ND meet returns for its 2nd year

Notre Dame Regional High School's cross country team is enjoying one of its most successful years since its inception 10 years ago.

Today the Notre Dame boys and girls will be able to show off their skills to the home crowd when they host the 11-school Notre Dame Invitational.

"This is the best Notre Dame team they've ever had," Bulldog coach Bill Davis said.

Notre Dame's top competition in the second annual Notre Dame Invitational will come from Poplar Bluff boys. The Mules are coming off a recent win over a strong Potosi team.

"They'll be one of the top teams," Davis said. "We hope we can compete with them. They're the team to beat."

Joining Notre Dame and Poplar Bluff are small schools Advance, Meadow Heights, Saxony Lutheran, Kelly and Delta. Perryville, Kennett and Sikeston will also be there along with St. Charles West's girls team.

"The competition should be pretty good," Davis said.

Last year the meet only fielded five teams.

"Hopefully this will continue to grow," Davis said.

Stoddard Co. tournament

The Stoddard County Conference volleyball tournament kicks off Monday with some of the top teams in the area.

While the first round does not offer any real noteworthy matchups, three of the top four seeds are currently ranked in the SEMO top 10 volleyball poll. Host Advance is the top seed but should face a tough second-round test with No. 4 Puxico its likely opponent.

On the other side of the bracket, Dexter is seeded second and Bell City third. Bell City has a pair of wins over Leopold this year, and Dexter just beat the Cubs last week.

Softball rescheduled

After rain caused the cancellation of the Jackson Invitational softball tournament last Saturday, a condensed eight-team version will take place today.

Although Incarnate Word, the Post-Dispatch's top-ranked team, is not back, there is plenty of strong competition coming back. Jackson, Kelly and Central will represent the local teams, while the five St. Louis schools will include Lutheran South (13-2).

Jackson will take on Nerinx Hall in the first round. Cape opens with Sullivan, while Kelly will play Seckman. Games start at 9 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Jackson City Park.

Facing your alma mater

Jackson's volleyball team started play Friday in the Belleville (Ill.) East Metro Classic with a pair of matches in pool play against St. Louis school Duchesne and Belleville (Ill.) West.

While it is not likely Jackson will go far in the tournament, with some of the top teams from St. Louis and southern Illinois competing, the tournament is a homecoming for Indians coach Nancy Ellis. Ellis, a native of Belleville, got to face her alma mater in Jackson's opening match. What made the matchup even more special was that Ellis' high school volleyball coach, Charlie Rodman, was on the other bench.

Red Devils, Eagles to meet

East Prairie's football team won its second game in a row Saturday and has a chance to match its highest win total since 1998 with a win at home against Chaffee on Friday.

While both teams have symbolized football futility the past five years, Chaffee has been able to count on East Prairie for a victory the last four seasons.

The Eagles, coming off two lopsided wins, look to change the trend in their homecoming game. A win over the Red Devils would give East Prairie its first three-game win streak in six years.