Class 4 and 5 Quarterfinal Previews

Class 5 Quarterfinals 1 and 2 Preview   Quarterfinal 1   Jackson 31-4-4   Vs. Lafayette 29-6   Common Opponents:   Incarnate Word   Lindbergh   Marquette   Oakville   St. Dominic   Each year playoffs come around, and these two are in the mix. Lafayette is the dynasty in Class 5, and Jackson is looking for the school's first trip to the final four in volleyball. Lafayette will take the match 3-0 and return to the final four after a couple of years' hiatus.   Jackson Indians were 0-2-3 against common opponents; the longest winning streak was eight games.   Lost to Oakville, Pattonville, Incarnate Word- twice     Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='168036' first='Katherine' last='St. John'] -2025 – Outside – 6'1"   393 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='124849' first='Nadia' last='Wasilewski'] – 2024 – Middle – 6'1”   235 kills, 82 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='170028' first='Ella' last='Domian'] – 2024 – Opposite – 5'10”   264 kills, 54 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='195381' first='Holland' last='Guilliams'] -2024 – Libero -5'5”   386 digs   Kamryn Link -2023 – Setter – 5'10"   694 assists   Lafayette Lancers 5-0 against common opponents. 18-game winning streak with wins over Eureka, Liberty, Liberty North, Kickapoo, and St. James Academy, KS.   Lancers went on a four-game losing streak in September with losses to St. Teresa's Academy, Skutt Catholic, NE, St. Thomas Aquinas, KS, and Eureka.     Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='153929' first='Maya' last='Witherspoon'] – 2025 – Outside – 5'11"   289 kills and 163 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='123472' first='Caitlyn' last='Little'] -2023 – Outside -5'10"   286 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='124222' first='Allison' last='Risley'] -2024 – Outisdie – 5'10”   242 kills and 264 digs   Madi Hartman -2024 – Libero – 5'8”   285 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='124219' first='Alyssa' last='Nelson'] -2024 – Setter – 5'8"   232 digs and 829 assists   Quarterfinal 2   St. Joseph's Academy 17-9   Vs. St. Dominic 23-10-3   Common Opponents:   Cor Jesu Academy   Eureka   Francis Howell Central   Francis Howell   Incarnate Word Academy   Lafayette   Lutheran St. Charles   Marquette   Once again, we have St. Dominic seeking another trip to the final four, and St. Joseph's Academy is standing in the way. The previous meeting went to the Angels with a 30-28, 25-17, 25-23 win. The Angels have hit their stride as of late and already have a sweep of the Crusaders. Look for St. Joseph's to take this one in a 3-1 win to advance to the final four.   St. Joseph's Academy went 5-3 in common opponents with losses to Eureka, Francis Howell, and Lafayette. They had a six-game losing streak in September and since have gone 13-1 and playing their best ball. I can attest that they are looking like a final four contender and have one of the best 2024 players in the nation.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='124216' first='Claire' last='Morrissey'] – 2024 – Outside – 6'1”   228 kills and 169 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='102552' first='Madison' last='Smith'] – 2023 – Libero – 5'7"   272 digs   Anna Duncan – 2023 – Outside  – 5-11   228 digs and 41 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='174403' first='Zoe' last='Baliva'] -2025 – Outside – 6'1"   118 kills and 24 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='207583' first='Kayla' last='Jansen']   88 kills and 65 blocks   St. Dominic Crusaders are seeking their third straight trip to the final four. Knocked off Cor Jesu Academy and Rock Bridge on back-to-back nights in 5 set matches. Common opponents, the Crusaders went 3-4-1 and had a winning streak of 5 twice during the season.   Key Players:   Anna Kohmetscher -2023 – Outside -5'8”   341 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='168903' first='Kayla' last='Robertson'] – 2024 – Outside – 6'1"   332 kills   Mary Kate Mulvaney – 2023 - Setter   152 kills, 221 digs, 710 assists   [player_tooltip player_id='174406' first='Brytn' last='Lyon'] -2026 – Setter - 2026   147 kills, 64 blocks, 249 assists   Class 4 Quarterfinals 1 and 2 Preview   Quarterfinal 1   Westminster Christian Wildcats 29-2-5   Vs. St. Pius X Lancers 23-3   Common Opponents:   Boliver   Incarnate Word Academy   Jefferson City   Lutheran South   Rosati-Kain   Visitation Academy   The defending Class 4 state champions are back on track for a repeat. Westminster is a senior-laden team, while St. Pius relies on their outstanding youth. They went 5-0-1 with the common opponents and 11 game winning streak. They lost to Parkway West and Ursuline Academy and redeemed by knocking off Parkway West in the district finals. I look for Westminster to move on to the final four with a 3-2 win.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='152141' first='Emma' last='Fairchild'] – 2023 – Outside – 5'11"   301 kills and 38 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='171209' first='Alli' last='Bishop'] – 2023 – Opposite – 6'1"   268 kills and 43 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='123657' first='Abigail' last='Siess'] – 2023 – Outside – 5'9"   [player_tooltip player_id='152125' first='Shelby' last='Truitt'] – 2023 – Outside – 5'10"   235 kills and 290 digs   190 kills and 227 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='152147' first='Avery' last='Stanfill'] – 2023 – Libero – 5'7"   337 digs   St. Pius X will seek its first final four since 2019 with a core of young and talented players. With the common opponents, the Lancers would go 5-1, and they started the year on a 10-game winning streak and have lost to Farmington, Eureka, and Visitation. The Lancers would win the district championship over Farmington 3-1.   Key Players:   Hannah Burch – 2023 – Opposite – 5'11"   161 kills and 143 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='207277' first='Karlie' last='Lane'] – 2024 – Libero – 5'6”   295 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='221230' first='Bennett' last='Raterman'] -2026 – Middle – 6'3"   300 kills and 46 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='221231' first='Elena' last='Ruble'] – 2026 – Setter – 5'7"   781 assists and 147 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='168037' first='Hannah' last='Leftridge'] – 2025 – Outside – 5'10"   307 kills and 261 digs     Quarterfinal 2   Incarnate Word Academy 27-12   Vs. Parkway Central 22-13-1   The Word is an 11-time state champion, making its first trip since 2017. Parkway Central is looking for the school's 1st final four trips in history. This will be the 1st matchup for the two, and I see the Red Knights taking a sweep to move on to the final four.   Common Opponents:   Clayton   Kirkwood   Ladue   Lafayette   Lutheran South   Nerinx Hall   Oakville   Parkway West   Pattonville   Summit   Villa Duchesne   Visitation   Incarnate Word went 9-4 against the common foes with wins over Lutheran South, Summit, and Visitation, while those were losses for Parkway Central. IWA is 16-2 in the last 18.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='169895' first='Tara' last='Greenberry'] – 2025 – Middle – 6'3"   450 kills and 72 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='124225' first='Sammi' last='Bergjans'] – 2024 – Setter – 5'9”   41 blocks and 1087 assists   [player_tooltip player_id='169896' first='Ellie' last='Witthaus'] – 2025 – Outside – 5'8"   324 kills   Allie Fuchs – 2025 – Libero – 5'5”   517 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='235705' first='Abby' last='Freund'] – 2024 – DS – 5'6”   466 digs   Parkway Central went 5-8 with the common opponents and 5-5 in the last 10.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='216463' first='Brooke' last='Hemmen'] – 2024 – Outside – 5-10"   364 kills and 237 digs   Keri Piepho – 2025 – Outside -5'9"   309 kills, 227 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='220387' first='Rachel' last='Ladd'] -2023 – Setter – 5'9”   102 kills, 265 digs, and 772 assists   Josie Robinson -2023 – Libero   340 digs

Class 5 Quarterfinals 1 and 2 Preview