Ryan’s Class 2 Final Four Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Semifinal 1: Arcadia Valley Tigers 17-15-4 vs. Fair Grove Eagles 33-1-2</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AV is making the school's third trip to the final four and the first since they finished 2^nd in 2018 to Hermann. Fair Grove is making their fourth appearance in the final four and never played for a state title. AV got to the finals by knocking off Kingston 3-0 and then knocked off defending Class 2 champions Jefferson 3-1 to win districts. In the sectional round, it took them less than an hour to whip Collegiate School of Med-Bio Science Academy and then swept Scott City. Fair Grove has swept every team during their run to the final four. Wins over Sparta, Spokane, Liberty, and then El Dorado Springs in the quarterfinals to make it to Cape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong> Arcadia Valley tied Kirkwood at the Jackson Tournament while Fair Grove beat Kirkwood 2-0 in the first tournament of the season at Branson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head-to-Head:</strong> No</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical leaders for Arcadia Valley:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cate Newstead-Adams has 308 kills and 358 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='737619' first='Kayla' last='Sumpter'] has 310 kills and 332 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skylar Romines has 49 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='495335' first='Taylor' last='Lorenz'] has 41 aces and 844 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical leaders for Fair Grove:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby'] has 93 blocks and 256 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349621' first='Brooke' last='Daniels'] has 523 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342445' first='Hannah' last='Maxwell'] has 532 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='495357' first='Allison' last='Findley'] has 240 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong>: Fair Grove has been one of the top teams all season long. They started the year 24-0-2 before they took the first loss to Webb City a Class 4 quarterfinalist. AV is on the longest win streak of the season at 4 and the longest losing streak of the season was six. The Tigers play in the tough MAAA conference where each game is going to be a challenge. Fair Grove has six players with over 110+ kills and over 130+ digs on the season. Fair Grove has the edge in every stat and should take this one 3-0 to move on to their first state championship match in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Semifinal 2: Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles 32-4 vs. Hermann Bearcats 20-17</mark></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two met in the title match in 2021 and Hermann had their way with the Eagles winning 25-18, 25-14, and 25-17. The Bearcats are looking for a state-best 16^th state championship in their 29^th final-four appearance. Hermann swept the district with wins over Linn and Tolton and slipped past Whitfield 3-1 in sectionals and Stover 3-1 in quarterfinals. LeBlond is making its 4^th appearance at the final four and seeks the school's first title. Sweeps in the district over Mid-Buchanan and East Buchanan before beating Carrollton 3-0 in sectionals and Lone Jack 3-1 in quarterfinals.</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 Bishop LeBlond:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='232218' first='Rilyn' last='Conard'] has 372 kills and 353 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='495346' first='Maddie' last='Sego'] has 287 kills and 76 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='495340' first='Kyla' last='Conard'] has 963 assists and 252 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindsey Atha has 352 digs and 229 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statistical leaders for Hermann:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='490635' first='Sydney' last='Schulte'] has 343 kills and 232 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashlyn Hughes has 55 blocks and 207 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] has 571 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breckyn Koeller has 220 digs and 1011 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Don't let Hermann's record trick you into thinking LeBlond has an easy path to the championship match. Because if you know anything about Class 2 volleyball Hermann reigns supreme with its 15 state titles. LeBlond is on a 15-match winning streak and will go toe to toe with the Bearcats in this one. Hermann will use its experience and its rugged schedule to knock off LeBlond 3-1 to secure its position back in the title match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->