Class 1 Final Four Preview
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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…
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Continue ReadingAdvance 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. Alexis Hoffman Alexis Hoffman 5'11" | MB Advance | 2024 State MO , 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
Emma Eilers Emma Eilers 5'4" | OH Advance | 2026 State MO – 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
Alexis Hoffman Alexis Hoffman 5'11" | MB Advance | 2024 State MO -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 Natalie Hedlund Natalie Hedlund 5'11" | MB East Atchison | 2023 State MO carries the team offensively with 456 kills and could reach 1000 kills for her career at the final four.
Tarkio Starters:
Natalie Hedlund Natalie Hedlund 5'11" | MB East Atchison | 2023 State MO -2023 – Middle
456 kills and 350 digs, and 80 blocks
Lizzie Schlueter – 2025 – Middle
271 kills and 244 digs, and 75 blocks
Tommi Martin – 2024 – Outside
212 kills
Emilee Caudill Emilee Caudill 5'4" | DS/L Tarkio | 2023 State MO – 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 Emberlynn Kingsley Emberlynn Kingsley 6'2" | MB Miller | 2023 State MO with 410 kills.
Miller Starters:
Haylie Schnake Haylie Schnake 5'8" | OH Miller | 2023 State MO -2023 – Outside
334 kills and 271 digs
Emberlynn Kingsley Emberlynn Kingsley 6'2" | MB Miller | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Middle
410 kills and 65 kills
Ashlynn Helton Ashlynn Helton 5'6" | OH Miller | 2026 State MO – 2026 – Outside
144 kills and 221 digs
Addison Stockton Addison Stockton 5'3" | DS/L Miller | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Libero
540 digs
Alyssa Hill – 2023 – Outside
48 kills and 203 digs
Lillie Ricketts Lillie Ricketts 5'4" | S Miller | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Setter
157 digs and 764 assists
Winona Starters:
Nevaeh Malawey Nevaeh Malawey 5'8" | RS Winona | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Opposite
460 kills and 344 digs
Bailee Luttrell Bailee Luttrell 5'9" | MB Winona | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Middle
343 kills and 288 digs
Taylor Osborne Taylor Osborne 5'9" | MB Winona | 2023 State MO – 2023 – Middle
345 kills and 288 digs
Taylor Williams Taylor Williams 5'6" | DS/L Winona | 2026 State MO – 2024 – Outside
86 kills and 293 digs
Lexi Lindsey Lexi Lindsey 5'4" | S Winona | 2026 State MO – 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.