Marysville High School girls golf coach Sue Wyman sat in the Mill Creek Golf Club's clubhouse last Tuesday and was worried. As the Monarchs' five golfers made the turn at the Division I sectional tournament and checked in with Wyman, the scores got progressively worse.

No. 1 player Tess Fraser started off with good news when she shot a 1-over par 37 on the front nine. However, Fraser's score was followed with a 43 and three 49s.

"I was a little concerned," Wyman said. "I knew Jerome was not playing as well either so I figured it'd be tight."

Wyman was able to share her worries with Jerome coach C.D. Butcher. The Celtics also were struggling after nine holes.

Yet, in the end it was Jerome (352), Marysville (355) and Lancaster (369) which advanced to Tuesday's district tournament at Bent Tree. Fraser led Marysville with a 77, followed by Airaka Bernacchi with an 88 and Chelsey Wyman and Cassie Vandal each with a 95.

It is the third consecutive district tournament appearance for the Monarchs.

"We have improved our record each of the last two years," Wyman said. "The girls can do it again, and it'll help them achieve at the next level."

In 2007, Marysville finished ninth with a 390 as Pickerington North finished first at 337 and last season the Monarchs finished fifth (351) as the state qualifiers were Upper Arlington (330) and Watterson (331).

Once again, the district tournament is at Bent Tree, a course the Monarchs have gotten to know well during the past three years.

"It's an intriguing course," Wyman said. "It has deceiving holes. There is enough trouble within the range the girls are hitting. They have to think about their shots and they need to be accurate. It's a reasonably good course for the girls to play."

According to Wyman, the same two teams that came out of the Central District last season, Watterson and Upper Arlington, are the ones to beat Tuesday.

At a sectional tournament at Mental Memorial Golf Course last Tuesday, Watterson and UA tied for first at 320. Alex Brown and Allison Harper of Upper Arlington were medalists with a 74.

Marysville is looking for its first team appearance at the state tournament. The Monarchs' task has become more difficult in recent seasons as girls golf is now two divisions.

"They used to take three to the state tournament," Wyman said. "With fewer teams in each division they only take the top two. We talked about it as a team, if we don't get there as a team, they still need to play their best so they can move on as an individual."

•The volleyball team has won four of its last five matches as the Monarchs enter the final week of the regular season.

Marysville's recent victories pushed the Monarchs record to 7-12 overall and 5-7 in the OCC-Cardinal Division.

Marysville plays host to Westerville North on Tuesday, at Dublin Scioto on Thursday and plays host to Buckeye Valley on Saturday.

Coach Leslie Boey's goal for the final three matches is simple.

"We're hoping to win out," Boey said. "That would put us at 10-12. It's not the season we'd have, but a nice, strong finish would move us up in our conference to fourth."

An increase in confidence has helped lead to more wins. Marysville opened with five consecutive losses and that hurt the young team's confidence.

A lineup change in early September began the turnaround as freshman setter Hannah Stanley joined the varsity team.

"Each match, Hannah and the other girls get more and more comfortable," Boey said. "It's helped out our offense."

Also, the improved play of middle hitters Jessica Haas and Janelle Yunker has improved Marysville's defense.

"They are stepping up their blocking," Boey said. "I've harped on them all year to get blocks or touches on the ball to help out he defense. They've come alive and are not getting a lot of blocks, but touching the ball to slow them down and it's helped out defense tremendously."

Marysville's Morgan Westbrook heads upfield with Big Walnut's Jackie Mourne giving chase during a non-league game earlier this season. The girls soccer team plays Tuesday at Dublin Scioto.

At a glance

Below are recent results and coming schedule for the Marysville boys golf, boys soccer, cross country, girls golf, girls soccer, girls tennis and volleyball teams:

BOYS GOLF

Last Tuesday -- Finished fourth (331) at a Division I sectional tournament at Granville Golf Club. The top three, St. Charles (302), Mount Vernon (318) and Watkins Memorial (323), advanced to a district tournament.

BOYS SOCCER

Oct. 3 -- Tied Hilliard Bradley at 2

*Last Tuesday -- Lost to Westerville North 3-0

*Tuesday -- Home vs. Dublin Scioto

Thursday -- At Big Walnut

Of note: The Monarchs are 6-7-1 overall and are 2-4 in the OCC-Cardinal.

CROSS COUNTRY

Last Saturday -- Competed at Marion Harding Invitational

Saturday -- At Westerville North at OCC-Cardinal Championships

GIRLS GOLF

Last Tuesday -- Finished second (355) at a Division I sectional tournament at Mill Creek won by Dublin Jerome (352).

Tuesday -- At Bent Tree at a district tournament

GIRLS SOCCER

Oct. 3 -- Defeated Reynoldsburg 1-0

*Last Tuesday -- Lost to Westerville North 4-2

*Tuesday -- At Dublin Scioto

Of note: The Monarchs are 7-5-3 overall and are 1-4-1 in the OCC-Cardinal

GIRLS TENNIS

Oct. 1 -- Lost to Marion Harding 5-0

Oct. 3 -- Finished eighth (4) at OCC-Cardinal tournament won by Dublin Jerome (71)

Last Monday -- Lost to Delaware 4-1

Last Thursday, last Saturday -- Competed at Division I sectional

Of note: The Monarchs are 5-11.

VOLLEYBALL

*Oct. 1 -- Lost to Westerville Central 25-17, 25-17, 25-17

*Last Tuesday -- Def. Westerville South 19-25, 25-8, 25-11, 25-10

*Last Wednesday -- Def. Jerome 25-16, 16-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-9

*Tuesday -- Home vs. Westerville North

*Thursday -- At Dublin Scioto

Saturday -- Home vs. Buckeye Valley

Of note: The Monarchs are 7-12 overall and are 5-7in the OCC-Cardinal

*OCC-Cardinal contest