Lady Jays go 4-0 during weekend season-opening VB tournament

The Minnesota West Lady Jays started their season by going 4-0 Friday and Saturday in Crossover Tournament action at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

In their Friday matches, the Lady Jays — rated third in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll — topped Northland and Riverland, each by 3-1. Game scores against Northland were 25-17, 26-28, 25-19, 25-20. Against Ridgewater, they were 25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-11.

On Saturday, Minnesota West picked up both their victories in 3-0 sweeps, with a 25-14, 25-16, 25-10 triumph over Alexandria and a 25-22, 25-11, 25-21 victory over Williston State.

In hitting, it was Raya Van Beek leading with a total of 46 kills over the four matches, Aleah Wagner contributing 28 and Hannah Dauer 27 In the digs department, Kaydn Paulson topped the team with 66 while Wagner had 54. Ally Nelson contributed 14 blocks.

Lydia Moore was 23-of-23 serving with four aces against Northland, and Kate Slettum served for five aces against Riverland and three aces against Alexandria. Slettum also passed for 130 set assists over the course of the four matches.

The Lady Jays play at home for the first time in 2025 on Wednesday against the Dakota State JV, then are on the road Friday and Saturday at the Siouxland Tournament.

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The Worthington Trojans boys soccer team lost its season opener Saturday afternoon, falling 5-3 at Mound Westonka.

Coach Juan Flores said their opponents came out stronger than the Trojans with tight defensive pressure and built an early 2-0 lead, utilizing height up front with two of players who were 6 feet 4 inches or taller. Those two had four of the five goals WHS surrendered, Flores said. 

Goals by Worthington's Romy Gonzalez and AB Martinez got the Trojans even at 2-2 shortly before halftime as WHS began to move the ball around better. Mound Westonka, though, regained the advantage in the second half. Jay Alvarado scored the third Worthington goal of the game with about five minutes remaining.

The Trojans play at St. Peter on Tuesday night. They'll then have back-to-back home matches against Tri-City United on Thursday and Southwest Minnesota Christian on Friday.

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The Worthington High girls soccer team began its season at home Saturday and was defeated 3-0 by Mankato Loyola. Next up for the Trojan girls is a home match Tuesday against St. Peter.

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In men's college soccer, Minnesota West will play at home for the first time this season tonight when the Bluejays meet the Northwestern College JV at 7 p.m.

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In high school volleyball Friday night, Adrian-Ellsworth won its season opener by sweeping visiting Martin County West 3-0. Game scores were 25-19, 26-24, 25-19.