Sports briefs

Plainsmen defeat Montezuma in five sets

BELLE PLAINE — Belle Plaine’s home volleyball conference opener came down to the final set Monday night before either team could be declared the winner.

The teams went back and forth in the first four sets, but the Plainsmen won the fifth set 15-11.

Kayleah Laughlin led the Plainsmen with 23 kills and a high kill efficiency of .463.

Freshman Allison Hoover had 38 of the team’s 41 assists.

Montezuma’s Sydnee Burgess led the Braves in kills (12) and added a match-high six blocks.

HLV sweeps English Valleys

NORTH ENGLISH — The HLV Warriors volleyball team took care of business in North English Tuesday night, sweeping the English Valleys Bears in three sets.

The first two sets were tightly matched, but the Warriors pulled away in the third, winning 25-13.

HLV’s Ema Roberts had 14 kills, and Erilea Kupka had 26 assists.

Becker wins big at Grinnell

Williamsburg freshman Channing Becker captured her first career high school cross-country victory Tuesday at Grinnell, winning in a time of 19:57.9.

Becker’s teammate, Edie Axmear, came in second in a time of 20:59.

The Raider girls captured the team title with 29 points and did the same Saturday at Benton Community.

The top boys finisher for the Raiders was Hayes Arwine who placed 16th in 18:43.

Montezuma’s Ellen Cook was the top girls finisher again for the Braves, finishing 18th, and Jusiah Wetering placed 40th in the boys race.

“Our high school athletes had several season-best performances,” Montezuma head coach Kevin Gartman said.