District winners make final push for state semis

~ St. Vincent, Scott City, Bell City and Leopold will be in action today.

St. Vincent High School had plenty of success in boys sports last season, winning a state title in football and taking runner-up honors in basketball.

This year, a girls program is trying to get in on the act, as the Squaws volleyball team claimed its first district title since 1987 on Tuesday with a win over defending District 3 champion Bismarck.

St. Vincent finished third in the state in its last venture into the playoffs.

The Squaws (24-10-2) will play Caruthersville (25-3-2) at 4:30 p.m. today in a sectional match at Bloomfield. Scott City (25-7-2) will face Crystal City (18-7-2) in the other sectional at Bloomfield. The winners will play a quarterfinal match at 6 p.m.

"While we were at practice [Thursday], we had a surprise pep rally," St. Vincent coach Mary Rosenquist said. "We had no idea that was going to happen. That was pretty emotional. The football players were there. I'm sure they think about last year's success. I'm sure they hope to do the same thing they did."

St. Vincent showed signs this could be a big season when it won the tournament championship at the season-opening Notre Dame Volleyballfest. The Squaws knocked off Class 1 District 2 champion Bell City in the finals after beating Notre Dame in the semifinals. St. Vincent also made it to the quarterfinals of the B.A. Sports Volleyball Classic before falling to eventual champion Farmington.

The Squaws carried the No. 3 seed into district play. St. Vincent knocked off No. 2 Arcadia Valley in three games and No. 1 Bismarck in two on Tuesday, avenging a loss in last year's district championship match.

"After we lost to Bismarck last year, I told my juniors -- now seniors -- we're doing this next year, we're going to win this next year," Rosenquist said.

A senior group which includes Lauren Schumer, Alaina Ernst, Lisa Abbott and Kelsey Kutz have helped lead a squad which features several sophomores among its rotation. Brooke Hayden, a sophomore, recorded a team-high 14 kills in the district championship match. Schumer added seven kills, sophomore Lacey Siegmund had 15 assists, sophomore Kelsey Cissell had 13 assists, and Kutz had 24 digs.

Rosenquist said the mix of younger and older players has created a real family atmosphere among the team this season.

"They really get along," she said. "There's no dissension on the team, which is a big plus. We're kind of like a big family. That's what's made us successful."

With a pair of wins today, the Squaws can bring back another piece of hardware for the trophy case.

"They rose to the occasion the other night. They just played very well," Rosenquist said. "We're tournament players; I'm convinced we are."

In the other sectional at Bloomfield, the Rams will attempt to win a sectional match for the first time in the program's history. Scott City won its second consecutive district title with a win against Bloomfield and has made the sectional round three of the past four seasons.

"The kids have worked hard, having to adjust to a new coach," said first-year coach Carl Ritter Jr. "No matter the outcome on Saturday, I'm really proud the girls got to the sectional tournament."

Scott City lost nearly all of its starters from last year's sectional team, with senior setter Lindsey Amick the only returning starter. Advance transfer Kacie Ritter, the coach's daughter, is the team's top hitter.

"They're excited because basically we're rebuilding this year," Carl Ritter Jr. said. "These kids, they play together as a unit. They really complement each other, lift each other up."

Class 1 sectional

A pair of local squads will attempt to add to their state trophy collection when Leopold and Bell City play in Class 1 sectional matches at Advance.

Bell City (27-5-1) will face Viburnum (16-2) at 3 p.m. in one sectional, while Leopold (22-5) will face Gideon (28-6-1) at 4:30 p.m. in the other sectional. The winners will play in the quarterfinal match at 6 p.m.

This is the fourth straight sectional appearance for Leopold, the 2002 Class 1 state champion. The Wildcats were eliminated in the sectional round last year by Bell City. Gideon finished second in the state last season.

Bell City will attempt to make it back to the state final four after winning a state title in 2003. The Cubs were eliminated in the quarterfinal round by Gideon last season. Viburnum, Bell City's sectional opponent, last won a district title in 1994.