MW qualifies for national volleyball tourney; Bluejay football team out

The Minnesota West women's volleyball team is heading back to the national tournament for the second year in a row.

The Lady Jays captured the Region 13A Tournament on Saturday by overpowering St. Cloud Tech 3-0 at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Game scores were 25-8, 25-17, 25-13. The win followed a 3-1 triumph Friday over Minnesota North-Mesabi Range to earn a spot in Saturday's finals.

Sadie Krahling, who was named the tournament's most valuable player, finished with 12 kills, 16 digs and two ace serves. Aleah Wagner added nine kills and 16 digs, Raya Van Beek had eight kills and four blocks, and Ally Nelson chipped in with six kills and three blocks.

Kadyn Paulson led the 35-4, third-ranked Lady Jays with 21 digs and also had two ace serves. Kate Slettum passed for 35 set assists and had three ace serves and 12 digs. Paulson, Nelson and Van Beek also earned all-tournament recognition.

The national tournament is scheduled for Nov. 13-15 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

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The Minnesota West football season came to an end Sunday afternoon as the fourth-ranked Bluejays fell at No. 2 North Dakota State College of Science 41-28 in an MCAC semifinal matchup.

The Wildcats led 24-14 at the half and scored on the very first offensive play of the third quarter when Michael Douglas Jr. ran 69 yards for a touchdown. A field goal later in the quarter made it 34-14, Wildcats.

A 1-yard TD by the Bluejays' Jaden Hines cut the NDSCS lead to 34-20, but Douglas dashed another 69 yards soon afterward for a 41-20 Wildcat advantage. Douglas carried 27 times for 288 yards and four TDS in the ballgame. 

Dooley Williams snared a fourth-quarter interception for Minnesota West and Hines later scored from 10 yards out, then added a two-point conversion for a 41-28 score with 3:19 to go. The Bluejays then recovered an onside kick, but Armon Vinson's pass was deflected and picked off near the goal with 1:52 remaining to essentially ensure a Wildcat win. 

Vinson passed for 221 yards and was also the leading Minnesota West rusher with 91 yards on 19 carries. Ethan Pridgen was the leading receiver with six catches for 70 yards.

The Bluejays end the season with a 5-4 record.

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Jackson County Central advanced to state in one sport over the weekend and fell just short in another.

The Huskies' football team advanced to state for the fourth year in a row after defeating LeSueur-Henderson 30-6 in the Section 3AA title game Friday at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. Roman Voss ran for a touchdown, threw for another and also had an interception return for another TD as unbeaten and top-ranked JCC earned a chance to defend their Class AA title.

On Saturday, the Huskies' volleyball team wound falling just short of a state berth, as they were edged 3-2 by New London-Spicer in the sectional finals. Game scores were 25-23, 22-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-12. 

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The No. 1 Hills-Beaver Creek football team remained unbeaten and will return to state following a 40-14 Section 3 9-man title victory Friday night over Edgerton at Worthington's Trojan Field. Another area football team advancing to state is Murray County Central, which topped Springfield for the Section 3A crown 31-20 on Friday at SMSU. Luverne. however, was knocked off in Class 3A, as the Cardinals were defeated by Waseca 31-12.

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In the Minnesota Class A cross country meet on Saturday, four Murray County Central/Fulda athletes competed. In the boys race, sophomore Aiden Appel placed 25^th with a personal-record time. Senior Matthew Stapek was 67th and junior Alexander Betz 77th. Among the girls, freshman Mara Clarke was 86th.

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At the Iowa Class A girls country meet in Fort Dodge on Saturday, Sibley-Ocheyedan placed 13th. Generals sophomore Aleah Marco was 58^th and set a new personal record. Sophomore Amadelaid Benitez was 74th, sophomore Riley Childs was 108^th with a PR, junior Mya Pohlen was 109^th, freshman Lucy Heitritter was 116^th with a PR and freshman Gracie Odens was 118^th with a PR.

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In Friday night Iowa playoff football, West Sioux defeated Sibley-Ocheyedan, 31-14.