Lady Jays win Region 13B volleyball tournament, advance to nationals

he Minnesota West Lady Jays are headed to the NJCAA Division 3 Women's Volleyball National Tournament for the third consecutive year.

The Lady Jays, ranked eighth in the latest national poll, captured the Region 13B title over the weekend at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. The Region 13B tourney was comprised of the first- and third-place teams from the Minnesota College Athletic Conference North Division and the second- and fourth-place teams from the MCAC South.

On Friday night, Minnesota West — the second-place team from the MCAC South — swept past No. 3 MCAC North squad Central Lakes 3-0. Game scores were 26-24, 25-20, 25-18.

The Lady Jays then clinched their regional crown with another 3-0 victory, this time

over No. 1 North team Alexandria. Game scores were 25-21, 26-24, 25-21. Minnesota West turned in a dramatic comeback in game two, rallying after trailing 20-13 and then surviving four game points after being down 24-20.

Minnesota West, now 28-10 overall, will head to the national tournament Nov. 12-14; that will take place at the College of DuPage at Glen Ellyn, Ill. Four Lady Jays players were recognized for their efforts in helping their team take that next step, as Ava Karbo, Camryn Irlbeck and Aubrey Weedman were named to the Region 13B All-Tournament Team and Aleah Wagner was selected as tourney MVP.

MCAC South champion Rochester, meanwhile, won the Region 13A championship this past weekend, also at Anoka-Ramsey. The Yellow Jackets shut out Minnesota State-Fergus Falls 3-0 to qualify for nationals. Rochester is ranked fourth nationally.

**

Kamry Lehnhoff had eight kills Friday night as the Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons' earned a 3-0 home win over Southwest Minnesota Christian in Section 3A South tourney action. Game scores were 25-15, 25-21, 25-13.

With the victory, third-seeded A-E will now face No. 2-seeded Westbrook-Walnut Grove in semifinal play Monday night in Pipestone.

**

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda's volleyball team, meanwhile, was eliminated from postseason play on Friday with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Russell-Tyler-Ruthton. Game scores were 25-12, 25-15, 25-14.

**

In sectional high school football over the weekend, second-seeded Hills-Beaver Creek remained undefeated as the defending Minnesota 9-man champs beat Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 35-8 in the Section 3 semifinals on Saturday. The Coyotes' lone TD came on a 2-yard pass from Kaston Clarke to Truman Olsem; they finish the year at 6-3.

**

Fifth-seeded Edgerton, meanwhile, knocked off top-seeded and previously undefeated Alden-Conger-Glenville-Emmons 36-12. That means the Flying Dutchmen will play for the sectional title and a state tourney berth this Friday at Hills-Beaver Creek. The Patriots defeated the Dutch 28-14 back on Oct. 9.

**

In Class 2AA sectional semifinal football action, top-seeded Jackson County Central shut out Pipestone Area 42-0. The Huskies will now host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial this Friday.

**

In other area high school volleyball Friday night, it was:

Murray County Central 3, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 0

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 3, Edgerton 0

Windom 3, Pipestone Area 0

Luverne 3, Fairmont 1

Marshall 3, Mankato East 0

In other area high school football Saturday:

Wabasso 26, Red Rock Central 15

Cleveland 14, Martin County West 6

Sleepy Eye United 28, Murray County Central 21

Tri-City United 20, Fairmont 13

Waseca 42, Luverne 21

Marshall 48, Hutchinson 14