Varsity, JV Volleyball Teams Beat SCS; MS Runners Take 1st, 3rd

The SJCS Varsity volleyball team rallied after losing the first set and defeated visiting Southside Christian 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20) in a Region 1-A match Tuesday night.

After dropping the first set, the Knights jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second, but then fell behind 16-13. Coach Jan Carino called a timeout, and the Knights responded with 12-6 run to even the match, with a kill by Mendolia Anderson clinching the set.

The Knights (11-6-1, 3-0 in the region) took control early in both the third and fourth sets, with 8-2 and 8-4 leads, respectively, and they maintained their advantage throughout both sets.

Lillie Hecker finished with 17 kills, 13 digs and three blocks, and Grace Dumont had 11 kills, 16 digs and four aces. Anderson also had 11 kills.

Ava Catherine Elder had nine kills and four blocks. Emily Clark had five kills and 11 digs, Sophia Duque had five aces and Tiffany Helmer had 12 digs and eight assists.

On Monday night, the Knights lost at home in five sets (25-14, 22-25, 25-13, 20-25, 15-9) to Cardinal Newman, which has won Class 4A SCISA state championships two of the last three years (2020, 2022).

Dumont finished with 10 kills, 11 digs, 35 assists and three aces. Hecker had 10 kills and eight digs, and Helmer had 16 digs.

Anderson had 10 kills, Elder had nine kills and four blocks and Clark had five kills.

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JV Volleyball

The JV Knights used big runs in both sets and beat Southside Christian 2-0 (25-17, 25-17).

With Tori O'Laughlin serving, the Knights took a slim lead and stretched it to 21-11. When the Sabres scored four straight points, Kristen Nelson's kill ended the run. Charli Hamby's kill ended the set.

In the second set, the Knights led 9-7 when, with Julia Lyons serving, they rattled off nine straight points. Sydney Sullivan's block sealed the victory.

The previous night, the JV Knights lost to Cardinal Newman 2-0 (25-11, 25-11).

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Cross Country

The SJCS girls took first and the boys finished third in the SCA Invitational Tuesday at VA-Du-Mar Park in Boiling Springs.

Payton Picciuto was runner-up (out of 99 finishers) in the two-mile run in 13:32, and Eva Cifuni came in third in 13:33. Niamh Novak (ninth in 14:59) also finished in the top 10 for the Knights, who took first out of seven teams.

The boys placed third out of 11 teams, with Elliott Thompson (12:21) and Thomas Potter (12:23) taking third and fourth, respectively, to lead the Knights. Will Hand placed eighth (12:35) in the race, which had 147 finishers.

Click HERE for complete results on scrunners.com.

Beforehand, the SJCS teams had pizza and then played charades and manhunt -- a great way for them to bond and get ready for the meet!

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Girls Tennis

The SJCS Varsity girls tennis team won three of four tie-breakers and defeated visiting Southside Christian 5-2 in a Region 1-A match Tuesday.

Charlotte Papps and Caroline Clayton won tie-breakers in singles matches, and Papps and Grace Eilers won their doubles match by way of a tie-breaker for the Knights (8-2).

"I was very proud of all the players as they really showed heart after losing their first set and then battling back to take the second set and then the tie-breaker," Coach Tricia Brown said. "You can really can’t ask more from a player. "

SJCS 5, SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 2
Singles
No. 1-Sophie Dew (SCS) d. Grace Eilers, 6-1, 6-0
No. 2-Anne Jordan (SCS) d. Sydney Conroy, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0
No. 3-Charlotte Papps (SJ) d. Jolie Elliott, 2-6, 7-5, 1-0
No. 4-Caroline Clayton (SJ) d. Madelyn Moll, 0-6, 6-2, 1-0
No. 5-Bridget Houck (SJ) d. Ava Wenderoth, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1-Eilers/Papps (SJ) d. Dew/Moll, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0
No. 2-Evania Ayala/Kayce Charlton (SJ) d. Carson Lambert/Morgan, 6-2, 6-2