Valmeyer’s Sara Andres sends the ball over the net against Dupo on Thursday. For more photos from the match, visit www.republictimes.net/photo-store. (Alan Dooley photo)

The local volleyball teams are keeping busy with conference matches and tournament action in the heart of their schedule.

Valmeyer was the busiest of them all, playing eight matches in the past week. 

The Pirates (12-9) lost at Marissa last Tuesday, 22-25, 25-11, 22-25. Sara Andres finished with 12 kills and Guin Kohnz set the table with 15 assists.

On Thursday, Valmeyer posted a 25-22, 25-14 win at home over Dupo. Kohnz had 12 assists and Caitlin Crossin recorded five kills.

For Dupo (2-10), Kyleigh Williams led the way with six points and four kills.

Valmeyer played in the annual Pretzel Classic at New Berlin High School over the weekend, going 3-2. The Pirates defeated Greenview, Meredosia and Edinburg but lost to Carlinville and West Central.

Kohnz finished with 61 assists over the five-game tourney, with Andres recording 32 kills. Kendra Goldschmidt had 36 points in the tourney.

On Monday, Valmeyer posted a three-set victory over Steeleville, 22-25, 26-24, 25-17. 

“We’re small but mighty,” Valmeyer head coach Jenny Kohnz said. “We may not have the numbers but for eight girls, we give it all we’ve got. We have to find a consistent way to play strong and steady throughout the entire match; we have to be starters as well as finishers.”

Guin Kohnz, a four-year starter, leads the team – and the entire Kaskaskia Division – in assists with 300. That is good for seventh in the entire state in Class 1A.

Andres leads the team in kills with 145 and in blocks with 42.

The Pirates play at rival New Athens on Thursday.

Also active on the courts of late is Waterloo (7-5-1), which posted two Mississippi Valley Conference wins and a solid showing in the Belleville East Tournament.

Last Tuesday, the Bulldogs defeated MVC foe Jerseyville. Kati Casey recorded 19 assists with Jessie Seidel and Paige Montgomery posting eight kills apiece.

On Thursday, it was another MVC win for Waterloo as they took down Civic Memorial. Casey was the star again with 12 points and 19 assists.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs went 2-1-1 in tourney play at Belleville East. Waterloo defeated Altamont, 21-14, 21-15, and Alton, 21-12, 21-15, but tied and then lost to Staunton.

Waterloo continued MVC action this week with matches Tuesday at Mascoutah and Thursday at Highland, hoping to remain in contention in the conference until senior leader Hannah Cope returns from injury.

Casey leads the team in points with 47; Seidel leads in kills (58) and digs (102).

Columbia (9-7) lost to Breese Central last Tuesday, 25-23, 25-17, but defeated Salem on Thursday, 25-16, 25-15.

Molly Mistler led the Eagles with five kills against Breese Central. Mackenzie Murphy finished with seven kills and Lindsay Wibbenmeyer added 10 assists against Salem.

Columbia played at Freeburg on Tuesday and plays at Wesclin on Thursday.

Mistler leads the team in kills with 96; Wibbenmeyer leads in assists with 190. Avrie Barthel leads the Eagles in blocks with 39.

Gibault (10-1) only played one match last week, but the Hawks made it count. Gibault defeated Metro-East Lutheran in three sets, 18-25, 25-23, 26-24.

Kayla Huels finished with 32 assists for the Hawks. Kelly Papenberg had 11 kills and Ande Grohmann had 10 kills.

Gibault plays at Belleville East on Thursday and hosts New Athens on Monday.

Huels leads the Hawks in points (72) and assists (232). Ashlyn Wightman leads in kills with 104.