Class 5 Quarterfinals 1 & 2 Preview:
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Lafayette Lancers 33-2 vs. Jackson Indians 30-6-3 Lafayette Lancers 33-2 The defending Class 5 champions found themselves points away from elimination in the 3rd set against Marquette. They would eventually pull it together and take the district title 21-25, 20-25,…
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Continue ReadingLafayette Lancers 33-2 vs. Jackson Indians 30-6-3
Lafayette Lancers 33-2
The defending Class 5 champions found themselves points away from elimination in the 3rd set against Marquette. They would eventually pull it together and take the district title 21-25, 20-25, 34-32, 25-17, and 15-8. Lafayette has been my team to win it again all season started the year 14-0 and has knocked off big-time challengers along the way. Their losses have come to St. Thomas Aquinas, KS, and Lee’s Summit West both in 1-2 defeats. Lafayette already has a win over Jackson 25-15, 25-13.
Top Players:
Alyssa Nelson Alyssa Nelson 5'8" | S Wildwood | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 5’8” – Setter
252 digs and 889 assists
Amelia Moser – 2024 – 5’5” – Libero
403 digs
Kira Dufner Kira Dufner 6'0" | RS Lafayette | 2025 State MO – 2025 – 6’1” – Middle
127 kills and 103 blocks
Shaye Witherspoon Shaye Witherspoon 6'3" | RS Lafayette | 2027 MO – 2027 – 6’2” – Opposite
213 kills and 84 blocks
Common Opponents:
Lafayette Results: Jackson Results:
2-0 Blue Springs 2-0
3-0 Cor Jesu 0-3
3-0 Eureka 3-2
3-1 Francis Howell Central 2-0
3-2 Incarnate Word 1-3
3-0 Lindbergh 2-0
3-2 Marquette 0-2
3-0 Oakville 2-1
3-0 St. Pius X 0-2
3-0 Webster Groves 1-1
Jackson Indians 30-6-3
Jackson is in the middle of the best years in program history. Five years straight district winners and fourth year with 30+ wins. Jackson has beefed up its schedule this year and has more than held their own. In the last 18 games, they are 16-0-2 with a huge win over Eureka in the process.
Top Players:
Nadia Wasilewski Nadia Wasilewski 6'1" | OH Jackson | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 6’1” – Outside
329 kills and 48 blocks
Ella Domian Ella Domian 5'8" | OH Jackson | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 5’10” – Opposite
312 kills and 54 blocks
Katherine St. John
Katherine
St. John
6'1" | OH
Jackson | 2025
State
MO
– 2025 – 6’1” – Outside
323 kills and 43 blocks
Holland Guilliams Holland Guilliams 5'5" | DS/L Jackson | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 5’8” – Libero
381 digs
Prediction: Lafayette has something to prove in this match after almost getting knocked out in the district finals in a sweep. Jackson walked through their district without dropping a set. Jackson has three big-time attackers while Lafayette has five. Lafayette will need to come out quickly make a statement and take this one 3-0 to head back to the final four.
Francis Howell Central Spartans 21-11-1 vs. Francis Howell Vikings 28-7-1
Francis Howell Central Spartans 21-11-1
After starting the year 9-0 Central lost their first game to Howell 1-3. Since they’ve been on and off. They have one of the best 2025 players and a North Carolina State commit. They won districts with sweeps of Hazelwood West and Westminster Christian before surviving a battle with St. Joseph’s Academy 25-27, 27-25, 23-25, 25-23, and 15-10. They are looking for a trip back to the final four since 4th place finish in 2019.
Top Players:
Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 6'4" | OH Francis Howell Central | 2025 State #59 Nation MO – 2025 – 6’4” – Opposite
410 kills and 71 blocks
Shae Pearson Shae Pearson 6'0" | RS Francis Howell | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 6’1” – Middle
182 kills and 178 digs
Grace Holtz Grace Holtz 5'7" | S Howell Central | 2026 State MO – 2026 – 5’8” – Setter
810 assists and 218
Logan Rubel – 2025 – 5’10” – Middle
197 digs and 178 kills
Common Opponents:
Central Howell
2-0 Bolivar 2-0
1-3 Eureka 2-3
3-0 Howell North 3-0
1-1 Ft. Zumwalt South 3-0
3-0 Ft. Zumwalt West 3-1
0-2 Jackson 0-2
3-1 St. Dominic 3-0
3-2 St. Joseph’s Academy 2-1
2-0 St. Michael 2-0
1-2 St. Pius X 1-2
3-2 Timberland 3-0
3-0 Troy 3-0
Francis Howell Vikings 28-7-1
The Vikings would storm through districts without dropping a set beating Battle, Liberty, and St. Dominic en route to the title. Winners of their last 10 and 30-1 in sets. Already a 3-1 win over Central 25-20, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22 where Ella Kloepper Ella Kloepper 5'9" | RS Francis Howell | 2024 State MO , Danielle Moore Danielle Moore 6'2" | RS Francis Howell | 2025 State MO , and Avery Guisinger Avery Guisinger 6'1" | MB Francis Howell | 2024 State MO racked up 49 of the team’s 57 kills.
Top Players:
Ella Kloepper Ella Kloepper 5'9" | RS Francis Howell | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 5’10” – Outside
339 kills and 201 digs
Danielle Moore Danielle Moore 6'2" | RS Francis Howell | 2025 State MO – 2025 – 6’2” – Opposite
321 kills and 42 blocks
Avery Guisinger Avery Guisinger 6'1" | MB Francis Howell | 2024 State MO – 2024 – 6’1” – Middle
211 kills and 73 blocks
Avery Helms Avery Helms 5'8" | DS/L Francis Howell | 2025 State MO – 2025 – 5’8” – Libero
414 digs
Prediction: Like the previous meeting this one will be a barn burner. In the previous game, Howell won the hitting, serving, and blocking game. Central took the defense and setting in the match. This will come down to who can stop the opposite hitters. Both are big and powerful and can take over the match. The opposites will need to shut down the outsides and then the outsides will need to stop the opposites. Howell Vikings will take the win in a 3-1 over Central.