Thursday Sports Roundup: WHS Volleyball Loses to JCC; Boys Soccer Dominates Wings United – The Globe

Volleyball

Jackson Central District 3, Worthington 1

JACKSON – The Worthington Trojans and Jackson County Central Huskies battled out four tough matches on Thursday night in a highly anticipated Big South Conference volleyball match.

Despite losing a dramatic first set, the Huskies rallied to win 25-27, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21. The win improves JCC to 2-2 overall, its first conference win and a comeback from a 3-1 loss to Mayer Lutheran on Tuesday. The Trojans fall to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The first set was a close, close battle as the score was tied 15 times. The Trojans managed to win the set and take a 1-0 lead before JCC fought back.

The Huskies took control of the second set for most of it before winning the next two sets. Worthington had a one-point lead in the fourth set before JCC surged forward late in the set to take it and seal the match.

Jayden Spartz had 13 kills and 13 digs for the Trojans, while Saige Scheepstra added eight kills and Kaitlin Mulder and Lauren Nixon each had four. Spartz and Kamryn Olson each served 13-of-13 from the line, while Scheepstra was 17-of-18.

Scheepstra and Alaina Feit each had two blocks, while other leaders in rebounds included Kaitlin Jueneman with 12 blocks, Grace Barber with 11 blocks and Natya Khamphanh with 10 blocks. Khamphanh also had 28 assists.

The Trojans’ next game will be Tuesday against Marshall.

Windom 3, Luverne 0

LUVERNE – The Windom Area volleyball team continued its successful start to the season with a Big South Conference road win over the Luverne Cardinals.

The Eagles won 25-18, 25-22, 25-18 to improve their early-season record to 4-1 with a 3-0 victory over Red Rock Central on Tuesday. Their only loss came in a five-set match to Southwest Minnesota Christian last week.

Luverne, meanwhile, falls to 2-7 on the season with the loss. The Cardinals lost in four sets to Westbrook-Walnut Grove earlier this week.

The Eagles’ next game is a tournament at Lakefield on Saturday, while Luverne hosts West Lyon on Tuesday.

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 3, Yellow Medicine East 0

GRANITE FALLS – The Westbrook-Walnut Grove volleyball team remains undefeated in its season opener, with the Chargers coming off a road win over Yellow Medicine East.

The Chargers won 25-14, 25-21 on Thursday to improve to 3-0 and earn their second victory of the week after Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Luverne.

On Thursday against YME, Natalie Wahl led in kills with 10, while Riley Parker added seven. Wahl also led in digs with 10, while Carlie Ross added seven and Parker and Liv Locke each scored six. Parker, Ross and Faith Marsh each contributed two assisted blocks.

Myah Mazino had 15 assists for W-WG, while Hadley Jenniges had 14 assists.

On Tuesday against Luverne, Wahl led the way with 12 kills, while Leah Carter had nine and Ross eight. Wahl, Locke and Ross each had 11 digs, Jenniges had 32 assists and Parker had two solo blocks.

Next up for the undefeated Chargers is a tournament on Saturday at Lakeview High School.

Boys’ football

Worthington 6, Wings United 0

ST. JAMES – The Worthington Trojan boys soccer team kept its unbeaten season streak alive by defeating Wings United 6-0 on Thursday.

The win moved the Trojans to 5-0-1 after a 4-1 victory Tuesday at Marshall, a game in which WHS took a 2-0 lead into halftime and never gave it up as Andy Guzman and Danny Banegas each scored a goal.

Banegas was active in attack again on Thursday, scoring three goals, while Guzman, Alan Tovar and Isaac Perez each scored one goal.

On Saturday, the Trojans will face the Austin Packers on the road.

Girls’ soccer

United Wings 2, Worthington 0

WORTHINGTON – The Worthington girls soccer team battled hard against Wings United all evening but ultimately fell 2-0.

The Trojans (0-6) are still looking for their first win of the fall after losing to Marshall on Tuesday. Next up for them is another home game Saturday against Austin at Trojan Field.

Cross-country running

TRACY – The Worthington Trojans, as well as several other area schools, were in Tracy on Thursday for a cross-country meet.

This is the second game of the season for the Trojans, who last played at Marshall last Tuesday.

In Tracy, Worthington finished fifth in the boys’ field of 11 schools, scoring 122 points. Redwood Valley was first with 24 points, Murray County Central/Fulda second with 95 points, Springfield/Cedar Mountain third with 103 points and Windom Area fourth with 114 points, which allowed other teams to finish in the top five. Adrian/Ellsworth was eighth with 258 points. Darwin Demarrias-Jansma was the fastest A/E runner and finished 19th overall.

The top finisher in the 5,000-meter race was senior Fanuel Wolday, who finished second in 16:06.02, just 10 seconds behind winner William Ahrens of Redwood Valley.

Austin Kinser finished fifth with a time of 17:28.70, placing him in the top 10 for the Trojans.

Other area athletes who finished in the top 10 on the boys side included Matthew Stapek of MCC/Fulda in eighth. Windom Area runners Bryce Green and Braylen Lyons finished just outside the top 10 in 11th and 12th, respectively.

On the girls side, Worthington was seventh of eight schools with 159 points. Redwood Valley also was first in the girls team competition with 36 points, and Canby/Mineota was second with 48 points. MCC/Fulda was third (81), Springfield/Cedar Mountain fourth (96), Adrian/Ellsworth fifth (125) and Pipestone Area sixth (150).

The highest-place finish among the Trojans was taken by junior Madison Sieve, who placed 26th overall with a time of 23:02.47.

Mara Clarke of MCC/Fulda finished sixth overall, with teammate Laiken Farris finishing eighth. Keyona Klingenberg was fastest from Adrian/Ellsworth, finishing 18th overall.

Next up for the Trojans cross country teams is the annual Turkey Trot on Thursday, Sept. 12 in Prairie View. It is the only home meet of the season for WHS.