Gibault and Waterloo are on the up and up at the end of the regular season as both volleyball squads  and other local teams set their sights on regional hardware.

The Hawks and Bulldogs both won three of four matches at the always competitive Freeburg Monster Mash tournament on Saturday. Gibault placed second and Waterloo placed third.

Gibault (23-10) won 25-6, 25-11 over Lovejoy, 25-15, 15-25, 16-14 over Mascoutah and 25-17, 22-25, 15-10 over Freeburg before falling to Nashville in the title match, 25-14, 22-25, 7-15.

Seniors Kayla Huels and Ashlyn Wightman were both named to the all-tournament team for the Hawks.

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Prior to the tourney, Gibault won 25-14, 25-16 against Marquette last Tuesday and 25-22, 25-8 against Chester on Thursday.

Ande Grohmann led the way with 12 points against Marquette; Abby Grohmann and Kelly Papenberg recorded seven kills each against Chester.

Gibault, which has won six of its past seven matches, played at Freeburg on Tuesday and will open Class 1A Marissa Regional play Oct. 30 against the winner of Christ Our Rock Lutheran vs. Lebanon.

Huels leads the team with 181 points and 586 assists. Wightman leads with 237 kills. Ally Thompson is the team’s top blocker with 74.

Waterloo (21-7-1) won 25-15, 25-20 against Greenville and 25-7, 25-15 against Okawville at the Freeburg tourney before falling 20-25, 25-21, 8-15 to Nashville. The Bulldogs ended the tourney with a 25-22, 25-23 win over Freeburg.

Jessie Seidel and Hailey Montgomery were both named to the all-tourney team for the Bulldogs.

Prior to the tourney, Waterloo won 21-25, 26-24, 25-18 against Mascoutah last Tuesday and 25-10, 25-20 over Triad on Thursday.

Paige Montgomery led the ‘Dogs with 11 points and nine kills against Triad.

Waterloo played at Highland on Tuesday and opens Class 3A Bethalto Regional play Oct. 29 against Civic Memorial.

Hailey Montgomery (137 points), Paige Montgomery (188 kills) and Kendra Walla (64 blocks) are among the statistical team leaders for the Bulldogs this season.

Columbia (18-12) lost 25-21, 25-20 to Freeburg last Tuesday and dropped a 25-18, 25-17 contest last Wednesday to East St. Louis.

The Eagles played at Collinsville on Tuesday and travel to Granite City on Thursday. Columbia opens Class 2A Wood River Regional play against the winner of Marquette vs. Wood River on Oct. 29.

Olivia Peterson leads the team this season with 142 kills and 70 blocks. Other team leaders include Macie Browne (163 points) and Paige Becker (381 assists).

A young Valmeyer squad continues to take its lumps.

The Pirates (5-22) lost 25-17, 25-22 to Red Bud last Tuesday, lost 21-25, 25-16, 17-25 to Dupo on Thursday and lost in two sets to Gibault on Monday.

Valmeyer hosted Steeleville for senior night on Tuesday and play at Lebanon on Thursday. The Pirates host Dupo Monday in a Class 1A Valmeyer Regional contest.

Markee Voelker, a freshman, leads the Pirates this season in points (93), kills (85) and digs (277).

Dupo (6-14) lost in three sets to Steeleville last Tuesday.

Team leaders for the Tigers this season include Sheridan Pipkens, Annalese Gill and Holly Wilson.