Junior High Volleyball -- Trinity Fourth In Tourney

Stewardson Trinity Lutheran finished fourth at the Christ Lutheran School Tournament.

PEORIA -- Stewardson Trinity Lutheran competed in the the Christ Lutheran School Annual Tournament in Peoria and finished fourth.

"We won the tourney two years ago but a lot has changed since then," said Coach Tammy Manhart. "None of the current players were on that team. We are a young team this year with only one eighth-grader able to play. Brinlie Durbin is out recovering from back surgery. She is our leader so she is greatly missed on the floor.

"Madison Beitz is the lone eighth-grader with one sixth-grader and the rest seventh-graders backing her up on the court.

"We had a slow start to our season, losing the opener to St. Peter a week or so ago. I wasn't sure what to expect this weekend heading into this tough tourney. The girls did a great job, improving every match they played.

"We won our pool defeating Yorkville #2, 21-7, 21-12 and Collinsville Holy Cross, 21-16, 21-9. Then we won our first two in bracket play putting us in the final four, defeating Belvidere, 21-9, 21-16 and Yorkville #1, 21-16, 9-21, 19-17.

"We lost to Trinity Edwardsville in the semifianls, 21-11, 21-16. I felt like we ran out of gas after a long day of playing. We faced Kirkwood in the third and fourth place match Sunday. It was a battle the whole match. We fell short but played very well, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13.

"Mya Friese had a great tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team. She has stepped up as our leader with Brinlie being injured. I am very proud of these girls. They surpassed my expectations for this weekend. They have already grown as a team so much in just the seven matches we have played. We will compete in the Lutheran State Tournament at the beginning of November."

Christ Lutheran School Tournament

Stewardson Trinity Statistics -- Friese, 67 points, 45 aces, 20 kills, 29 assists, 19 digs; Bostedo, 20 points, 11 aces, 1 kill, 24 assists, 13 digs; McCormick, 15 points, 6 aces, 14 kills, 19 digs; Thompson, 22 points, 16 aces, 4 kills, 9 digs; Beitz, 17 points, 8 aces, 16 kills, 2 digs, 1 block; Danials, 6 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig; Wascher, 19 points, 9 aces, 24 digs; Mueller, 1 point, 1 kill, 1 assist

Myra Friese was named to the Al-Tournament Team.