Schools enter first full week of fall sports

The wait is over! Today (Monday) marks the first day of the first full week of the fall sports schedule. While three area football teams began their season over the weekend, the vast majority will have their first real action this week.

A handful of area volleyball teams get underway today. Mt. Pleasant plays at the Muscatine triangular. Columbus, Pekin, Van Buren and WACO will all play in the season-opening tournament in Wayland tonight. Highland, Mid-Prairie and Keota will all play in the Keota tournament. Fairfield and Washington will both begin their seasons on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Cross-country also begins this week. Fairfield and Pekin will have an early dose of action in Knoxville.

The end of the week will be action-packed with all three of the area's big schools in volleyball action on Thursday. Mid-Prairie hosts Washington, Fairfield holds a home quadrangular and Mt. Pleasant plays at the Ottumwa triangular. Van Buren and Winfield-Mt. Union also open up with a triangular in Winfield, which also includes Keokuk.

Iowa Wesleyan fall sports will begin this weekend as well. The cross-country team, volleyball team and both soccer teams will begin their regular season schedules over the weekend.