The Newton Volleyball team won half their matches at their home invitational on Saturday, while the Cardinal boys and girls cross-country teams participated in a large meet at Waverly.

The Cardinal Volleyball team lost their first two matches in two sets to Boone 23-21, 21-14, and Knoxville 21-19, 21-18. Newton then claimed a two-set win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 21-6, 21-16, and a three-set match against Davis County 13-21, 21-14, 21-5. In the win over Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, Isabelle Rawlins had twenty-one assists while Morgan Frehse recorded four kills and Sophie Greer added six digs. Rawlins had eighteen assists and five digs, and Frehse contributed six kills and three aces in the match against Davis County. Rawlins’ assist total for the day was 71, to go along with 24 digs. Newton head coach Heidi Woollums says Rawlins’play elevates the players around her.

“She knows the game and has a high volleyball I.Q.. And when you have somebody with that high volleyball I.Q. and who can make plays when you need them too, it raises everybody’s play around her.”

The Newton Volleyball team is now 9-11 and will travel to North High School in Des Moines on Thursday for a triangular.

The Newton girls cross-country team placed 11th among 25 teams at the Steve Johnson Invitational at Wartburg College in Waverly. The Newton girls were among 210 runners. Alexis Sorenson led the way for the Cardinals, finishing 29th (20:00). Audrey Muckler produced a season best time and placed 31st (20:07). Talia Friedman took 78th (21:56), while Sara Malow was 97th with a season best time (22:36) and Alivia Kingery finished 105th (22:49). Those were the runners included in Newton’s team score, while Ashlynn Wallace placed 159th, Laek Sullivan 167th, Meghan Trout 181st, Mia Van Zante 192nd, and Layla Simon 205th.

The Cardinal boys cross-country team finished 28th among 35 teams and 310 runners. Cooper Christy placed 51st (17:08.2), Lance Zaabel 60th (17:17.5), Levi Zaabel 218th (19:31.3), David Wickett 232nd (19:54.1), and Noah Tremmel 253rd (20:14.9).  The other runners not included in Newton’s team score were Drew Lamont (254th), Abel Aldama (257th), Chase Lundberg (268th), and Hudson Swarts (288th).

The Newton boys and girls cross-country teams will compete at the Fort Dodge Invitational on Thursday.