By DONN ADAMSON/Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Sunday, September 18, 2005
Updated: Sunday, September 18, 2005 12:16 AM CDT

POPLAR BLUFF - The Mineral Area College Lady Cardinals are on a roll after beating Florissant Valley earlier in the week, the Lady Cardinals demolished their competition in the Three Rivers Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The Lady Cardinals were perfect Friday night as they defeated an Bevill, Arkansas team 30-17, 30-24, and then beat State Fair 30-28, 30-25. On Saturday, MAC defeated the host team in two games, 30-24, 20-22.

Their next opponent Shawnee was the only team to push the Lady Cardinals to three games, but MAC made the comeback bid losing the first game 24-30, but taking the last two 30-21, 15-12. MAC then downed Wallace, Alabama, 30-14, 30-21.

The five straight wins gave the Lady Cardinals not only a 17-4 record but the tournament championship as well, a want-to for MAC coach Tim Copeland.

"I want to win that tournament," Copeland said on Wednesday after the Flo Valley game, and win it they did.

Cassidy Wisdom and Monika Jaroszewicz led in kills with 30 each, Tiara Boyer had 25 and Lora Dickey had 24. Both Boyer and Dickey had sat out most of Flo Valley's match earlier in the week due to injury.

Jennifer Gabrian had 141 assists, five for aces, seven blocks and 37 digs. Jessica Murdick made 59 digs in the tournament, Wisdom had 64 and Boyer made 38. Jaroszewicz served eight aces and Dickey made 14 blocks.

MAC will play next at Lakeland, Illinois on Tuesday.