Class 1 Sectional Previews
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Holcomb 23-9-1 Vs. Clarkton 30-6 In the previous meeting, this season, Clarkton had little trouble with Holcomb winning 25-16, 25-7, 25-13. Montana Pearson Montana Pearson 5'7" | OH Clarkton | 2023 State MO led the Reindeer attack with 17 kills,…
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Continue ReadingHolcomb 23-9-1
Vs. Clarkton 30-6
In the previous meeting, this season, Clarkton had little trouble with Holcomb winning 25-16, 25-7, 25-13. Montana Pearson Montana Pearson 5'7" | OH Clarkton | 2023 State MO led the Reindeer attack with 17 kills, and Angel Johnson finished 8. Clarkton should have a repeat performance and take a 3-0 win.
Advance 22-10
Vs. St. Vincent 12-17-1
The Hornets took a 24-26, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 win a couple of weeks ago, and Alexis Hoffman Alexis Hoffman 5'11" | MB Advance | 2024 State MO would slam 24 kills to lead the Hornets. Kamille Graham would have ten kills in the losing effort for St. Vincent. Advance will take a 3-0 sweep.
Sacred Heart 29-6
Vs. Lesterville 26-8-1
This battle will be between big-time hitters Emma Siron Emma Siron 5'9" | OH Sacred Heart | 2023 State MO for the Gremlins and Reese Gray Reese Gray 5'8" | OH Lesterville | 2023 State MO for the Bearcats. Both have put down a lot of kills in their careers, with over 3500 between them. This matchup will come down to defense and limiting the role players because the big guns will get their kills. Sacred Heart has an almost four-hour drive to Lesterville. The only common aspect for these two teams in New Haven. Sacred Heart beat New Haven, New Haven split with Bunker, and Lesterville beat Bunker twice. Lesterville should have the home-court advantage and not have to travel four hours on a Thursday evening. Lesterville survives with a 3-2 nailbiter.
Winona 26-6-5
Vs. School of the Ozarks 24-10-1
School of the Ozarks hasn’t played the schedule Winona did this year and still has 10 losses. You have to look at the schedule with no common opponents on the year, and the Patriots have only beaten five teams with winning records. Winona has beaten 12 teams with winning records, and five of the six losses have been to teams with winning records. Winona has three big hitters in Nevaeh Malawey Nevaeh Malawey 5'8" | RS Winona | 2023 State MO , Bailee Luttrell, and Taylor Osborne, and freshman Lexi Lindsey Lexi Lindsey 5'4" | S Winona | 2026 State MO runs the high-power offense. This one will go to Winona in a 3-0 sweep.
Galena 32-4-1
Vs. Miller 28-4-2
When they locked up the second week of the season, Miller pounded Galena 25-17, 25-5. In the match, Kaesha Walter Kaesha Walter 5'7" | OH Galena | 2024 State MO held only to three kills out of the 419 total kills she has on the season. The defending state champions have a trio of hitters that leads the team in Haylie Schnake Haylie Schnake 5'8" | OH Miller | 2023 State MO , Ashlynn Helton Ashlynn Helton 5'6" | OH Miller | 2026 State MO , and Emberlynn Kingsley Emberlynn Kingsley 6'2" | MB Miller | 2023 State MO , who combined for 28 kills in the win over Galena. The senior leadership will guide Miller to a sweep again of Galena.
Jasper 25-8-3
Vs. Drexel 28-5
Drexel took a 25-8, 25-22, 25-18 win over Jasper this year. Olivia Shipps, Paige Gordon, and Emily Wheeler would finish with 27 of the team’s 28 kills in the win. Jasper’s Crystal Smith Crystal Smith 5'10" | MB Jasper | 2025 State MO put down 12 of the team’s 25 kills. Drexel is a senior-laden team, while Jasper is five sophomores. The Bobcats will prevail in a 3-0 sweep.
Osceola 15-17
Vs. Santa Fe 23-5-4
When it comes to Class 1 state playoffs, you always have Santa Fe in the mix for a final-four run. This year is no different. Both teams have beaten Adrian, Green Ridge, Midway, and Osceola but lost to Cole Camp and Warrensburg. Santa Fe has a tie with both Cole Camp and Warrensburg. 2025 Grace Colby leads Osceola with 192 kills, Shaelyn Ussery with 170, and Santa Fe has Kameron Dankenbring Kameron Dankenbring 5'9" | OH Santa Fe | 2024 State MO with 356 and Emma Michael Emma Michael 5'7" | MB Santa Fe | 2025 State MO with 191. Santa Fe moves on with a 3-0 win.
St. Joseph Christian 23-8
Vs. Tarkio 26-6
What’s the saying? Hard to beat a good team three times. The Lions hope that comes true for them, as they’ve lost to Tarkio twice, both 1-3. Tarko with another 3-1 win. Natalie Hedlund Natalie Hedlund 5'11" | MB East Atchison | 2023 State MO had 42 kills, Tommi Martin 17, and Lizzie Schlueter had 14 for Tarkio. A trio of juniors guides St. Joseph Christian, a great setter in Danika Wattenbarger Danika Wattenbarger 5'6" | S St. Joseph Christian | 2024 State MO , and hitters Ella DuBois and Jaci Jorgensen. This is Tarkio’s year to advance, and I don’t think the Lions have enough to stop Hedlund and company.