Metro Sports Report

Young Mustangs fall short to Ashford

Megan Paustian got a taste of college volleyball during her one semester at Kirkwood last year, but even that limited experience has helped her take a leadership role with the young team at Mount Mercy University this season.

The Mustangs used four freshmen, four sophomores and a junior in their nine-player rotation Wednesday night during a 25-27, 25-12, 25-14, 25-18 loss to Ashford University in a non-conference match at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

Paustian, a sophomore, spent one semester at Kirkwood and one semester at Scott Community College before enrolling at Mount Mercy this year.

"I'm not a captain, but I find myself talking a lot in the huddles and talking a lot on the court and just getting the girls pumped up," said Paustian, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter who starred in high school at Pleasant Valley.

Ollinger, J-Hawks fall short against Tigers

Amanda Ollinger still has not broken anyone's nose with her powerful kill shots on a volleyball court, but it might be just be a matter of time.

She also has not decided what she's going to do in college. That's just a matter of time as well.

Basketball or volleyball? Volleyball or basketball?

She's an all-state player in both sports, a versatile 6-foot-2 junior with great agility for someone that big and strong.

Ollinger collected 36 kills, 10 blocks and nine digs Tuesday for the Jefferson volleyball club in a hard-fought 3-2 loss to the Cedar Falls Tigers in a Mississippi Valley Conference match at the Jefferson gym.

Cedar Falls prevailed, 27-29, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 15-4, after the J-Hawks had taken a 2-1 lead after three sets.

Kennedy claims CRANDIC golf tourney

IOWA CITY - The Kennedy Cougars flexed their muscles at the annual CRANDIC golf tournament at Pleasant Valley in Iowa City Tuesday.

The Cougars claimed four of the top seven spots in the individual standings and won the team championship with a four-man score of 292.

Davis Sutton of Kennedy was the medalist with a 1-under-par 71. Tanner Stewart placed second with a 72, Cole Murdock tied for fifth with a 74 and Conner Koberg placed seventh with a 75 for Kennedy.

The Cougars won the meet by 11 shots over Washington.

State bowling meet expands to 3 classes

The boys and girls high school state bowling tournaments will expand to three classes effective this winter.

The action was approved by the Iowa High School Athletic Association Board of Control in August and by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Board of Directors Tuesday.

The new three-class format accounts for the growth in the sport, which has increased from 84 schools in 2010, the first year of the meet, to an expected 102 this winter. It also allows the organizations to stage the tournament separately for each class, thus allowing for the expanding number of spectators.

The girls originally sanctioned bowling in 2006 with 53 schools.

Under the new format, the top 28 schools based on enrollment will form Class 3A; the next 28 will be in Class 2A with the remaining schools forming Class 1A. Under the two-class structure, participating schools with an enrollment of 800 or more were in Class 2A with the remainder being assigned to Class 1A.