Class 1 Sectional Previews: District 1- 8 Winners

New Haven Shamrocks 18-11-2 vs. South Iron Lady Panthers 19-9-4   New Haven Shamrocks 18-11-2   Don't be fooled by the number of losses for the Shamrocks as they are the only Class 1 team in a conference with numerous Class 2, 3, and 4 teams. They are only lost to Leopold at the SEMO Dig for Life Tournament. They ran through the districts and 10 points was the most scored by a district foe. New Haven is a defensively sound team and a balanced offense with three players with 100+ kills. They did beat Portageville who beat South Iron.   Top Players:   Aubri Meyer – 2024 – 5'11” - Middle   254 kills, 43 blocks   Alayna Lagemann – 2025 – 5'10” - Middle   124 kills and 42 blocks   Megan Hoerstkamp – 2026 – 5'3” – Libero   271 digs   Liz Luecke – 2025 – Outside/Setter   307 assists and 72 kills   Common Opponents:   Bismarck  tied 1-1   Ellington  won 2-0   Portageville won 2-0   South Iron Lady Panthers 19-9-4   South Iron comes battle-tested having to hold off Bismarck in 5 to win districts. A balanced team with 4 players with 170+ kills. South Iron doesn't play the normal Class 1 schedule as they have no losses against Class 1 teams but do have a couple of ties with Class 1 teams. The one huge plus for South Iron is they can battle with the best Class 1 team Advance as they split with the defending champions 18-25, 25-23.   Top Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='205304' first='Emmy' last='Gayle'] – 2025 – 5'8” – Outside   326 kills and 318 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='174284' first='Lexie' last='Bollinger'] – 2025 – 5'9” – Outside   230 kills and 184 digs, 417 assists   [player_tooltip player_id='168908' first='Enzley' last='Dinkins'] – 2024 – 5'9” – Middle/Setter   278 kills and 453 assists   [player_tooltip player_id='168909' first='Anna' last='Parker'] – 2024 – 5'4” – Libero   1250 career digs   Common Opponents:   Bismarck won 3-2   Ellington tie 1-1   Portageville loss 0-2   Prediction: The winner of this match will most likely win the Quarterfinal to move on to the final four. South Iron was there two years ago while New Haven's last appearance was three years ago. Both teams played a rigorous schedule to prepare them for the playoffs. South Iron is more balanced on the offensive side of the ball. New Haven is a traditionally rich program that plays sound defense. South Iron will take the match 3-1 to take the next step for a return to the final four.   Summersville Wildcats 16-15-3 vs. Chadwick Lady Cardinals 13-16-2   Summersville Wildcats 16-15-3   The Wildcats did something that has been a long time coming. They would win districts by knocking off Winona 3-2 and then Eminence in the finals 3-0. Unfortunately, Summersville doesn't use MaxPreps for stats, and finding anything on them has been extremely difficult, but they have to be playing their best ball having knocked off Class 1 powers Winona and Eminence.   Top Players: Unknown   Common Opponents:   Bunker lost 1-3   Houston lost 1-3   Plato won 3-0   Salem won 2-0   Willow Springs lost 0-3   Chadwick Lady Cardinals 13-16-2   Chadwick walked through their district with 3-0 sweeps against Greenwood and Plato. Not the level of Summersville district. Chadwick did face Bunker and lost 15-25, 24-26, and only had 1 senior on the team.   Top Players:   Ralen Hume – 2025 – 5'6” – Outside   130 kills   Millie Burkhart – 2025 – 5'7” – Outside   81 kills   Common Opponents:   Bunker lost 0-2   Houston lost 0-2   Plato won 3-0   Salem tie 1-1   Willow Springs lost 0-2   Prediction: Summersville will keep its dream season alive by winning this one 3-1. With no player stats for Summersville, I'm going off them knocking off Winona and Eminence in a brutal district.   Holcomb Hornets 21-10-2 vs. Bell City Cubs 22-10-2   Holcomb Hornets 21-10-2   Holcomb won districts with sweeps of South Pemiscot and Southland. They lost both matches to Gideon and Clarkton which are common opponents for both squads. The Hornets are a young squad with only one senior in the starting lineup.   Top Players:   Landynn Hodges – 2026 – 5'8” – Middle   213 kills and 61 blocks   Chloe Hendrix – 2025 – 5'8” – Middle   198 kills and 365 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='234480' first='Maleigh' last='Lemings'] – 2024 – 5'7” – Outside   196 kills and 393 digs   Common Opponents:   Clarkton lost 1-3   Gideon lost 0-3   Risco won 3-0   Zalma won 3-0   Bell City Cubs 22-10-2   Bell City got the benefit of being moved out of the Advance district and into the Gideon and Clarkton district. Bell City won districts by beating Richland 3-0, Clarkton 3-1, and Gideon 3-0 and looking for redemption. This is the first district title since 2010 for the Cubs. When this one and they get a shot at defending Class 1 Champion Advance.   Top Players:   Eliana Bowling – 2024 – 5'10” – Middle   281 kills and 83 blocks   Maddie Asher – 2024 – 5'8” – Middle   277 kills   Madison Jines – 2024 – 5'7” – Setter   660 assists   Common Opponents:   Clarkton lost 0-2 and won 3-1   Gideon won 3-0   Risco won 3-0   Zalma won 2-0   Prediction: Holcomb probably is one season away from making a serious push in the playoffs. They start only one senior while Bell City starts six seniors. Bell City is seeking revenge in the playoffs this year but they can't get caught looking past Holcomb. Bell City is the more balanced team and will take the win 3-0.   Advance Hornets 31-3-3 vs. St. Vincent Lady Indians 14-13-3   Advance Hornets 31-3-3   The defending Class 1 champions are looking for their fifth title in the last six years. I'm not sure there is a Class 1 team that can even compete with the Hornets at this point.   Top Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] – 2024 – 6'1” – Middle/Setter   468 kills 397 assists and 75 blocks   Addison Carlton – 2025 – 5'3” – Outside   235 kills and 327 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'] – 2027 – 5'9” – Middle   135 kills and 56 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] – 2026 – 5'5” – Setter   554 assists and 181 digs   Common Opponents:   Several teams   South Iron tie 1-1   Valle Catholic tie 1-1   St. Vincent Indians 14-13-3   You look at St. Vincent's record and probably don't have positive thoughts but if you dive into the schedule you see it's a stacked schedule for the Class 1 team. They have won six of the last seven and knocked off St. Paul 3-1 and Oak Ridge 3-0 to win districts.   Top Players:   Emersyn Pitts – 2024 – 5'9” – Outside   262 kills and 152 digs   Alaina Cates – 2026 – 5'10” – Middle   51 blocks and 165 kills   Allison Bierk – 2025 – 5'2” – Libero   356 digs   Ava Layton – 2024 – 5'1” – Setter   359 assists   Common Opponents:   Several teams   South Iron tie 1-1   Valle Catholic lost 1-3   Prediction: Advance already has a 25-12, 25-13, 25-19 win over St. Vincent. Advance is one of the best defensive teams in Class 1 and has one of the best coaches in the state. Look for Advance to win this one 3-0 and get a rematch with Bell City who Advance beat for the district title in last year's run to the championship.

New Haven Shamrocks 18-11-2 vs. South Iron Lady Panthers 19-9-4