Lady Jays up one spot in VB poll while football squad down a notch

The Minnesota West Lady Jays have moved up a spot in the national rankings as they're now the No. 2 team in NJCAA Division 3 volleyball.

Minnesota West, which won all four of its matches last week, switched places with previously No. 2 Sandhills Community College in the poll. Sandhills had been undefeated but suffered its first loss this past week.

At the top spot in the poll is 15-1 Dallas College Eastfield, the defending national champions that beat the Lady Jays in last year's final. Minnesota West has a record of 18-1.

Local fans can catch the Lady Jays in action at home at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Anoka-Ramsey. The match will also air live on 104.3 La Voz.

Meanwhile, in NJCAA Football, Minnesota West dropped a spot to No. 4 despite winning 46-14 over Mesabi Range. The Bluejays had moved up to third last week, even though they were defeated 38-20 by North Dakota State College of Science.

College of DuPage is No. 1, and NDSCS picked up one of the six first-place votes and is No. 2. Louisburg College is the new No. 3 team in the poll.

The Bluejays, now 2-2, got 426 yards passing from Armon Vinson in their win this past Saturday. He threw seven touchdowns and overcame four interceptions. Defensively, Minnesota West was led by Stephen Tolliver's 14 overall tackles. Darren Millender added 11 total tackles, including three sacks. 

The Bluejays play at Central Lakes this Saturday.

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The Worthington Trojans' boys soccer team traveled to Fairmont on Monday for a match that stormy weather had postponed earlier this month and came away with a 4-0 victory.

The Trojans and Cardinals picked up their match where it had left off previously, with about 10 minutes remaining before the half. Kain Thepmontry scored for Worthington to give it a 1-0 edge at the break,

In the second half, the Trojans' Cristian Munoz picked up a pair of goals and Danny Banegas also scored. WHS head coach Juan Flores said he thought his team played pretty well and was pleased at how the boys came out shooting, adding that four shots hit a post in the match.

The win for the Trojans, now 8-3-1, on Monday comes two days after a 2-2 draw at Willmar on Saturday. The match against Fairmont represents the second of five that Worthington will play in the span of a week.

Against Willmar, Danny Banegas put WHS ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute. The Trojans would get down 2-1 before Jose Juarez tied it in the 28th minute. After a rainy opening half, the weather dried up while the defense took over in a match Flores described as very tight and physical.

The Trojans will be in action today when they play St. James/Windom/Madelia in Madelia. Worthington will then play host to Fairmont on Thursday before heading back on the road Saturday to take on Mankato East.

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In area high school volleyball Monday:

Hills-Beaver Creek 3, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 2

Martin County West 3, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop 2

Pipestone Area 3, Edgerton 0