Class 1 Final Four Preview

Advance Hornets 25-10   Vs. Tarkio Indians 28-6   No Common Opponents   Four hundred ninety miles separate the two schools, which will be the first meeting ever. Takio is making its first final four, while Advance is making its sixth appearance and looking for the School's fourth title. Advance won the sectional round against St. Vincent 25-20, 25-14, 25-15 and then knocked off Clarkton in the quarterfinals 25-16, 25-16, 13-25, 25-21. Advance relies on the middle for the majority of the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'], a 6'2" middle for the Hornets, leads the team in kills with 498 and blocks with 72.   Advance Starters:   Addison Carlton -2025 -  Outside   221 kills and 303 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='237006' first='Emma' last='Eilers'] – 2026 – Outside   146 kills and 305 digs   Kaylee Cline -2024 – Opposite   100 kills and 221 digs   K Hitt -2026 – Setter   103 digs and 528 assists   [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] -2024 – Middle/Setter   397 assists, 498 kills, and 72 blocks   Abigail Kennedy -2024 – Middle   198 kills   Tarkio's first appearance in the final four started the playoffs with a sectional win over St. Joseph Christian 25-14, 25-27, 25-18, and 25-16. Next up was a battle with Class 1 power Santa Fe which they would take the win 25-23, 25-11, 16-25, 21-25, and 16-14. Athletic [player_tooltip player_id='237003' first='Natalie' last='Hedlund'] carries the team offensively with 456 kills and could reach 1000 kills for her career at the final four.   Tarkio Starters:   [player_tooltip player_id='237003' first='Natalie' last='Hedlund'] -2023 – Middle    456 kills and 350 digs, and 80 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='737692' first='Lizzie' last='Schlueter'] – 2025 – Middle   271 kills and 244 digs, and 75 blocks   Tommi Martin – 2024 – Outside   212 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='240830' first='Emilee' last='Caudill'] – 2023 – Libero   477 digs   Claire Martin – 2024 – Setter   1018 assists and 368 digs   Alexis Gibler -2023 – Outside   168 kills and 113 digs   Projection: This matchup of a veteran squad Tarkio against the kiddie corps from Advance. Advance has a dominating middle that's been hard to stop for class 1 teams. Tarkio has a quick middle that will hit anywhere and anytime. Who will get more production from the role players, and who can keep a level head? Advance juniors were on the bench as freshmen when the Hornets won their last title. Tarkio is new to the final four, so can they keep calm under pressure? I see this as an up-and-down momentum game for both teams, with Tarkio pulling out another 5-set win to advance to their first championship match.   Miller Cardinals 30-4-2   Vs. Winona Wildcats 28-6-5   Winona is making its 15th trip to the final four and looking for the program's sixth state championship. Miller is on the third trip to the final four and is looking to repeat after winning the Class 1 title last year.   Common Opponents   Liberty Mountian View- Both teams split with Mtn. View Liberty   Salem – Winona swept 3-0, and Miller lost 1-2   Defending Class 1 champions, Miller is returning looking for a repeat. In Sectionals, Miller knocked off Galena 25-8, 25-16, and 25-12 to advance to the quarterfinals. Drexel was the next victim, and Miller took a 25-20, 25-22, 25-13 win to return to the final four. Miller relies on 6'2" middle [player_tooltip player_id='234469' first='Emberlynn' last='Kingsley'] with 410 kills.   Miller Starters:   [player_tooltip player_id='234470' first='Haylie' last='Schnake'] -2023 – Outside   334 kills and 271 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='234469' first='Emberlynn' last='Kingsley'] – 2023 – Middle   410 kills and 65 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='237008' first='Ashlynn' last='Helton'] – 2026 – Outside   144 kills and 221 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='234471' first='Addison' last='Stockton'] – 2023 – Libero   540 digs   Alyssa Hill – 2023 – Outside   48 kills and 203 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='234472' first='Lillie' last='Ricketts'] – 2023 – Setter   157 digs and 764 assists   Winona Starters:   [player_tooltip player_id='152145' first='Nevaeh' last='Malawey'] – 2023 – Opposite   460 kills and 344 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='240829' first='Bailee' last='Luttrell'] – 2023 – Middle   343 kills and 288 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='240828' first='Taylor' last='Osborne'] – 2023 – Middle   345 kills and 288 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='237001' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] – 2024 – Outside   86 kills and 293 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='232323' first='Lexi' last='Lindsey'] – 2026 – Setter   299 digs and 1115 assists   Rylin Miley – 2025 – Outside   28 kills and 72 digs   Class 1 power Winona has returned to the final four after a five-year hiatus. In the Sectional round, Winona would rock School of the Ozarks 25-17, 25-12, 25-4, and in the quarterfinals, they would meet up with another Class 1 power Lesterville and hold on for the 28-30, 25-18, 25-18, 25-22 win to make a return to the final four. Winona relies on three hitters to do the damage at the net.   Projection: Miller had a more leisurely trip back to the final four than Winona. Winona has three big attackers, while Miller relies more on two. Winona played a more grueling schedule and did knock off common opponent Salem 3-0, while Miller split with Salem. Winona runs a quicker-paced offense but struggles defensively, while Miller is a more defensive-type team. Winona will get the edge with the trio of attackers and pulls out another five-set win to advance to the state Championship.

Advance Hornets 25-10