped to 2-1 in district action and 6-7 in 9th Region play.

Thursday Briefs: Ladybirds record 15th win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Kiersten Clukey plays the ball in Tuesday's game against Notre Dame.

The Highlands Ladybirds took the outright top seed in the 36th District Tournament with a 5-0 victory over the Dayton Lady Devils on Thursday at Tower Park.

Tuesday Briefs

Bluebird soccer records road victory

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Parker Smith (22) celebrates after scoring against Newport Central Catholic in a recent game.

The defending 10th Region champions gave the visitors a tough game despite looking down on paper.

But despite its 6-10 record, the host Montgomery County Indians made the Highlands Bluebird soccer team (13-1-2) earn the road win, 3-1 in Mount Sterling. The Bluebirds have won 10 in a row.

Monday Briefs: Highlands girls soccer, volleyball win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior goalkeeper Olivia McQueary boots the ball ahead in a recent game.

The Highlands Ladybirds made it three in a row with a 3-0 victory over the St. Henry Lady Crusaders on Monday.

This marked the second win of the year by the same score for Highlands (13-1-1 overall) over the visitors (5-8-2) from Erlanger. The Ladybirds moved to 7-0 in 9th Region action with the win.

Weekend Sports Briefs

Highlands soccer, JV football, middle school golf teams win over weekend

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Ethan Mills (16) heads the ball in a recent win over Newport Central Catholic. Mills recorded his sixth assist of the season in a 3-0 win over Covington Holy Cross on Saturday. The Bluebirds have won nine in a row.

Both Highlands soccer teams sought their 12th wins of the season Saturday in 9th Region play against 35th District opponents and did just that Saturday.

The Bluebirds took down the Covington Holy Cross Indians, 3-0 for their ninth straight win at Eva G. Farris Park. They moved to 12-1-2 on the season and 8-0-1 in region action with their 11th shut-out of the season. Highlands has outscored the opposition, 50-11 on the year. Holy Cross fell to 4-7-1

Tuesday Sports Briefs

Bluebirds double up Bulldogs, 4-2

PHOTO: AllenRamsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands students cheer on the Bluebirds in a recent game against Covington Catholic. Another good crowd is expected when Highlands faces Newport Central Catholic on Thursday at Tower Park at 8 p.m.

Make that seven in a row and double-digits in the win column.

The Highlands Bluebirds soccer team doubled up the improved 7-2-2 Covington Holmes Bulldogs, 4-2 at Tower Park on Thursday to move to 10-1-2 on the season and move to 6-0-1 in 9th Region action. Highlands last recorded double-digit victories in 2013 going 17-8-1 with a 9th Region title.

Monday Sports Briefs

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore running back Cooper Schwalbach (91) cuts through the hole while teammates Chas Sand (15) and Austin King (83) block in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds junior varsity football team (4-1 overall) lost for the first time this year, 24-14 to Cincinnati LaSalle from the Greater Catholic League South.

Ladybirds lose first against Simon Kenton

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman midfielder Lauren Deckert (7) fires off a shot in the game against Simon Kenton on Saturday.

LEXINGTON - It may have been hard for some to see because they'd been winning.

But that changed here Saturday. The Highlands Ladybirds continued to boot the ball up-field in the championship game of the Lexington Catholic Cup against the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers instead of playing a disciplined, ball-possession style game that often leads to state championships. Simon Kenton played several defenders back the entire game and limited the Highlands chances on its way to a 2-0 win.

Highlands, Simon Kenton to meet for LexCath Cup Title

Things worked out to where there will be no co-champions in the annual Lexington Catholic Cup Tournament on Saturday.

It started in the first game Thursday when Louisville Sacred Heart beat Notre Dame on a shoot-out, 1-0 putting the Highlands Ladybirds (10-0-1) in the championship game at 7 p.m. Highlands will face Simon Kenton (9-2-1) in the title game.

Highlands Girls Soccer, Freshman Football pick up wins

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands freshmen football team downed Simon Kenton, 16-0 to move to 3-2 on the season.

It is not the typical way to decide an in-season tournament champion.

But the Highlands Ladybirds soccer team (10-0-1 overall) have taken care of business in two games against some of the top teams in the state from the rugged 7th Region. Highlands put itself in position to win at least a co-championship of the Lexington Catholic Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Louisville DuPont Manual Lady Crimsons (6-3) on Wednesday.

Weekend Sports Briefs

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands golf team defeated Beechwood on Friday to move to 8-0-1 on the season.

The Highlands Bluebirds golf team defeated Beechwood, 168-171 at Summit Country Club on Friday. Highlands moved to 8-0-1 on the season. Aaron Verst and JD Gabbard led the Bluebirds shooting 40s.

Thursday Briefs: Highlands boys soccer, girls golf victorious

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands midfielder Drew Rom (18) boots the ball ahead in a recent game.

The defense has done well for all but one game this season.

But when it mixes with an offensive explosion, it leads to a blowout. The Highlands Bluebirds soccer team (8-1-2 overall) has scored seven or more goals in a game four times this year following an 8-0 9th Region victory over the Dixie Heights Colonels (1-3-1) on Thursday.

Wednesday Briefs

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands freshman football team defeated Campbell County on Wednesday to move to 2-2 on the year.

The Highlands Ladybirds (8-9 overall) dropped a 3-1 (25-7, 21-25, 25-17, 25-11) decision at St. Henry in 9th Region play. Highlands fell to 3-6 in region action.

Tuesday Briefs: Highlands soccer, volleyball win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Nick Gish (7) makes his move in a recent game. The Bluebirds won their fourth in a row with a 1-0 victory at Simon Kenton on Tuesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds soccer team (7-1-2) continues to win at a astounding rate.

Highlands recorded its fourth straight win with a 1-0 victory at Simon Kenton. The Bluebirds also recorded their eighth shutout of the season in the process.

Saturday Sports Briefs

Highlands soccer teams shut out road opponents

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior defender Lily Lorenz (left) makes a move in Wednesday's game against Bellevue. Highlands moved to 7-0 on the season with a convincing 6-0 victory at West Jessamine on Saturday.

It looks like just another Blue and White domination on paper.

But it is the biggest win of the season to date for the 7-0 Highlands Ladybirds soccer team. Highlands entered the week ranked fifth in the latest Maher Rankings poll. The Ladybirds ventured down to Nicholasville and handled the eighth-ranked West Jessamine Lady Colts by a 6-0 count for the seventh shutout in seven games. Highlands has outscored the seven opponents by a combined 36-0. Highlands junior goalkeeper Olivia McQueary had seven saves in the win.

Thursday Briefs: Highlands soccer, volleyball collect wins

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Gracie Schweitzer (middle) bumps the ball ahead while teammates Katy Ball (34) and Lauren Epperson (left) get in position. Highlands beat Simon Kenton, 3-0 to move to 5-5 on the season.

The Highlands Ladybirds volleyball team evened its record at 5-5 with a 3-0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-21) win at Simon Kenton.