Saints seek perfect divisional slate

Tuesday night is coronation night for the Xavier Saints.Class 4A ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Xavier puts a wrap on its MVC Valley Division championship season Tuesday when it hosts No. 13 Dubuque Wahlert.The Saints (23-11 overall, 5-0 division) clinched the title last week with a win at Cedar Rapids Prairie, and carry a comfortable two-match lead over Wahlert (16-17, 3-2) and Cedar Falls (26-10, 3-2) heading into the final night of the MVC regular season.It is Xavier's first divisional title in school history.The Mississippi Division race almost assuredly will end in a title tie between Class 5A No. 3 Dubuque Hempstead (26-6, 4-1) and No. 4 Iowa City High (26-8, 4-1). Hempstead, which won the MVC tournament Saturday at Kennedy, is at Waterloo East (3-25, 0-5) while City High plays at Cedar Rapids Jefferson (4-25, 1-4).

POSTSEASON BEGINS IN 1A, 2AClass 1A regionals kick off Tuesday while the 2A postseason gets started Wednesday.No area teams are ranked in 1A, though Lisbon (21-11) was in the ratings most of the season. The Lions open at home Tuesday against East Buchanan (8-18).Belle Plaine has the best record among area teams at 19-8. The Plainsmen host Cedar Valley Christian (6-27).In 2A, the majority of the top teams drew first-round byes and don't play until next Tuesday's quarterfinals. Among the idle teams is No. 4 West Branch (33-4).The postseason path begins Monday in 3A, 4A and 5A.

BAD BREAK FOR GIBBS, COUGARSCascade's Allison Gibbs suffered a fracture in her lower leg during the Tri-Rivers Conference tournament Saturday at Arlington.The mishap happened during pool play. Gibbs led the Cougars (21-10) with 3.13 kills per set and a .381 kill efficiency.Edgewood-Colesburg won the tournament.