Class 3 Sectional 1, 2, 3, 4 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Saxony Lutheran Crusaders 24-7-2 vs. Valle Catholic Warriors 26-7-2</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saxony Lutheran Crusaders 24-7-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saxony was 2 points away from a trip to the final four in Class 2 last year and lost to eventual champion Jefferson. This year they've been bumped up to Class 3 and still made the playoffs. To reach the Sectional round they knocked off Fredericktown 3-2 and Notre Dame 3-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Ozark – 2024 – 5'9” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>330 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='240203' first='Clara' last='Brune'] – 2024 – 5'9” – Opposite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>276 kills and 57 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camille Richey – 2025 – 5'5” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>377 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='230387' first='Isabel' last='Brown'] – 2025 – 5'6” – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>247 digs and 523 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindbergh lost 0-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] won 3-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valle Catholic Warriors 26-7-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valle started as a Class 1 team and now with the multiplier they have been moved to Class 3. They have one of the best coaches in state history with over 800 wins. They reached the playoffs by winning their district over Potosi 3-1 and then knocked off #1 seed Central [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] 3-0. They previously lost to Central three times during the season. Making the district championship that much more special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='168910' first='Ade' last='Weiler'] – 2024 – 5'5” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>300 kills and 490 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195376' first='Makayla' last='Joggerst'] – 2024 – 5'4” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>267 kills and 377 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Addi Donze – 2025 – 5'5” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>415 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='737615' first='Abree' last='Zipprich'] – 2025 – 5'8” – Middle/Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>165 kills and 518 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindbergh won 2-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] won 2-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> They have played each other twice this season with both taking a win with Saxony winning the most recent game on September 14^th. Valle has the edge in defense and Saxony has the edge at the net. Both teams are tough and this one could go the distance. The one edge Valle has is a tradition of winning pressure games. Valle moves on with a 3-2 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Ursuline Academy Bears 13-13 vs. Cardinal Ritter Lions 8-15</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ursuline Academy Bears 13-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams play in tough conferences, but Ursuline has the edge because of who they play during the season. Ursuline is young but talented while Cardinal Ritter doesn't play a tough schedule and only beat three teams with winning records.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207581' first='Jillian' last='Raterman'] – 2026 – 5'11” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>165 kills and 161 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224817' first='Elizabeth' last='Koenig'] -2026 – 5'8” – Outside/Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>135 kills and 256 asssits</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mikayla Ziemianski – 2024 – 5'10” – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>107 kills and 24 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame won 3-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosati-Kain won 3-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cardinal Ritter Lions 8-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions have only a roster listed but do not enter stats in either Maxpreps or STLToday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame lost 0-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosati-Kain lost 0-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>This will be a cakewalk for Ursuline and a good chance for the coach to play his subs. Ursuline wins easily in 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Clayton Greyhounds 16-9-1 vs. Orchard Farm Eagles 11-7-4</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clayton Greyhounds 16-9-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched the Greyhounds play two games in districts and now they have their best player they are looking tough. Won districts in three sweeps of Normandy, Lutheran North, and MICDS.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caidyn Tate – 2024 – 5'11” – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>185 kills and 50 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Julia Mann – 2025 – 5'8” – Opposite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>156 kills and 30 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='174404' first='Hannah' last='Taylor'] – 2024 – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>87 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong> None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orchard Farm Eagles 11-7-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. They won districts with a 3-1 win over St. Charles West and then beat Winfield 3-0 for the title. Several incomplete stats and rosters on the main platforms.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='774881' first='JaKai' last='Robinson'] – 2026 – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>138 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Victoria Papa – 2024 – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>78 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olivia Hart – 2024 - Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>221 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Now that [player_tooltip player_id='174404' first='Hannah' last='Taylor'] is back for Clayton they are a completely different team. She is a force on the outside and makes the team so much better defensively. Clayton thumps Orchard Farm 3-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Fulton Hornets 21-7-4 vs. Blair Oaks Falcons 27-5-1</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fulton Hornets 21-7-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time Fulton won districts was in 2012 and that was the last of four straight district titles. Since then they've had two winning seasons. This year and last year. The reason for the turnaround is the coach who has won district titles with three different schools in the last eight years. Won districts with a 3-0 win over Hallsville and then Centralia 3-1 for the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227069' first='Mariah' last='Reed'] – 2024 – 5'10” – Middle &nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>390 kills and 249 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mackenzie Wilson – 2024 – 5'7” – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>319 kills and 281 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='737728' first='Emily' last='Elias'] – 2025 – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>508 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Estella VanShankhof – 2026 – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>870 assists and 131 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9 teams and Fulton went 3-4 -2 against those opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blair Oaks Falcons 27-5-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2-time defending Class 3 champs are gearing up for another title run and they look like they could do it. Won districts with a 3-0 win over California and then a 3-1 win over Southern Boone. They are 20-3-1 after starting the year 7-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='124226' first='Autumn' last='Bax'] – 2024 – 6'1” – Opposite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>399 kills and 97 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476879' first='Gabby' last='Horn'] – 2025 – 5'10” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>298 kills and 145 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amber Samson – 2024 – 5'3” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>263 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='234314' first='Libby' last='Juergensmeyer'] – 2024 – 5'9” – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>911 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair Oaks went 9-0 against common opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Blair Oaks is stacked again and will dominate this match in every aspect. Blair Oaks keeps rolling with a 3-0 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->