Class 3 Day 1 Top Performers

Prep Dig Staff

November 4, 2022 @ 06:51 AM

Class 3 featured the defending champions Blair Oaks, Eldon, Pleasant Hill, and Ste. Genevieve. Blair Oaks shook off first-set jitters to knock off Eldon 25-22, 25-17, 25-17. The other semifinal was much more dramatic and saw the Pleasant Hill Chicks score 8 of the last 10 points to take a 25-20, 15-25, 18-25, 25-23, and 15-13 win to move onto the finals and take on Blair Oaks. Ste. Genevieve would beat Eldon for 3rd place 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, and 25-17.   [player_tooltip player_id='168899' first='Abygail' last='Widhalm'] – 2024 – Outside – Pleasant Hill   Widhalm is tall, athletic, and intelligent outside for the Chicks. She's a solid passer and defender and attacks well from the 10 ft line. She would finish with 15 kills on 66 attempts in the semifinal win. Not a significant percentage, but much of that had to do with Ste. Genevieve's nasty defense. Widhalm would also have 24 digs and four blocks to her stat line. If the Chicks want to win the title, she will need another solid defensive effort but a much better hitting percentage.   [player_tooltip player_id='243012' first='Shannon' last='Ruckman'] – 2023 – Libero – Pleasant Hill   Each time the Dragons would attack, it appeared the ball was going down in dove Ruckman for the save. In the crucial run in the 5th set Ruckman saved two balls with fantastic diving saves and gave her hitters the opportunity to score. Ruckman would lead day one dig totals for all classes with 37 in the semifinal win. She'll need another 30+ against the ball blasters from Blair Oaks.   [player_tooltip player_id='240831' first='Dru' last='Koetting'] – 2024 – Outside - Ste. Genevieve   Dru reached her 1000 career kill in the semifinal loss to Pleasant Hill and would finish the match with 19 kills and 11 digs. She would have a couple of big swings and a crucial tip that helped her team pull out the fourth set and send it to 5. Unfortunately, at the time of the article, no stats were published for the 3rd place match.   [player_tooltip player_id='124226' first='Autumn' last='Bax'] – 2024 – Opposite – Blair Oaks   You can't talk about Blair Oaks without talking about the lefty Bax. Already the school career kill leader, she would add 19 more in the win over Eldon. Bax would also add 15 digs and four blocks. The Falcons go as Bax goes, and if they are going to repeat, she will need to have a huge hitting performance at the bigger Pleasant Hill blockers.   [player_tooltip player_id='219766' first='Riley' last='Hays'] – 2025 – Middle – Pleasant Hill   Hays gave the Chicks a huge match with Ste. Genevieve and finished with a .478 hitting percentage with 12 kills on 23 attacks. Add in her 14 digs and four blocks, and numerous touches Hays didn't fade under the spotlight.

Class 3 featured the defending champions Blair Oaks, Eldon, Pleasant Hill, and Ste. Genevieve. Blair Oaks shook off first-set jitters to knock off Eldon 25-22, 25-17, 25-17. The other semifinal was much more dramatic and saw the Pleasant Hill Chicks score 8 of the last 10 points to take a 25-20, 15-25, 18-25, 25-23, and 15-13 win to move onto the finals and take on Blair Oaks. Ste. Genevieve would beat Eldon for 3^rd place 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, and 25-17.