The Knoxville Volleyball Squad stayed perfect in the South Central Conference while the Knoxville Cross Country Squads hosted their annual invitational on a warm evening at Pine Knolls Country Club. The volleyball Panthers swept Centerville and for the most part, dominated the match from start to finish trailing briefly only in the 3rd set winning 25-11, 25-5, and 25-22. The Panthers were also playing without two of their players as Jordyn Counts and Bridgette Liston were preparing for the State Tennis Tournament that begins today. Abbie Keitges was a stat filler with 13 digs, six kills, and 16/16 serving with two aces. Addi Williams led with 13 kills and went 13/14 serving. Addy Dunkin dealt out 28 assists, Autumn Delaney had 13 digs, and Mariah Ripperger had six kills and three blocks. Knoxville is now 17-7 and 5-0 in the South Central Conference.
Meanwhile at Pine Knolls Country Club, the Knoxville Cross Country Squads hosted their own invitational. The girls placed 6th overall with Mary Visser leading the Panthers over the line in 26th place in a time of 23:30 while Isaac Rankin was runner-up for only the 2nd time this season as he laid down a time of 16:29, leading the Panthers to a fourth place finish. Rankin’s teammate Bradley Hembrook placed 15th and told KNIA/KRLS Sports he was glad to run at home and have familiar faces and voices encouraging him.
Hembrook: “This is a tough course and has a alot of hills. Every course is going to have hills and it’s mentally tough, but running at home and having the fans around me and cheering was definitely encouraging.”
Volleyball will head to the Newton Invitational on Saturday, while Cross Country will head to the Chariton Invitational on Monday. Listen for a full interview with Hembrook and girls runner Mary Visser on Today’s Lely Radio Sports Page on KNIA/KRLS.