The Waterloo High School volleyball team snapped a long losing skid to its Route 3 rivals to the north Thursday night.

The Bulldogs improved to 7-3 on the season with a 25-21, 25-19 win at home over Columbia.

The Bulldogs rallied from an 8-3 deficit in the first set and started with a 6-0 lead in the second set before holding off the Eagles late.

Kati Casey, who leads the Bulldogs this season in points (61) and assists (183), finished with 20 assists in the win. Hailey Montgomery recorded eight points. 

The victory was Waterloo’s first over Columbia since September 2010. The Eagles had won the previous 14 meetings.

Last Wednesday, Waterloo won 25-12, 17-25, 25-22 over Collinsville. Paige Montgomery finished with 10 kills. She leads the team in that category this season with 75. 

Casey had 29 assists for the Bulldogs, who played at Jerseyville on Tuesday, host Civic Memorial on Thursday and host Mascoutah this coming Tuesday.

Columbia rebounded from Thursday’s loss to place first in the Mascoutah tournament over the weekend. 

The Eagles (9-6) defeated Murphysboro in three sets, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12, blew past Metro-East Lutheran in two sets and lost to Mascoutah before toppling a tough Freeburg squad in the final, 30-28, 25-23.

Maci Browne recorded 16 points, Mackenzie Murphy finished with 13 kills and Paige Becker contributed 14 assists for Columbia in the title match.

Browne, Murphy and Becker are the team leaders this season in those respective categories.

Columbia played at Breese Central on Tuesday, plays at Salem on Thursday and hosts rival Freeburg this coming Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Gibault continues its impressive early season run. The Hawks are 12-3 following a 25-22, 25-8 victory over Granite City on Monday.

On Thursday, Gibault won 25-21, 25-17 against Okawville on Thursday. Kayla Huels led the Hawks with 14 points and 20 assists in that match.

For the season, Huels leads the team with 202 assists. Abby Grohmann leads in points with 78, Ashlyn Wightman leads in kills with 94, Ally Thompson leads in blocks with 41 and Ande Grohmann leads in digs with 95.

Gibault hosted Metro-East Lutheran on Tuesday and hosts East St. Louis next Wednesday. 

Valmeyer (2-9) lost to Grayville, Nashville and Salem in the Benton tournament on Saturday. 

On Monday, the young Pirates dropped a 25-21, 25-11 match at Wesclin.

Valmeyer lost 25-15, 25-10 to Red Bud last Wednesday. 

Two freshmen are leading in key categories so far this season for the Pirates. Jayna Krekel leads in points (54) and assists (103). Markee Voelker leads in kills with 40.

Gwen Panzau, a senior, leads in blocks with 25. Tinleigh Jakimauskas, a junior, leads in digs with 141.

Valmeyer hosted Marissa on Tuesday and plays at Dupo on Thursday.

Dupo (1-7) lost 7-25, 25-21, 4-25 to Red Bud on Monday.

On Thursday, the Tigers lost 25-22, 25-17 to Lebanon.

Sheridan Pipkens and Holly Wilson lead Dupo in points on the season. Maddie Esmon leads in kills, Ellie Elfrink leads in assists and Annalese Gill leads in blocks.

Dupo played at Steeleville on Tuesday and will play at New Athens next Tuesday following Thursday’s clash with Valmeyer.