Prep Volleyball: Holy Trinity, New London Sweep, W-MU Advances; Other Finals:
No. 5 Holy Trinity 3, Seymour 0
Sophomore phenom Mary Kate Bendlage drilled 11 kills to lead fifth-ranked Holy Trinity to a sweep of Seymour yesterday in Fort Madison.
The win was Melissa Freesmeier’s 1,000th career victory.
Natalie Randolph chipped in with eight kills as the Crusaders rolled.
Seymour ends their year 19-12.
Holy Trinity improved to 30-10.
No. 13 New London 3, WACO 0
New London advanced to semifinal action where they will battle Holy Trinity, with a sweep of WACO yesterday.
Natalie Burden had a match-high 17 kills while adding two blocks.
Emma Nye paced the Tigers back row with 23 digs while Elly Manning and Aliyah Christensen each had 15 assists.
New London improved to 26-13.
Holy Trinity has won five straight in the series, including a 3-0 sweep this year.
That game will be played Monday night at Shottenkirk Gymnasium.
You can listen on FM 105.5 and kilj.com.
Winfield-Mount Union 3, Wapello 2
In a thriller in Wapello, it Winfield-Mount Union pulling out a gutsy, five-set win over the Arrows 3-2.
The slugfest was decided with a 15-10 Winfield-Mount Union win in the fifth set.
Melina Oepping paced the Lady Wolves with 15 kills, Bradie Buffington chipped in with 10.
Keetyn Townsley was a brick wall in the back row providing 59 digs.
Lindsay Massner led Wapello with 15 kills.
Winfield improved to 22-10.
No. 1 Notre Dame 3, Lone Tree 0
Notre Dame stormed out of the gates and never looked back as they cruised to a sweep over Lone Tree last night.
The win hooks the Nikes and Winfield-Mount Union up with each other next Monday at Father Minnett Gymnasium.
Gabby Deery had 11 kills in the win while Josie Bentz added eight.
Notre Dame improved to 33-8 with the win.
Lone Tree ended their season 7-21.
Other area finals:
- Mediapolis 3, Van Buren County 0
- Danville 3, Pekin 0
- They’ll meet next week in a regional semifinal.
- No. 10 West Burlington 3, Davis County 0
- They’ll take on No. 4 West Liberty in the regional championship Tuesday.
Girls’ Cross Country: Panthers 7th at SQM in Solon:
Mount Pleasant finished 7th at yesterday’s state qualifying meet in Solon.
Three runners had lifetime bests for the Panthers.
Mount Pleasant was led by freshman Alexis Wagner who finished 18th in a time of 20:46, a near :45 second improvement.
Abby Blint ended 28th with a time of 21:10.
Bella Meador, Jenna Gilmore and Jayden Housh all were the next cluster of finishers for the Panthers.
Solon was the team champion, with Mount Vernon and Marion rounding out the top three.
Kayla Young of Solon was the meet champion in a time of 19:24.8.
Boys’ Cross Country: Mount Pleasant Finishes 6th:
Mount Pleasant sophomore Ben Carthey missed out on the state cross country meet by just four seconds leading the Panthers to a 6th place finish in the team standings.
Carthey ran 17:24.
Nathan McWilliams finished 31st for the Panthers in a time of 18:02 while Christian Bracht-Wagner finished 36th.
Marion won the team standings with Solon and Mount Vernon rounding out the top three.
Shane Erb of Marion was the meet medalist, running 15:56.5.
Men’s College Basketball: Drake Tabbed as Preseason Favorites:
For the first time on record, Drake has been picked as the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball race by a voting panel consisting of coaches, sports information directors and media.
The Bulldogs are coming off three of the most successful seasons in program history and the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years, taking second in the league race last year (26-5, 15-3).
The Bulldogs received 29 first-place votes.
Loyola finished in second, with UNI in third.
Missouri State and Southern Illinois rounded out the top-five.