Minnesota West volleyball, football teams get new spots in rankings

The Minnesota West Lady Jays volleyball team slipped a notch to No. 3 in the latest NJCAA Division 3 poll released Tuesday.

Minnesota West, which is 23-3 overall, won four of six matches since the previous poll was released Sept. 22. The Lady Jays dropped a match to the Morningside University JV the night of the 22nd and then dropped a five-set decision at Rochester on Friday the 26th.

Dallas College Eastfield continues to hold down the No. 1 spot. Sandhills Community College, last week's No. 3 squad, moved up to No. 2. Meanwhile, Rochester, buoyed by its win over Minnesota West, advanced five spots to No. 7 in the poll. The Yellow Jackets have an overall record of 10-7.

In football, Minnesota West and Louisburg College switched spots in the rankings, with the Bluejays inching up one spot to No. 3 and Louisburg slipping to No. 4. Minnesota West won big this past Saturday at Central Lakes, 51-7, and is now 3-2 this fall.

College of DuPage remained at No. 1 and North Dakota State College of Science at No. 2. Then come the Bluejays, followed by Louisburg and Rochester coming in at No. 5. Minnesota West will host the Yellow Jackets at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Trojan Field.

The Bluejays have two regular season games remaining after this week — at Minnesota North College-Vermilion on Oct. 11 and at Dakota Wesleyan on Oct. 19.

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The sixth week of Minnesota's high school football season features a showdown of 9-man unbeatens Friday night as top-ranked Hills-Beaver Creek hosts No. 4 Edgerton.

The Patriots, who advanced to the state 9-Man championship game last season, have averaged 53.2 points a contest while allowing just 10.2. The Flying Dutchmen, meanwhile, have put up 49.2 points per game this fall while surrendering just 4.4. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday in Hills.

Also in 9-Man football Friday night, 1-4 Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda will play at 2-3 Westbrook-Walnut Grove, 3-2 Adrian-Ellsworth is at 2-3 Granada-Huntley-East Chain-Truman.

In Class A action Friday, 3-2 Murray County Central will play in Tracy against 2-3 Tracy-Milroy-Balaton. In Class 2A, unbeaten and top-ranked Jackson County Central will host 4-1 LeSueur-Henderson; 2-3 Windom Area plays at winless Sibley East; and Pipestone Area is on the road at Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial in a matchup of 3-2 clubs.

In Class 3A, 0-5 Worthington hosts unbeaten and third-ranked Waseca; No. 10 Luverne (4-1) plays at winless Minnesota Valley Lutheran; and 3-2 Fairmont entertains 2-3 Belle Plaine. In Class 4A, undefeated and second-ranked Marshall plays sixth-ranked Orono at SMSU.

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In high school girls soccer Tuesday night, Worthington was defeated at Mankato Loyola 5-0. The Trojans play in Garretson, S.D. on Thursday.

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In area high school volleyball Tuesday:

Adrian-Ellsworth 3, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 0

Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 3, Edgerton 0

Jackson County Central 3, Fairmont 1

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 3, Murray County Central 0

Luverne 3, Blue Earth 1

Windom 3, St. James Area 0

Minneota 3, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 0

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 3, Red Rock Central 0

Hills-Beaver Creek 3, Southwest Minnesota Christian 1

Marshall 3, Tri-City United 0

Pipestone Area 3, Redwood Valley 0

Sheldon 3, Okoboji 1

Unity Christian 3, Rock Valley 0

Sioux Center 3, Boyden-Hull 0

Central Lyon 3, West Lyon 1

Hinton 3, George-Little Rock 0

Sibley- Ocheyedan 3, Harris-Lake Park 0