Ryan’s Class 1 Final Four Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Semifinal 1: Advance Hornets 33-3-3 vs. Galena Bears 35-1-1</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 1 champions are back looking for a repeat. They swept district opponents Oran and Leopold and proceeded to sweep St. Vincent in sectionals and Bell City in the quarterfinals. They started the year 18-0-2 before taking a loss against Notre Dame. Advance is seeking its 5^th title in 7 appearances. Galena is having its best season in school history earning its first trip to the final four. Galena is seeking its first title and did it by knocking off Billings 3-1 and School of the Ozarks 3-0 for the district title. In sectionals, they got by Thomas Jefferson 3-1 before meeting up against Jasper in the quarterfinals. In the match with Jasper, they would come back from 2-1 to win in 5 sets 25-22, 9-25, 18-25, 26-24, and 15-11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong> None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head to Head:</strong> No</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical Leaders for Advance:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] has 493 kills, 80 blocks, and 422 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Addison Carlton has 248 kills and 350 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] has 201 digs and 591 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical Leaders for Galena:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='234465' first='Kaesha' last='Walter'] has 482 kills and 544 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='234466' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] has 245 kills and 425 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maribelle Martin has 119 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baylee Stacy has 533 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bree Rice has 484 assists and 107 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This match will feature two of the top attackers in Class 1. Galena will have its hands full with the multiple attackers coming from the Hornets. Galena will have to play its best defensive game to hold a chance to pull off the upset. Advance plays a loaded schedule of much bigger schools and Galena played a schedule loaded with Class 1 teams. Advance has the experience and weapons to put the Bears in hibernation and take a 3-0 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Semifinal 2: Northwest Lady Mustangs 30-2-2 vs. South Iron Lady Panthers 21-9-4</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest is making the school's first appearance at the final four and did it dramatically. In districts, they knocked off Kingsville 3-0 before knocking off arch-nemesis Santa Fe 16-14 in the 5^th. In sectionals, they would once again need 5 sets to get past Appleton City and again in the quarterfinals against St. Joseph Christian winning that one 15-12 in the 5^th. South Iron started district play by sweeping Ellington and then clawed its way past Bismarck taking a 15-9 win in the 5^th. In the sectional round, they would sweep New Haven and again another sweep of Summersville in the quarters. This is the Panther's second trip to the final four after taking 4^th in 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong> None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head to Head:</strong> No</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical Leaders for Northwest:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Karlie Smith has 54 blocks, 270 kills, and 263 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490124' first='Gabby' last='Meyer'] has 478 assists and 245 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grace Walker has 321 digs and 226 kills. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mary Walker has 216 digs and 346 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Statistical Leaders for South Iron:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='205304' first='Emmy' last='Gayle'] has 351 kills and 351 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='168908' first='Enzley' last='Dinkins'] has 293 kills, 362 digs, and 483 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='174284' first='Lexie' last='Bollinger'] has 246 kills, 191 digs, and 441 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='168909' first='Anna' last='Parker'] has 480 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Northwest finally got over the Santa Fe hump and made its first final four trips. South Iron is making a return and looking to better their 4^th-place finish. Both teams have solid middles and outside hitters. South Iron wins the libero battle and has the experience of playing in the final four. Will the lights be too bright for the Lady Mustangs? Will South Iron run through Northwest as they did against Summersville? South Iron has a split with Advance making them my favorite to move to the finals taking a 3-1 win over Northwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->