High school roundup: Leopold volleyball team claims Woodland Invitational title

The top-seeded Leopold volleyball team staved off a scare from the No. 2 Advance squad to capture the championship of the Woodland Invitational Tournament in a three-set thriller won by the Wildcats 25-15, 28-30, 25-21 on Friday night.

Senior standout Caitlin Petty had a big night for the Wildcats with 10 kills, 18 assists, six blocks and five digs. Fellow senior Bailee Cope added 11 kills, six digs and two blocks for Leopold, while junior Emily Seiler tallied 18 assists, eight digs and four aces. Senior Leah Landewee notched 10 digs to pace the Wildcats defensively.

"Advance played really well," Leopold coach Sandy Davis said. "We had some big hits and when our passes were on, we did amazing. ... That's [passing] one of our weaknesses. We have to improve upon that."

Senior Krystal James led Advance with seven kills and freshman Alanis Below had four blocks for the Hornets. Freshman Ashtyn Driskill tallied eight digs and 16 assists and senior Kimsey Lillard notched seven digs for Advance, while senior Maddie Kennedy added four service aces.

"The girls really played well," Advance coach Dana Below said. "My seniors really stepped it up this week. They showed a lot of leadership and enthusiasm on the court and they've been bonding well. I'm just very proud of them for playing their hearts out."

The Hornets (4-2-1) advanced after edging third-seeded host Woodland 15-25, 25-13, 25-21. Alanis Below led the Hornets with 12 digs and six blocks and Lillard added 11 digs. Driskill and senior Hannah Clark each dished out four assists. Sophomore Brylee Morse nailed five kills for Advance, while Kennedy served six aces and junior Lexis Garner finished with three service aces for the Hornets.

The Wildcats (5-0-2) advanced to the championship after downing fourth-seeded Saxony Lutheran 25-19, 25-15 in Friday's first semifinal. Cope recorded seven kills, three digs and two blocks for Leopold, while Petty added six kills, five assists and two digs. Seiler had seven assists, three digs and two kills for the Wildcats. For the Crusaders, Raegan Wieser had three kills and one block while Jordan Hecht added five kills in the loss.

Saxony (3-2-2) rebounded and dealt a vengeful 24-26, 25-22, 25-21 victory to Woodland for third place. Wieser tallied five kills and five blocks for the Crusaders, while Abigail Bergmann notched 15 digs and Brianna Mueller tallied 11 assists and two aces.

The Cardinals (3-3-1) defeated the Crusaders 20-18, 19-11 in pool play on Tuesday.

"I think we are just improving every game," Saxony coach Julie Brandmeyer said. "Little by little, it's all coming together. We're making adjustments by the minute."

All-tournament honors were bestowed upon Leopold's Petty, Cope and Landewee; Advance's Clark and Below; Woodland's Lexie King and Krista Rhodes; Saxony's Wieser and Bergmann and Meadow Heights' Morgan Politte.

Eagle Ridge Christian School 25 25, St. Louis Christian Academy 23 22

The Eagles (1-1) picked up their first win of the season in a squeaker over the Cougars.

FOOTBALL

Perryville 23, St. Pius X 17

The Pirates improved to 2-0 with the road victory.

They posted 186 rushing yards and 95 passing yards.

Perryville will host Park Hills Central in a conference matchup on Friday.

BOYS SOCCER

Eagle Ridge Christian School 7, St. Louis Christian Academy 0

Jordan Cliff scored three goals to lead the Eagles in the road win.

Gabe Henson recorded two goals and one assist for Eagle Ridge (2-1). Josh King also tallied two goals for the Eagles.

Michael Roth and Elijah Cook each had one assist.

Goalkeeper Caleb Cerney had five saves in the shutout.

Greg Kline Invitational Tournament

Eann Bergman scored two goals to help lead the Pirates to a 3-0 victory in Friday's opening round of the Greg Kline Invitational Tournament in Carbondale, Ill.

Matthew Moran had the other goal for Perryville, which improved to 2-0 with the win. Michael Volansky, Luke Schlichting and Emilio Mattingly each had one assist for the Pirates.

Goalkeeper Luke Dobbelare grabbed three saves in the shutout.

With the victory, the Pirates advanced to face Sikeston on Satuday. The Bulldogs (2-0) defeated Waterloo, Ill., 2-1. Layton Jones scored both of Sikeston's goals on assists from Wyatt Pratt and Dalton Ray.

Central (0-1) debuted its season with a 3-0 loss to host Carbondale earlier in Friday's first round of competition.

SOFTBALL

Saxony Lutheran 14, Oran 3

Ashlynn Collier belted a home run and smacked a triple to help the Crusaders remain undefeated in the road rout of the Eagles.

Natalie Schlimpert notched her third win in the circle. She went the distance and allowed three unearned runs on three hits with five strikeouts.

Logan Welker added a triple for Saxony Lutheran (4-0).

Aubrianna Jones suffered her first loss in the circle. She pitched three innings and gave up five earned runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts.

Malia LeGrand had a double to pace Oran (1-1).

Saxony 055 100 3 -- 14 15 4

Oran 000 200 1 -- 3 3 1

WP -- Natalie Schlimpert, 3-0. LP -- Aubrianna Jones, 1-1. HR -- Ashlynn Collier (SL). 3B -- Logan Welker (SL), Ashlynn Collier (SL). 2B -- Malia LeGrand (O). Multiple hitters -- Saxony Lutheran: Kelli Brunke 2-3, Logan Welker 2-4, Natalie Schlimpert 3-5, Ashlynn Collier 2-4, Logan Meyr 2-4, Abby Hadler 3-4.

Cor Jesu Academy Invitational Tournament

The Jackson softball team picked up its first two victories in Friday's pool play in the Cor Jesu Academy Invitational Tournament.

Erica Gray belted a home run and a triple to help lead the Indians to their first victory in a 14-3 romp of Lindbergh.

Kayla Keith, MacKenzie Bartels and Shiann Claiborn added a double apiece for Jackson. Sicily Johnston picked up her first win of the season in the circle for the Indians.

Brooke Rheinecker hit a triple to pace the Flyers.

Jackson (2-1) then triumphed over Affton 3-1 in its second pool play game. Megan Clippard, Mallorie Maintz and Kayli Speakman all went 2 for 3 at the plate for the Indians in the win. Sophie Wunderlich picked up her first win in the circle.

Jordan Thomure doubled to pace the Cougars in the loss.

Jackson 14, Lindbergh 3

Lindbergh 001 060 0 -- 7 5 6

Jackson 274 010 X -- 14 16 6

WP -- Sicily Johnson, 1-1. LP -- Gracie Kempf. HR -- Erica Gray (J). 3B -- Erica Gray (J), Brooke Rheinecker (L). 2B -- Kayla Keith (J), McKenzie Bartels (J), Shiann Claiborn (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Megan Clippard 3-4, Kayla Keith 2-3, Erica Gray 2-3, Taylor Kern 2-4, McKenzie Bartels 2-4, Sophie Wunderlich 2-3; Lindbergh: Brooke Rheinecker 2-5.

Jackson 3, Affton 1

Affton 000 001 0 -- 1 5 1

Jackson 210 000 X -- 3 8 1

WP -- Sophie Wunderlich. LP -- Madi Thomure. 2B -- Jordyn Thomure (A). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Megan Clippard 2-3, Mallorie Maintz 2-3, Kayli Speakman 2-3.

CROSS COUNTRY

The Central cross country team debuted in the Cross Country Kickoff Classic at Arnold City Park in suburban St. Louis.

The Tigers finished eighth overall in the boys' division. Senior Riley Duncan finished 20th overall with a time of 11 minutes to pace the Tigers.

BOYS

Team Scores -- 1. Festus 20; 2. DeSmet 92; 3. Herculaneum 116; 4. Parkway Central 126; 5. Marquette 127; 6. Hannibal 161; 7. Hillsboro 203; 8. Cape Central 207; 9. Northwest (Cedar Hill) 211; 10. Seckman 217; 11. Providence Classical Christian Academy 294; 12. Emil E. Holt 317; 13. Windsor (Imperial) 341

Local results

CAPE CENTRAL (207) -- 20. Riley Duncan (11:00); 33. Logan Wright (11:25); 42. Clayton Monia (11:44); 51. Matt Stearns (12:01); 61. Caleb Ambler (12:22); 66. Jovanny Miranda (12:37); 74. Gavin Green (13:11)

GIRLS

Team Scores -- 1. Nerinx Hall 46; 2. Eureka 83; 3. Festus 97; 4. Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) 104; 5. Lindbergh 128; 6. Parkway Central 139; 7. Marquette 187; 8. St. Joseph's Academy 205; 9. Herculaneum 213; 10. Potosi 240; 11. Northwest (Cedar Hill) 294; 12. Seckman 326; 13. Rosati-Kain 372; 14. Fox 392

Local results

CAPE CENTRAL -- 74. Bridget Trepasso (14:20); 78. Maddy McDonald (14:28); 95. Haley White (15:03); 117. Elizabeth Ustinov (16:44)

-- From staff reports