Metro Sports Report

Kennedy spikers hold off Saints, 3-2

Maybe it was Kennedy's rich tradition in volleyball that made the difference. Or maybe it was Kennedy's tough early-season schedule that gave the Cougars a slight edge over the Xavier Saints Tuesday night.

Or maybe the Saints simply didn't play very well. That's what Xavier Coach arb Sullivan said in her post-game remarks.

Kennedy trimmed Xavier in a five-set marathon, 26-24, 27-25, 17-25, 23-25, 15-11 in a Mississippi Valley Conference match at Kennedy.

"We had moments that were wonderful," said Sullivan, "but I think we kind of forgot about the basics for awhile.

Justis resigns as Linn-Mar volleyball coach

Rob Justis resigned as the girls volleyball coach at Linn-Mar High School Tuesday after five seasons, citing "philosophical" differences with Linn-Mar administrators.

"I'm not sure if it's official, but I turned in my resignation for both volleyball and girls basketball today," he said Tuesday evening. "They've got my letter of resignation, anyway."

A sense of relief mixed with pride

It's hard to believe it had been nearly three years - and nearly one full class of students - since Jefferson had won a football game.

Until last Friday night.

It was Sept. 25, 2009, a foggy night in Dubuque, when Jefferson defeated Dubuque Senior, 20-13. That was the last time the J-Hawks had tasted a varsity football victory.

Until last Friday night.

The J-Hawks broke a 24-game losing streak last Friday night, defeating Dubuque Hempstead 12-7 at Chalmers Field on the campus of the University of Dubuque.

What had started back in 2009 as a monkey, had grown into a gigantic over-sized gorilla on the back of the J-Hawks. But, the gorilla is gone, and in its place is both a sense of relief and pride. Pride that a once proud program can make its way back up the mountain to the top of the Class 4A football world.

Saints soar like eagles at MVC golf

The members of the Xavier High School golf team thought Monday might be a good day for one of them to fire an eagle at Twin Pines.

They were wrong. Three of them did.

The Saints rode their surge of eagles to a 26-shot bulge in the race for top honors in the Valley Division of the Mississippi Valley Conference standings.

Xavier has a 36-hole total of 588 for a 26-shot lead over Linn-Mar heading into the final round at Hunters Ridge on Sept. 24.

Matt Junge, Ben Sagers and John Drahozal all shot eagle-3's on par-5 holes. Junge and Sagers collected their eagles on the 502-yard 11th hole while Drahozal got his eagle on the 455-yard 13th hole.