District winners push for state semifinals

Several area high school volleyball teams will look to navigate the final road toward the state tournament today when they take part in sectional competitions at various sites.

The sectionals will all include four squads. Semifinal winners advance to the finals and those survivors move on to next weekend's state final four in Warrensburg, Mo.

Local squads who won district titles earlier this week to advance to the sectional around are Jackson in Class 4A, Fredericktown in Class 3A, Notre Dame in Class 2A and Meadow Heights in Class 1A.

Following is a look at the four sectionals (all finals will be played at approximately 6 p.m.)

Class 4A

AT SECKMAN

Jackson (21-10-1) figures to be a solid favorite over University City (6-11), which advanced from a weak district, in its semifinal at 4:30 p.m.

But the Lady Indians, who won their first district title since 1998, would certainly be a heavy underdog against either defending state champion Cor Jesu (30-5) or Nerinx Hall (32-4), a pair of St. Louis powerhouses who split two meetings this year. Cor Jesu and Nerinx Hall play at 3 p.m.

Class 3A

AT STE. GENEVIEVE

Fredericktown (29-5-1) should have a solid shot at knocking off Lutheran South (16-16-2) in its semifinal at 4:30 p.m.

The other semifinal, at 3 p.m., pits defending state champion Borgia (28-4-1) against Festus (21-9-3).

Class 2A

AT BLOOMFIELD

Notre Dame (25-8-1) came within an eyelash of winning the sectional last year. After rolling past South Pemiscot in the semifinals, the Lady Bulldogs fell just short of their first state berth as they suffered a tough 15-11, 8-15, 15-13 loss to Bismarck in the final.

The Lady Bulldogs could get another shot at Bismarck, but first they must get past Clearwater (17-9-2) in the semifinals at 3 p.m. Bismarck (26-6-2) and Caruthersville (24-2) meet in the other semifinal at 4:30 p.m.

Class 1A

AT ADVANCE

Meadow Heights (27-4) is making its second straight sectional appearance after dropping a tough 0-15, 16-14, 15-8 match to eventual state runner-up Winona in last year's semifinals.

The Lady Panthers and Winona could meet up again, but it would not be until the final. Meadow Heights plays Holcomb (23-3-1) in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m., following a match between Winona (29-4-1) and Bernie (23-11) at 3 p.m.