ND VOLLEYBALL DEBUTS WITH WIN OVER PERRYVILLE

Notre Dame High's volleyball team opened the 1997 season Tuesday night with a hard-earned 9-15, 15-6, 15-6 victory over visiting Perryville.

"I thought we played really well," said Notre Dame coach Janet Buchheit. "The first game, I think the girls were a little nervous, but after that they pulled themselves together well."

Sara Westrich had 15 assists while Jennifer Glueck added seven kills. Stephanie Miller and Kelli Canfield both had two aces.

Perryville was led by Amy Verseman with nine points, five kills and nine assists. Jaimee Mueller had seven points and five digs while Laura Ernst added seven kills.

Notre Dame also won two other matches played Tuesday. The junior varsity prevailed 15-8, 15-11 while the freshmen triumphed 7-15, 15-9, 15-10.

Both teams will be back in action Thursday night, Notre Dame visiting St. Vincent and Perryville hosting Ste. Genevieve.

Bloomfield 13-15-15

Cape Central 15-9-5

BLOOMFIELD -- A young Cape Central squad, making its season debut, won its opening set against host Bloomfield, but ultimately succumbed in three sets Tuesday night.

"Overall I was really proud of them," said Central coach April Morgan. "They played hard and looked good on defense. We're a young team and have a lot to learn. We made a lot of mistakes, but we didn't give up and hung in there."

Bloomfield won the JV contest 15-10, 15-3.

Bell City 15-15

Oran 5-12

BELL CITY -- Defending Class 1A state champion began the new season with a smooth victory at home Tuesday night.

Leslie Lee had six assists while Courtney Brockmeyer added four kills.

"For the first game we didn't look too bad, but we've got a long way to go," said Bell City coach Carl Ritter.

Bell City also won the JV match 15-4, 15-8.

Leopold 15-15

Oak Ridge 4-10

LEOPOLD -- Leopold opened its season under new coach Leanne Huffman by easing past visiting Oak Ridge Tuesday night.

"We played pretty good for a first game," said Huffman.

Leopold's JV prevailed 15-9, 15-10

SOFTBALL

Kelly 5, Jackson 1

BENTON -- Kelly, second in last year's Class 2A state tournament, got the 1997 season off on the right foot Tuesday by beating visiting Jackson.

Kim Riley pitched the first four innings, allowing three hits and one run. Britney Lambert was the winner, hurling the final three frames and allowing just one hit.

Pam Essner had three of Kelly's 13 hits while Tiffany Glastetter and Andee Heisserer both added two. Ashley Beggs' two-run double in the fifth broke a 1-1 tie.

Jackson (1-4) hosts Cape Central today while Kelly hosts Cape Central Thursday.

Perryville 6, Poplar Bluff 5

PERRYVILLE -- Perryville improved to 2-0 by winning at home Tuesday.

Carrie Preston pitched all seven innings for the victory.

The Lady Pirates had 14 hits, Andrea Regelsperger going 4-for-4 with two triples. Amanda Schumer had three hits and Sarah Koenig added two.

Perryville scored the winning run in the seventh. Regelsperger got a one-out triple and came home on Rachel Verseman's ground ball.

Perryville will visit Ste. Genevieve Thursday.

GIRLS TENNIS

Cape Central 8, Poplar Bluff 1

POPLAR BLUFF -- Central got its season started Tuesday by dropping just one match against host Poplar Bluff.

"We played pretty well for our first match," said Central coach Annette Slattery.

The Lady Tigers, who also won the JV match 13-2, will compete in the rugged Columbia Rock Bridge Tournament this weekend.

Central 8, Poplar Bluff 1

Singles

Lisa Ahstrom (C) def. Julia Brown 9-8

Lara Golike (C) def. Stacy Robinson 8-3

Summer Chaudhari (C) def. Lauren Smith 8-1

Rachelle Thomas (C) def. Becky Long 8-4

Liz Russell (C) def. Andrea Lovelace 8-1

Katie Farris (PB) def. Julie Lessman 8-6

Doubles

Ahstrom-Chaudhari (C) def. Brown-Long 8-2

Golike-Thomas (C) def. Robinson-Smith 8-0

Russell-Lessman (C) def. Lovelace-Farris 8-0

Jackson 9, Caruthersville 0

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Jackson improved to 2-0 and tuned up for today's big match at Charleston by routing host Caruthersville Tuesday.

"We played real well," said Jackson coach Linda Adams. "I think we're ready (for Charleston)."

Jackson 9, Caruthersville 0

Singles

Sarah Culbertson def. Erin Bullington 8-1

Lynn Casteel def. Christina Coleman 8-1

Lauren Young def. Christy Stevens 8-0

Beth Lefebvre def. Beth Prost 8-1

Amy Lefebvre def. Laura Young 8-0

Emily O'Loughlin def. Lauren Miller 8-2

Doubles

Casteel-B.Lefebvre def. Bullington-Coleman 8-2

Culbertson-Young def. Stevens-Young 8-1

A. Lefebvre-O'Loughlin def. Prost-Hepler 8-0

Sikeston 9, Chaffee 0

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee fell to 0-2 on the season as visiting Sikeston swept both singles and doubles play Tuesday.

Chaffee returns to action Thursday when Charleston visits.

Sikeston 9, Chaffee 0

Singles

1. Crystal Lennon def. Amanda Ford 8-3

2. Jessica Idelman def. Betsy Rice 8-6

3. Stephanie Carr def. Jill Graham 8-5

4. Stephanie Childress def. Adria Meyr 8-4

5. Mellissa Holley def. Kristin Bailey 8-3

6. Sarah Strom def. Jenine Sadler 8-2

Doubles

1. Lennon-Carr def. Ford-Rice 8-4

2. Idleman-Childress. def. Graham-Meyer 9-7

3. Holley-Christy Wehner def. Bailey-Sadler 9-7