Class 1 Final Four Preview

South Iron Panthers 26-8-1 vs. Gideon Bulldogs 31-1-1 In the last meeting back on September 11th at the Dig for Life Tournament at SEMO, the Bulldogs came out with a 25-22, 25-15 win over the Panthers in pool play. Gideon would go on to lose to Rock Bridge in the tournament and suffer the only defeat. Since that weekend, Gideon hasn’t been challenged by any other team. In the Dig for Life Tournament, South Iron would suffer half their season losses, going 3-4 but only lost to Ellington, North County, and Winona. South Iron has the tougher schedule and knocked off last year’s runner-up in the district finals 15-10 in the 5th set and got revenge on Winona in Sectionals, a team that beat South Iron 2 weeks prior 3-0. Gideon knocked off three-time defending state champions Advance in the quarterfinals 3-0. Common Opponents: Northwest Gideon won 25-18, 23-25, 15-14 South Iron lost 24-25, 23-25 and 17-25, 21-25 Cape Notre Dame Gideon won 25-23, 14-25 South Iron lost 23-25, 22-25 Twin Rivers Gideon won 25-15, 25-16, 25-6 South Iron won 25-12, 25-16 Gideon Bulldogs 31-1-1 Haley Stover (2022) 240 kills and 266 digs Hope Raymond (2022) 179 kills and 269 digs Faith Raymond (2022) 169 kills and 222 digs Malerie Sharp (2022) 211 digs and 915 assists Kaylee Ashabranner (2023) 236 kills and 261 digs Kaitlyn Clenney (2022) 262 kills and 214 digs South Iron Panthers 26-8-1 Maddie Ayers (2023) 394 kills and 454 digs Anna Parker (2024) 301 digs and 301 digs Drew Gayle (2023) 378 kills and 600 assists Megan Lashley (2022) 258 kills and 390 digs Enzley Dinkins (2024) 200 kills and 436 assists Lexie Bollinger (2025) 37 kills South Iron has knocked off 20 teams win winning records this year and five teams that won districts. South Iron had to survive a district semifinal against Bunker (23-11-1) 25-22, 25-19, and 28-26 and Lesterville (23-8-4) in the finals 18-25, 19-25, 25-17, 29-27, 15-10. In sectionals, they knocked off Winona (29-10) 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-12, and Blue Eye (20-7-2) in the quarterfinals 25-20, 25-20 25-15.   Gideon has knocked off 25 teams to win winning records and eight teams that won districts. Gideon knocked off Risco (21-8-1) 25-10, 25-17, 25-13 in the district semifinals and Clarkton (26-9) 25-12, 25-21, 25-14 in the district championship. Sectionals was an easy win over Southland (12-9-3) 25-6, 25-11, 25-11. Prediction: South Iron played a stronger schedule than Gideon. The last time these two meet, Gideon won the serve receive, assists, digs, kills, and aces while South Iron out blocked Gideon. A different time than the previous meeting, and South Iron played the best ball and was battle-tested in districts and sectionals. South Iron wins in 5. Miller Cardinals 32-3-1 vs. Santa Fe Lady Cheifs 25-0 Semifinal 2 should be just as good as the 1st semifinal and features two better Class 1 players. Miller has a firecracker setter in Alli Mitchell that makes them go, and Santa Fe has outside slugger [player_tooltip player_id="119196" first="Isabella" last="Limback"]. Miller lost to Class 3 semifinalist Strafford 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 24-26, 5-15, Carl Junction 22-25, 12-25, 25-14, 14-25 and Republic 22-25, 22-25. Santa Fe hasn’t lost but hasn’t played the schedule Miller has either. Miller Cardinals 32-3-1 Haylie Schnake (2023) 219 kills and 147 digs Emberlynn Kingsley (2023) 220 kills [player_tooltip player_id="119212" first="Kaylee" last="Helton"] (2022) 260 kills and 282 digs Ashten Kingsley (2022) 155 kills and 54 blocks Claudia Hadlock (2022) 36 kills and 358 digs Alli Mitchell (2022) 831 assists and 2000 career assists Santa Fe Lady Cheifs 25-0 Cassie Aversman (2023) 57 kills and 128 digs [player_tooltip player_id="119196" first="Isabella" last="Limback"] (2022) 397 kills and 244 digs Ava Schmidt (2024) 71 kills and 126 digs Brooke Schreiman (2022) 73 kills Kameron Dankenbring (2024) 179 kills and 167 digs Emma Michael (2025) 43 kills Common Opponent: Midway Miller beat Midway in the quarterfinals 25-11, 25-12, 25-14. Santa Fe beat Midway 25-17, 25-14, 25-21 Prediction: If Miller can contain the other players and limit the kills Limback averages, the Cardinals will cruise into the Championship, but Limback is hard to contain. If Santa Fe can get help from someone besides Limback and Dankenbring, it could be a battle. Limback will get her kills, but Miller is way more balanced offensively, a fantastic setter, and better defensively. Miller older more experienced team and after last season should remember what it was like losing a tough semifinal. Plus, they are out for revenge after taking third in Class 2. Miller wins it 3-0!