Class 5 District 3 Preview

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>With three teams in the district ranked in my top 10 all year long.  Lafayette has six state titles, two 2^nd place and one third-place finish in the program’s history.  St. Francis Borgia has 11 state titles, six 2^nd place, and four third-place finishes in the state tournament. Eureka’s only appearance at the state tournament was a championship win over Lafayette in 2018.  Francis Howell has a 2^nd place finish and two 4^th place finishes at state.  Washington has three 2^nd place, three 3^rd place, and four 4^th place finishes at state.  Do the math, and this district alone has 18 state championships, 11 2^nd place, eight 3^rd place, and six 4^th place trophies in 1 district.  If you have no place to be next week, St. Francis Borgia will be the place to be.  If you can’t attend in person, look for Borgia Athletics on YouTube and watch online.  It will be worth it. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ol> <li>Eureka 29-3</li> <li>Borgia 30-4</li> <li>Lafayette 30-4-1</li> <li>Francis Howell 16-14-4</li> <li>Washington 6-21-3</li> </ol> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Already the 4^th seed Francis Howell knocked off Washington in the quarterfinals to advance to take on Eureka. The other semifinal pits St. Francis Borgia, last year’s district winner over Lafayette 16-14 in the 5^th. </p> <p>Eureka the top seed virtue of beating Francis Howell 20-25, 25-13, 25-18, 22-25, 15-6 earlier in the year and has wins over Borgia 25-23, 25-23, 25-20, and Lafayette 29-27, 26-28, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10.</p> <p>Borgia received the 2^nd seed with wins over Lafayette 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 19-25, 16-14, and Francis Howell 25-21, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21.</p> <p>Lafayette took the 3^rd seed with a 25-10, 25-14 win over Francis Howell. </p> <p>Borgia has 11 seniors and has been to state the previous three years.</p> <p>Francis Howell starts two seniors and plays a couple of freshmen.</p> <p>Lafayette starts with one senior and two sophomores, and a freshman.</p> <p>Eureka starts with one senior and a couple of juniors, sophomores, and newcomers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Top Players to Watch</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="102446" first="Madison" last="Scheer"]</strong> (2022) | Eureka</p> <p>The Auburn recruit leads this team with 317 kills and is the star from the 2018 state championship team when she was a freshman.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="150048" first="Rylie" last="Cepicky"]</strong> (2024) | Eureka</p> <p>2^nd outside hitter spot goes to the 5’11 sophomore who’s currently 2^nd on the team in kills.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="123459" first="Mia" last="Berg"]</strong> (2023) |Eureka</p> <p>Team leader in blocks with 51 and 154 kills.  Nice transition off the net and mixes up her hits, and loves the tip to the four spots.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41802" first="Ella" last="Brinkmann"]</strong> (2022) | Borgia</p> <p>The high-flying four-year starter for the Knights wants to end her career in the state championship match, with 382 kills and 201 digs on the year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="150000" first="Caroline" last="Glastetter"]</strong> (2022) | Borgia</p> <p>Another outside high flyer for the Knights has 317 kills and 201 digs on the season.  She will be critical if Borgia wants to advance out of this district.</p> <p><strong>Kaitlyn Patke</strong> (2022) | Borgia</p> <p>The 6’1 middle blocker will be the critical player if the Knights want to get out of this district.  She can take over a game with her defense at the net and has 136 kills and 74 blocks. She needs a monster district if Borgia wants to advance to state for the 4^th straight year.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="124222" first="Allison" last="Risley"]</strong> (2024) |Lafayette</p> <p>Being a sophomore starting outside hitter for power, Lafayette doesn’t bother Risley.  2^nd on the team with 220 kills and 258 digs.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153929" first="Maya" last="Witherspoon"]</strong> (2025) | Lafayette</p> <p>One of my favorite players to watch this year; she plays above her age level and is a star in the making.  With 166 kills and 162 digs, this freshman will need to shine to get past this district.</p> <p><strong>Amber Wilt</strong> (2022) | Lafayette</p> <p>Senior starting middle will need to keep her young squad fired up, and she does it with defense—team leader in blocks with 70. She needs a big performance to shut down Borgia’s outsides to advance to the title match. </p> <p><strong>Isabelle Ehrlich</strong> (2022) | Francis Howell</p> <p>The big gun for the Vikings with 324 kills and 201 digs on the year and loves to rip the line shot.  She will need to get big production from Ehrlich to upset everyone to reach the state playoffs. </p> <p><strong>Olivia Benson</strong> (2023) | Francis Howell</p> <p>Don’t be fooled by the height of this kid at only 5’5.  She can flat out sky and has a whip for an arm.  She will be critical for the Vikings to get by the big blockers for Eureka. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <p><strong>Eureka will hold off Francis Howell in 4. Lafayette will get past Borgia in 4.  </strong></p> <p><strong>Winner: Lafayette will get the win over Eureka in 4.  </strong></p>