Class 5 Final Four Preview
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This should be good! We have some of the best players and teams in the state on display this weekend in Class 5 at the Show Me Center. Any of these teams is more than capable of walking away with…
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Continue ReadingThis should be good! We have some of the best players and teams in the state on display this weekend in Class 5 at the Show Me Center. Any of these teams is more than capable of walking away with the top prize. Let’s see who our participants are at 10:00 am this Thursday.
Lafayette (Wildwood) (30-6) vs. Liberty North (30-5)
The Lancers enter winners of 19 straight to this semifinal match. They swept Jackson in their quarterfinal behind three players with double-digit kills led by Sophomore Maya Witherspoon Maya Witherspoon 5'11" | OH Lafayette | 2025 State #44 Nation MO ‘s 12 kills and Junior Allison Risley Allison Risley 5'11" | OH Lafayette | 2024 State #187 Nation MO ‘s 11. Junior Alyssa Nelson Alyssa Nelson 5'8" | S Wildwood | 2024 State MO dished out 32 assists in the contest. They own wins over the two other semifinal teams Kickapoo and St. Dominic. As a unit, the team hits at a .270 clip and averages over 45 digs per match. They are solid defensively, which allows their team to be efficient offensively.
Like Lafayette, Liberty North also holds wins over the teams in the other semifinal showdown. The Eagles are no strangers to the final four, winning the state title two years ago. They knocked off St. Teresa’s in four to punch their ticket. Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO is possibly the top player in the state and does so much offensively. Her touch point and court vision keep her in her bag. The defense of Abby Christian is top-tier. The setter combination of Abby’s sitter Emma Christian Emma Christian 5'8" | S Liberty North | 2025 State MO and Lauren Wright Lauren Wright 5'8" | S Liberty North | 2024 State MO has been stellar.
Prediction: These two teams faced off on October 8th in tournament action. Lafayette walked away with a 2 sets to none victory. In that match, Cisneros was held to 7 kills on a .200 hitting percentage. The Lancers hit over .300 for the match while holding the Eagles to .185. It’s hard to shut down this team twice and we believe Liberty North is on a mission after taking down Liberty and St. Teresa’s. We think they get it done in 5.
St. Dominic (25-10-3) vs. Kickapoo (30-8)
The Crusaders of St. Dominic come in winners of six straight after a sweep of St. Joseph’s Academy. They will look for Kayla Robertson Kayla Robertson 6'0" | MB St. Dominic | 2024 State MO to lead them to the promised land behind her 4 kills per set. Senior Anna Kohmetscher leads the team in kills with 341 kills. Sophomore Mandy Lawson Mandy Lawson 5'6" | DS/L St. Dominic | 2025 State MO has been dependable behind the block with 382 digs on the season. St. Dominic is also the only team in the field who made it in 2021.
Kickapoo shocked many by taking down favorite Rock Bridge in five sets in their quarterfinal dog fight. The trio of juniors of Bella Faria, Jenna Perryman, and Parker Papa combined for 42 of their team’s 66 kills. Kya Johnson paved the way defensively with 27 digs. Since its October 8th tournament that included losses to Lafayette, Liberty North, and St. James (KS), the Chiefs haven’t lost a match. They are clicking on all cylinders right now and playing with confidence.
Prediction: Kickapoo is playing really well right now and we think that faithful Saturday in October against tough competition put them back on track and they keep things going collecting one more win.