Polk Preps week in review: Here are the highlights for cross country, volleyball

Football isn't the only sport that began last week. The first regular-season cross country meets and volleyball matches also took place. Here are all the highlights of the week.

Cross Country

Smith  finishes 4th, Lakeland girls 2nd at Ryun Invitational

Lakeland sophomore Avery Smith ran 20:50.8 to finish fourth and lead Lakeland to a second-place finish in the girls high school division at the Jim Ryun Invitational on Saturday at Holloway Park.

Five more Polk girls finished in the top 20. Also from Lakeland, Beth Feder (22:22.5) finished 16th and Mattie Walsh (22:40.9) finished 21st.

Sarah Bayes ran 22:18 to finish 14th and lead Lakeland Christian to a third-place finish. Emma Wilkinson (22:36.2) finished 18th.

Frostproof's Helana Rodrigurez ran 22:43.5 to finish 22nd.

For the boys, Kruz Schembri ran 17:24.7 to finish sixth, Israel Mirtil ran 17:24.7 finished seventh, and Colin Fetter was 11th in 17:50.3 as the top finishers from Polk.

Also from Polk, Lake Wales' Cameron Gonzalez (18:03.7) finished 17th, and Haines City's Payson Keown (18:12.1) finished 21st.

In the boys team competition, Auburndale was the top team. The Bloodhounds finished 10th, and Geneval Classical was 12th, followed by Frostproof (13th) and Lakeland Christian (14th).

McKeel's Myers finishes 10th at Babe Zaharias; Jenkins girls 7th

Seventh-grader Kinsey Myers ran 20:17 to finish in 10th place as the top finisher from Polk County at the Babe Zaharias Golf Course.

George Jenkins' Jaade McBride finished 13th in 20:43.80, and Payton Rusk ran 20:59.70 and finished 16th. McKeel's Emma Nales-Torchio was 21st in 21:13.40.

In the team competition, Jenkins finished seventh, and McKeel was 10th.

For the boys, George Jenkins sophomore Caden Baker finished 18th in 17:15.10, and Brandon Milo was 23rd in 17:29.70. Jenkins finished 12th in the team competition, and McKeel was 18th.

Volleyball

Lakeland 3, Winter Haven 1

Highlights: Lakeland defeated Winter Haven, 25-16, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18. Erin Miller had a dominating effort with 26 kills, 11 digs and five aces to lead the Dreadnaughts. Carrisa Michel had 10 kills and four digs. Kate Marshall had six blocks and 11 digs. Caroline Mank had 17 assists, and Kirra Lindsey had 15 assists. Skye Gallichan led the defense with 22 digs. For Winter Haven, sophomore Rylee Tanner led with 15 kills, and freshmen Emily Drier had eight kills. Tori Martin had 32 assists, Elle Floyd had 11 digs and Arianna Santos had 12 digs.

Lakeland 3, George Jenkins 0

Highlights: Erin Miller had another big night with 20 kills to power the Dreadnaughts. She also had 11 digs. Julia Black had eight kills and Carissa Michel had six kills and eight digs. Libero Skye Gallicha had 14 digs to lead the defense, and Kirra Lindsey and Caroline Mank had 17 and 16 assists respectively.

McKeel 3, Victory Christian 1

Highlights: McKeel won 25-20, 25-27, 25-13, 25-17. For McKeel, Mallorie Swartz led with 17 kills, Juleigh Urbina had 11 kills, seven aces and 32 assists, Emory Hubbard had 10 kills and save digs and Mariana Kleinhenz had eight kills. Sofia Burke led with 12 digs, and Haley Brawner had 13 assists. Victory was led by Alaina Fountain with seven kills and 10 digs, Kaylie Whittenton with six kills an 11 digs and Dublin Fitzgerald and Keely Ortiz with five kills each. Ortiz also had 14 assists and five aces.

McKeel 3, Santa Fe Catholic 0

Highlights: Juleigh Urbina led McKeel with seven kills, eight aces and 15 assists. Hope Kimsey had six kills, four aces, and Mallorie Swartz had five kills and five aces.

Lakeland Christian 3, Santa Fe Catholic 0

Highlights: LCS won 25-14, 25-9, 25-16. Mac Ash and Emerson Valenti each had seven kills. Ash also had nine aces, and Valenti had four aces. Kylah Blough had five blocks, and Ash and Lillian Jacobs had 12 kills each.

All Saints 3, Geneva Classical 1

Highlights: All Saints won, 25-13, 25-6, 23-25, 25-18. For All Saints, Hannah Kazmier had 15 aces and 14 assists, and Aubree Hummel added 12 assists.  Addison Lenderman had eight kills, two blocks and four digs, Madison Staiano had seven kills, and Amelia Johnson added six aces, two blocks and three kills.

Ridgeview Global Studies 3, Lake Region 0

Highlights: Ridgeview Global won 25-16, 25-20, 25-18. Ridgeview's top players were: Amani Hill (5 kills), Kiara Rene (4 Kills), Ashley Barrios (4 kills), Kamila Gonzalez (15 assists), Olivia Delgado (7 aces), Janitza Rosa (7 aces). For Lake Region, Cali Bowling had four kills.

All Saints 3, Santa Fe Catholic 1

Highlights: All Saints won, 23-25, 25-16, 25-10, 25-12. All Saints was led by Addison Lenderman with seven kills, four digs and three aces, Amelia Johnson had five kills and three aces, Hannah Kazmier had five kills, nine assists, five digs and 11 aces, Auburn Hummel had six aces and 11 assists, and Alainah Alford added nine digs.

Ridgeview Global Studies 3, Four Corners 0

Highlights: Ridgeview Global won, 25-18, 25-7, 25-14. Olivia Delgado led Ridgeview with 10 aces, Ashley Barrios and Amani Hill each had seven kills.

Lakeland Christian 3, Victory Christian 1

Highlights: LCS won, 25-23, 25-12, 22-25, 25-6. Kylah Blough led LCS with nine kills, Olivia Elliott had seven kills and four solo blocks, Lillian Jacobs had 36 digs, Mac Ash had eight kills, four aces and 12 digs, and Emerson Valenti had five kills, eight digs and three aces. For Victory, Kaylie Whittenton had 10 kills, and Dublin Fitzgerald and Alaina Fountain each had nine kills. Fountain led with 21 digs, Fitzgerald had 17 digs, Whittenton had 14 digs, and Keely Ortiz added 12 digs. Ortiz had 17 assists.

Winter Haven 3, Auburndale 1

Highlights: Winter Haven picked up its first victory of the season by defeating Auburndale, 25-8, 22-25, 25-10, 25-19. Rylee Tanner led with 19 kills and 21 digs, and Emily Drier added 10 kills. Elle Floyd added five kills and 13 digs. Setter Tori Martin quarterbacked the offense and had 34 assists with 11 digs.

Ridge Community 3, Poinciana 0

Highlights: Ridge Community defeated Poinciana, 25-14, 25-23, 25-23. Jaidan Adams led with 11 kills, and Alyssabeth Texidor hd seven kills. Madison Taylor had six kills and 20 assists, and Aleanys Cruz paced the defense with 12 digs.

Ridge Community 3, Haines City 0

Highlights: Ridge Community won, 25-18, 25-12, 25-14. Jaidan Adams led the Bolts with 11 kills, and Madison Taylor added 17 assists. Aleanys Cruz had five aces.

Lake Region 3, Mulberry 2

Highlights: Lake Region win, 21-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-21, 15-12. Cali Bowling led Lake Region with 17 kills, Brooklyn Gruner had 10 kills and Berkeley Gruner had eight kills.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk Preps week in review: Here are the highlights for cross country, volleyball