Class 5 Cor Jesu and Francis Howell Central Quarterfinal

Marquette Mustangs 28-7-2 @ Cor Jesu Academy Chargers 20-5-3 This will be the quarterfinal I attend, and I think it will be the better quarterfinals in the area. The Chargers just swept Marquette two weeks ago 25-21, 25-12, 26-24. That night, Cor Jesu won just about every aspect of the game, getting 42 kills to 32, 15 blocks to 11, and 41 assists to 30. Cor Jesu had a balanced attack with four players getting at least seven kills. Marquette is coming off a huge sectional win over Lafayette 17-15 in the 5th set. Marquette stormed back from down 23-17 in the first set to win 25-23. Cor Jesu is hot right now with 14 straight wins. Marquette just beat Lafayette; need I say more? Both teams have big-time bangers and tremendous defense. The match will come down to the serving game, which I think will go to the Chargers. Lafayette has beaten both teams, but Marquette got revenge when it mattered most. Cor Jesu tied and then swept Lafayette 32-30, 25-23, 26-24.   Top Prospects Jacqueline Beville (2022) | Cor Jesu Another aspect of the Chargers game will be winning the battle on the right side. Edge goes to Cor Jesu! This year, the lefty leads the team in kills with 171 and is a force when she is on fire. Gretchen Olsen (2022) | Cor Jesu The middle hitter wasn’t someone that I was expecting to have one of the better seasons for her team, but she has turned it on. With 60 blocks on the year, it will be interesting to see the middle match-up with Marquette. [player_tooltip player_id="118888" first="Maddie" last="Hoffman"] (2022) | Cor Jesu This little dynamo is one of my favorite libero’s I’ve watched this season, and she commands the back row and does it with authority. If she can pass it, let her pass it! Maya Esparza (2022) | Marquette Here’s a kid that I feel is overshadowed on the Mustangs team but does a lot. The team leader was in blocks with 70 and 154 kills. Athletic and quick. Mallory Sell (2022) | Marquette The future Missouri Tiger missed most of last year with a knee surgery but is back this year putting up solid numbers. 2nd on the team in blocks with 64 and 1st in kills 189. She can take over a game when she’s zoned it, and I think she will be in the zone on Saturday. Ella Keevan (2025) | Marquette Big game for the freshman setter, but she’s proven worthy of playing in big games. Watch for those setter dumps, but it will be vital for her to get her hitters more one-on-one opportunities if they want to come out with a W.   Common Opponents: Cor Jesu 7-1-1 Marquette 4-3-2   Head to Head: Cor Jesu 25-21, 25-12, 26-24   Prediction: Both teams are playing their best ball at this point and doing it at the right time. My keys for the game will be if Marquette can win the battle of the middles, Cor Jesu wins the passing and defensive game, or will it come down to who can stay composed come crunch time. Cor Jesu wins the battle in 4 hotly contested games.     St. Dominic 19-8-3 @ Francis Howell Central 20-8-3 The Spartans are playing host to the team that is currently 5-0 in sets played against them this year St. Dominic Crusaders. Experienced team that finished 4th last year against a kiddie corp of talent. The two games played were won by St. Dominic 25-8, 25-17 and 25-21, 25-16, 25-17. The outside hitters won those games for St. Dominic. The Spartans have tough freshman and sophomore hitters leading the youthful attack. St. Dominic is looking for a better finish this year than 4th, and the Spartans want to return to the final four after getting upset last year.   Top Prospects [player_tooltip player_id="123471" first="Emma" last="Blaine"] (2023) | St. Dominic Third on the team in kills with 212 and leader with 104 blocks. The advantage for the Crusaders; they have two very solid middles that do a lot of damage defensively or help hold the block, so the big outside is one-on-one. Blaine can slam it but is known for her monster blocks. [player_tooltip player_id="119185" first="Breanna" last="Schreimann"] (2022) | St. Dominic Warning! Missile launching in 3. 2. 1 is what her teammates should be saying, then the ball goes outside. She might be only 5’8, but she can jump out of the gym, and her arm is deadly. Outside hitter advantage goes to St. Dominic. Mikayla Robertson (2024) | St. Dominic Part of the middle tandem that gives the edge to the Crusaders is the 5’11 long and athletic middle to complement [player_tooltip player_id="123471" first="Emma" last="Blaine"]. 2nd on the team kills with 233 and is used more for her offensive game than her counterpart. [player_tooltip player_id="153933" first="Jordan" last="Smith"] (2025) | FH Central Advantage Spartans when it comes to fancy freshmen in this match. The 6’2 right-side hitter leads her team in kills with 320 and puts up a massive block on the right. Watch for her to have a big game if the Spartans want the win. LaShae Pearson (2024) | FH Central Part of the kiddie corps for the Spartans is third on the team in kills with 220. The 5’11 outside hitter will need to carry a heavy kill load to help her team pull out the upset. Faith Rekosh (2023) | FH Central Another underclassman that will be a significant player on the outside for the Spartans and will need a considerable effort to help get a win—2nd on the team in kills and digs.   Common Opponents: St. Dominic 7-2-1 Francis Howell Central 7-2-1   Head to Head: St. Dominic won both meetings.   Prediction: St. Dominic lost to St. Joseph’s Academy 1-3 while Francis Howell Central dramatically beat them 3-2 to win districts. St. Dominic has the edge on the outside, middle, and setter positions, but Francis Howell Central has the right-side advantage. I think Francis Howell Central is a year away from being a final four-bound team, so my pick is for St. Dominic to take it in 4 but not without drama.