Notre Dame meet has 15-team field

Starting out with five participating schools three years ago, the Notre Dame Invitational cross country meet has grown three-fold heading into Saturday's meet.

Fifteen schools will compete with varsity to junior high teams racing. Area schools participating include host Notre Dame, Saxony Lutheran, Delta, Advance, Oak Ridge and Meadow Heights. Central's junior high team will compete in the meet.

"I'm really excited about that race. I think that will bring in more teams," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said of the junior high race.

Poplar Bluff, Crystal City, De Soto, St. Charles West, Doniphan, Hillsboro and Sikeston will also compete. Poplar Bluff likely will be one of the favorites on the boys side, while St. Charles West and Doniphan should be strong in the girls.

Davis said he thinks both his squads should do well and hopes to see the boys progress this weekend.

"We're getting a little healthier. We're coming along," he said.

Central's and Jackson's varsity teams will compete at the Parkway West Invitational on Saturday.

Davis said he's hoping to bring those two schools into the fold in the future.

"We're hoping next year to bring in Central and Jackson possibly and try to make it truly an area meet," he said.

Jackson volleyball on road

The Jackson volleyball team will make its annual trip to the Belleville East Volleyball Tournament this weekend.

The tournament features most of the top teams in St. Louis and the Metro East. Jackson will have to play in a pool with traditional St. Louis powers Nerinx Hall and Ursuline. Nerinx Hall is the No. 4 seed overall in the tournament, behind Incarnate Word, Belleville (Ill.) West and St. Joseph's Academy.