Class 1 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>1. Miller Cardinals 13-2 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending state champions are still the favorite to repeat in Class 1. The losses are to Fair Grove 17-25, 23-25, 13-25, and Strafford 17-25, 25-14, 13-25, 23-25. Emberlynn Kingsley leads the team with 84 kills, Haylie Schnake with 81 kills, and libero Addison Stockton paces the defense with 112 digs. I can't see Miller getting a challenge until they make the state playoffs in Class 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>2. Winona Wildcats 15-2-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats are on a tear this year with a big win over Lesterville 3-1 and received a monster game from Bailee Luttrell with 18 kills. A big weekend at the Perryville tournament should help see how good this team is with potential meetings with South Iron, Advance, and Lesterville. Right now, they are the 2^nd best team in Class 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>3. South Iron Panthers 12-4-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Iron won another big conference match against Lesterville 3-1. The Panthers would have big leads in each set and close it out in 4 to give them the nod in late October over the Bearcats in the districts. Lesterville beat South Iron 2-0 in the Dig for Life Tournament, and South Iron went into Lesterville and beat them on the home court. Perryville Tournament could see matchups with Advance, Winona, and Lesterville. [player_tooltip player_id='168914' first='Maddie' last='Ayers']'s defense and passing keep this team in every match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>4. Sacred Heart Gremlins 15-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gremlins went to Santa Fe this week and knocked off the Chiefs in 5 with the 5^th set 15-13. [player_tooltip player_id='152126' first='Emma' last='Siron'] would smash 33 kills on .492 hitting in the win. Win no losses to a Class 1 team and knocked off Santa Fe, who knocked out the Gremlins in the state playoffs last season. [player_tooltip player_id='152126' first='Emma' last='Siron'] has 262 kills for the season and is probably the best class 1 player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>5. Santa Fe Chiefs 10-3-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the five-set loss to Sacred Heart, the Chiefs drop a couple to the 5^th spot. In the loss, [player_tooltip player_id='170031' first='Kameron' last='Dankenbring'] finished with 34 kills, and that's the highest kill number by any class 1 player at this point in the season. Santa Fe shouldn't have any troubles the rest of the season until the playoffs start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>6. Bell City Cubs 17-2-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can only look at opponents they've played with no accurate info on the Cubs regarding stats. One impressive win was over Advance in 4. A big match against Gideon on 10/7 will better gauge the Cubs. I can't see them losing to anyone else from the remaining schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>7. Drexel Bobcats 11-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team should finish the year strong and be ready for the playoffs. The Bobcats lost to Lone Jack and Sherwood in 5 and avenged the loss to Lone Jack by beating them in the Drexel Tournament in 3. Emily Wheeler leads a trio of hitters with over 100+ kills, with 169. Paige Gordon adds 118 kills, and Olivia Shipps is next with 110 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>8. Lesterville Bearcats 14-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats started the year with a 13-1 but gone 1-2 in the last three games. Both losses come to district foe South Iron in 4 and then potential state playoff foe Winona 1-3. Big weekend at Perryville with potential rematches with South Iron, Winona, and Advance, who Lesterville beat 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>9. Advance Hornets 8-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hornets are in the Perryville Tournament, and it should be a big day to meet up with Winona, South Iron, or Lesterville. Lesterville took a 3-1 win over the Hornets already this year. In losing to the Bearcats, [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] led the team with 18 kills, and Addison Carlton finished with 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"textColor":"primary"} --> <p class="has-primary-color has-text-color"><strong>10. Gideon Bulldogs 16-6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs have lost six on the year, but those were to some excellent teams. Advance, Winona, Ste. Genevieve, Saxony Lutheran, Jefferson, and [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] Central. Kaylee Ashabranner leads the team with 332 kills, while Skyla Woodall adds 107 kills. A big matchup is coming up with Bernie and Bell City in the first week of October.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->