Minnesota West earns volleyball win, clinches conference soccer crown

The Minnesota West Lady Jays, who dropped from No. 3 to No. 6 in this week's NJCAA Division 3 volleyball poll, picked up a win for the 30th time this season Wednesday night as they topped Ridgewater 3-1 at home. Game scores were 22-25, 25-11, 25-6, 25-22.

The Lady Jays started slowly in the opening game and trailed by as many as eight at one point. They were able to rally within 23-22, but could get no closer.

Minnesota West, though, would bounce back in games two and three and win in dominating fashion. Game four was more competitive, and the Lady Jays ultimately held off a Ridgewater comeback attempt to secure the triumph.

Sadie Krahling had a team-best 11 kills for Minnesota West; Aleah Wagner was next with nine and Ally Nelson had eight. Kadyn Paulson had 25 digs, and Wagner added 20. Kate Slettum passed for 38 set assists and was also 30-for-30 serving with four aces; she also contributed a pair of blocks.

The Lady Jays will play back-to-back home matches on Friday and Saturday. They'll meet St. Cloud Tech at 2 p.m. Friday and Century College at noon Saturday.

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In college men's soccer, Minnesota West clinched a conference title Wednesday with a 3-1 triumph over Anoka-Ramsey at Trojan Field.

Carlos Castillo scored in the 20th minute for the Bluejays on an assist from Dario Neves. Selvin Velasquez netted the second Minnesota West goal on an assist from Christian Martinez in the 47^th minute, and Castillo scored again just a minute later on another assist from Martinez.

Jose Sandoval was in goal for the Bluejays, who are 4-5-2 overall. Minnesota West will play in a semifinal match next Thursday, with further details to be determined.

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The Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons won their regular-season football finale in dominating fashion Thursday night as they routed visiting Buffalo Lake-Hector Stewart 65-0. Adrian-Ellsworth, playing in its inaugural season of 9-man football, now sports a record of 6-2.

In Windom, Jackson County Central  — ranked No. 1 in Minnesota Class 2A football and the defending state champ — rolled past Windom on the road, 59-6. Quarterback Roman Voss threw touchdown passes of 68,75 and 49 yards and also had TD runs of 87 and 69 yards. The Huskies finish the regular season at 8-0.

In another 9-man game, host Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda gave Wabasso all it could handle before ultimately falling to the sixth-ranked Rabbits 20-18. The Coyotes conclude the regular season at 2-6.

The Worthington Trojans, meanwhile, played on the road at Tri-City United and were defeated 48-0. WHS completes its regular season at 0-8.

In other area high school football Friday, it was:

Hills-Beaver Creek 60, Cedar Mountain 8

Edgerton 52, New Ulm Cathedral 7

Murray County Central 49, Canby 7

Red Rock Central 42, Westbrook-Walnut Grove 0

Cleveland 32, Martin County West 0

Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 40, BOLD 12

Renville County West 48, Mountain Lakea Area 8

Luverne 15, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 0

St. Peter 21, Fairmont 8

Marshall 41, Benilde-St. Margaret's 0

LeSueur-Henderson 68, Pipestone Area 7