GAME OF THE WEEK (Sept. 29–Oct. 5)
SWC VOLLEYBALL: River Valley (18–10, 4–1 SWC) at Richland Center (20–4, 4–0 SWC, ranked 9th in Division 2), Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:15 p.m.
River Valley and league-leading Richland Center will finally square off tonight with first-place in the Southwest Wisconsin Conference on the line in this week's McDonald's Swnews4U.com Game of the Week. The team’s first meeting was postponed two weeks ago due to flooding in Richland Center.
The Blackhawks can force a tie for first-place with a win tonight, but the Hornets can put two games between themselves and Platteville with a victory. River Valley blew a two sets to none lead to Dodgeville last Tuesday night for its first conference loss of the season. The ninth-ranked Hornets were pushed to five sets at Platteville last Tuesday, but rallied to win the final two sets and escape with the win.
Junior middle hitter Morgan Rizner had 18 kills and a pair of blocks two nights later to lead Richland Center to an easy sweep of Prairie du Chien 25–10, 25–10, 25–6.
River Valley will host the Hornets on Saturday, Oct. 15 to close out the regular season.
PREP VOLLEYBALL: This week’s area games of note
SWAL
Cuba City (13–12–1, 6–1 SWAL) at Darlington (9–5–2, 4–3 SWAL), Monday, Oct. 3, 7:15 p.m.
Darlington will host the Cubans in a rematch of last week’s five-set battle at Cuba City. The Redbirds took the first two games then won the fifth 15–10 to end a 28-match losing streak to the Cubans. Not only had Darlington never beaten Cuba City since the two schools become conference foes in the old SWAL II in 2003, but the Redbirds had never even won a set against Cuba City until last Thursday night. Junior Kennedy Rankin had 20 kills and three blocks in the victory. She will need another bid night if Darlington hopes to knock of the Cubans once again.
Six Rivers West
Belmont (7–7–1, 4–3 SRW) at Potosi (9–7–1, 4–3 SRW), Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:15 p.m.
The Chieftains will host the Braves in a battle for third-place in the Six Rivers West. Potosi fell to 4–4 in league play with a 3–1 loss to Highland on Monday. Junior Abby Kaiser is the Chieftains’ go-to hitter, responsible for roughly 66 percent of Potosi’s offense this year. Senior middle hitter Caitlyn Gilbertson floored 22 kills and six blocks in the Braves’ five-set victory over Highland last Thursday.
PREP FOOTBALL: This week’s area games
SWC
Prairie du Chien (2–4, 0–2 SWC) at Lancaster (6–0, 2–0 SWC, ranked 3rd in D5, Friday, 7 p.m.
The third-ranked Flying Arrows will welcome the Blackhawks Friday night for this year’s Homecoming game. Junior Evan Gates is the clear bell cow in the Lancaster office with 1,166 yards and 18 touchdowns through six game. He rushed for 241 and four first-half TDs in last week’s 35–8 victory at Richland Center last Saturday.
Dodgeville (4–2, 1–1 SWC) at Platteville (5–1, 2–0 SWC), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Hillmen will host Dodgeville in Friday’s Homecoming tilt. Platteville can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Dodgers. Senior halfback Luke Fugate has scored seven touchdowns on 11 touches in the last two games. Last week he rushed for 99 yards and three scores on just seven carries in a 42–21 victory at Prairie du Chien. The Hillmen led 42–0 at the half. Dodgeville is coming off a 35–14 loss at River Valley.
River Valley (3–2, 1–1 SWC) at Richland Center (0–6, 0–2 SWC), Friday, 7 p.m.
SWAL
Fennimore (4–2, 3–1 SWAL) at Iowa–Grant (4–2, 3–0 SWAL), Friday 7 p.m.
Defense meets an all out aerial attack when Iowa–Grant hosts Fennimore in Friday’s Milk Can rivalry game Friday night. Iowa–Grant clinched a playoff berth with a 14–0 shutout of Mineral Point last Friday night. Junior linebacker Payton Simon made a pair of clutch tackles to spur a pair of Iowa–Grant goalline stands. Senior quarterback Jordan Williams completed all nine of his pass attempts for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns 62–0 at Southwestern.
Southwestern (1–5, 0–4 SWAL) at Darlington (6–0, 2–0 SWAL, ranked 2nd in D6), Friday, 7 p.m.
Cuba City (3–3, 2–1 SWAL) at Mineral Point (3–3, 0–3 SWAL), Friday, 7 p.m.
SIX RIVERS CONFERENCE
Belmont (0–6, 0–5 SRC) at Potosi (2–5, 2–4 SRC), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Braves are still looking for their first win after a 48–0 non-conference loss at to New Lisbon. The Chieftains are still looking for a playoff berth after scoring its first on-field win last week at Benton/Scales Mound. Potosi, which also collected a forfeit victory from Cassville in week two, can still make the playoffs with wins over Belmont and River Ridge (3–3) next week.
Pecatonica/Argyle (7–0, 5–0 SRC, ranked 4th in D6) at River Ridge (3–3, 3–2 SRC), 7 p.m.
Benton/Scales Mound (2–4, 2–4 SRC) defeats Cassville (0–6, 0–6 SRC) by forfeit.
Black Hawk (4–3, 4–2 SRC) at Highland (4–2, 4–1 SRC), Saturday, 2 p.m.
Non-Conference
Boscobel (1–5) at Seneca/Wauzeka–Steuben (5–1) Friday, 7 p.m.
Shullsburg (6–1) at Brookwood (3–3), Friday, 7 p.m.
PREP CROSS COUNTRY: 49TH ANNUAL PLATTEVILLE CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL, at UW–Platteville Veterans Memorial Park, Saturday, 9 a.m.
The 49th annual Platteville Cross Country Invitational will take place Saturday morning at the UW–Platteville Veterans Memorial Park. Twenty-seven of the finest prep cross country teams in Southwest Wisconsin will take part, including Fennimore, Darlington, Dodgeville/Mineral Point, River Valley, Cassville, Iowa–Grant/Highland, Sauk Prairie, McFarland, Boscobel, Albany, SouthwesternBenton/Cuba City, Lancaster, Monroe, Prairie du Chien, Lodi, Pecatonica/Argyle, Brodhead/Juda and Madison Edgewood. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 1.5-mile junior high race, followed by the high school races at 9 a.m. There will also be an open 5K for the public beginning at 11:30 a.m.
