The Class 2A #11 ranked Pella Christian boys cross country team won their first meet of the season at the Lynnville-Sully Invite Thursday, while the #13 ranked girls squad took second place. The Eagles volleyball team was also back in action on Thursday going 2-2 at the Des Moines Christian Invitational.

At Lynnville-Sully, the Pella Christian boys cross country team and the hosts finished tied with 46 points, but PC claimed first place on a tiebreaker determined by the sixth race finisher from each team. Deacon Branderhorst led the way for the Eagle boys in the meet victory, taking fourth place in a time of 18:42.0. Clay Lauterbach (20:56.3) was the sixth Pella Christian runner across the lane in 67th place, and his finish bested Lynnville-Sully’s sixth runner’s 72nd place finish to win the meet. 

The Eagle girls, who rested four runners ahead of their next meet on Monday, posted 59 points and only finished behind the hosts’ 33 points. Hayley Rens took seventh place individually to lead the Pella Christian girls, finishing in a time of 22:49.3. Keilah Schiebout added a top 15 finish for the Eagles, claiming 15th (24:58.3). Find full results from the Lynnville-Sully Cross Country Invite here.

At the Des Moines Christian Invitational, the Eagles volleyball team picked up 2-0 sweeps over Southeast Warren (21-12, 21-15) and Des Moines Christian (22-20, 22-20). Pella Christian’s two loss on the night came to Class 4A #14 Knoxville (21-8, 14-21, 11-15), and 4A #4 Pella (19-21, 16-21). Chloe Huisman dished out 66 assists throughout the Eagles’ four matches on the night, while Brynn Roozeboom posted a team high 26 kills. Addison Bandstra added 18 kills and seven blocks on the night, and Faith Kacmarynski led the team in digs with 34. After splitting their four matches, the Eagles now hold an 11-6 record on the season.

The Pella Christian volleyball team gets tonight off before competing in the North Mahaska Invitational on Saturday at 8 am. Meanwhile, the Eagles cross country teams return to action on Monday, competing at the PCM Invite at Gateway Recreation Golf Course in Monroe.