High school roundup: St. Vincent, Notre Dame volleyball teams pull off upsets

St. Vincent volleyball teams have become used to pulling upsets, and the Indians caused another rumble on Wednesday, this time in the latest Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association (MHSVCA) state rankings.

St. Vincent, ranked third in the state in Class 1, toppled Leopold, ranked first, 21-25, 26-24, 25-12 on the Wildcats' home court.

In 2010, the Indians shocked the world of high school volleyball when they knocked off top-seeded powerhouse Scott City in the Class 2 District 3 Tournament on the Rams' home court to advance to Sectionals. Two seasons later, St. Vincent, seeded third in the Class 1 District 4 Tournament, upset second-seeded Leopold in the semifinals to end the Wildcats' 10-year district reign.

"We came out strong the first set," Leopold coach Sandy Davis said. "The second set was back and forth, and the third set, they just outplayed us."

Leopold senior standout Caitlin Petty led the Wildcats with 13 assists, 12 kills, four digs, three blocks and three aces. Fellow senior Bailee Cope recorded nine kills, three aces, three digs and three blocks. Senior Leah Landewee notched 15 digs and two kills for the Wildcats. Junior Emily Seiler had 11 assists, six digs and two kills for Leopold, which dropped to 22-3-3.

St. Vincent improved to 19-11-2 with the win. Results from the team were not available by press time on Wednesday.

St. Vincent also won the junior varsity match 25-13, 25-19.

Notre Dame 25 25, Dexter 19 21

Notre Dame senior Lydia Goodson probably could not have asked for a better Senior Night.

Goodson, the lone senior on the Bulldogs' varsity squad this season, led her team with 11 kills in a huge victory over top-seeded Class 3 District 1 foe and state-ranked Dexter in the Bulldogs' last home game of the season.

"I'm really proud of my girls, especially Lydia, she was just so excited to do well against them," Notre Dame coach Tara Stroup said. "It was just so special that it was her senior night. I know that probably made her season."

Dexter had taken the Bulldogs' number twice already this season -- once in the Bulldogs' own VolleyballFest and in the semifinals of the Dig for Life Challenge that dethroned the two-time defending tournament champions. Those two wins helped the Bearcats draw the top seed in next week's Class 3 District 1 Tournament, which Dexter will host.

"Dexter is a great team," Stroup said. "They're well coached. Anytime you can get a win against a team as good as they are, it feels really good."

Stroup hopes this win will give her team an extra boost heading into next week's district tournament.

"We needed this win," she said. "That really helps our confidence going into districts now."

Abbie McAlister added eight kills and Sam Feeney dished out 25 assists for Notre Dame, which improved to 22-6-1 with the win.

Dexter dropped to 26-3-1. The Bearcats wrap up their regular season tonight on the road against another Class 3 District 1 nemesis at Perryville (24-7-1).

JV -- Dexter won in two sets.

Jackson 25 25, Seckman 16 12

Junior Autumn Reid tallied five kills, four digs and one ace as the Indians clinched the win at home on Senior Night over the Jaguars.

Hannah Hunt served five aces and had two kills for Jackson (14-14-2). Jenna Little had four aces and one kill for the Indians, while Maci McCuan added five assists, two kills and one dig. Kali Beussink notched seven digs and one kill and Maddie Greenlee had five digs.

Seckman fell to 8-17-3 with the loss.

The Indians wrap up the regular season tonight at DeSoto (8-18-7).

JV -- Seckman won in three sets.

Advance 25 25. Bell City 17 14

Freshman Alanis Below nailed seven kills and served five aces to lead the Hornets in the conference road sweep of the Cubs.

Hannah Clark dished out 10 assists for Advance (16-12-2). Brylee Morse added two kills and two blocks for the Hornets.

Bell City dropped to 3-18-2 with the loss.

Clearwater 25 25, Scott City 7 13

The Rams ended their regular season with a loss to the Tigers on the road in Piedmont, Mo.

Clearwater improved to 18-9-4 while Scott City fell to 6-21. The Tigers close out their regular season tonight at Doniphan.

The Rams enter the Class 2 District 2 Tournament as the fifth seed and will open against fourth-seeded Puxico at 4 p.m. Monday at Bloomfield High School.

Zalma 25 25, Risco 4 21

Freshman Lacie VanGennip served 10 aces to help lead the Bulldogs in a victory at home over the Tigers on Pink Out/Senior Night.

Sophomore Jenny Pullam recorded five digs, two kills and two aces for Zalma (4-19-3). Senior Morgan McGregor tallied four kills and two aces. Sophomore Elizabeth Burnett had three kills and two aces, while freshman Julia Gregory added two kills. Sophomore Macey James dished out 12 assists.

JV -- Zalma split Risco 1-1.

Poplar Bluff 25 25, Cape Central 17 10

The Tigers were unable to spoil the Mules' Senior Night as Poplar Bluff won in straight sets.

Poplar Bluff upped its record to 21-10-2 while Cape Central dropped to 8-21.

The Mules travel to Paragould, Ark., on Saturday while the Tigers host Saxony Lutheran tonight to conclude the regular season.

Central and Poplar Bluff will compete in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament on Monday at the Sikeston Field House.

JV -- Cape Central won 19-25, 25-23, 25-15

BOYS SOCCER

Perryville 3, St. Pius X (Festus) 2

Luke Schlichting scored two goals to help lead the Pirates to their 20th victory of the season in the win at home over the Lancers.

Conner Stark added one goal for Perryville (20-1). Matt Volansky, Matt Moran and Trevor Martin each had an assist for the Pirates.

Goalkeeper Luke Dobbelare had seven saves.

St. Pius X fell to 13-2-2.

BOYS SWIMMING

Jackson 121, Notre Dame 109, Westminster Christian Academy 97

The Indians won a tri-meet against the Bulldogs and Wildcats on the road in the suburban St. Louis area.

Results from Jackson were not available by press time on Wednesday.

Local top three finishers

200 medley relay -- 3. Notre Dame (Joe Matthews, Ben Tlapek, Nate Stovall, Mitchell Heisserer) 1:55.97

50 freestyle -- 3. Bill Kapp (ND) 26.39

Diving -- 3. Nate Stovall (ND) 131.95

100 butterfly -- 3. Ben Tlapek (ND) 1:01.67

100 freestyle -- 3. Justin Spinner (ND) 58.62

500 freestyle -- 1. Drew Beussink (ND) 5:42.30; 2. Bill Kapp (ND) 5:47.94

200 freestyle relay -- 3. Notre Dame (Ben Tlapek, Lucas Hurley, Bruce Nguyen, Bill Kapp) 1:46.00

100 backstroke -- 2. Joe Matthews (ND) 1:05.67

100 breaststroke -- 2. Lucas Hurley (ND) 1:12.37; 3. Ben Tlapek (ND) 1:18.14

400 freestyle relay -- 2. Notre Dame (Mitchell Heisserer, Drew Beussink, Bill Kapp, Justin Spinner) 3:55.61; 3. Notre Dame (Bruce Nguyen, Nick Coppock, Dylan King, Joe Matthews) 4:05.68

-- From staff reports