Team Spotlights - 2024 State Title Favorites

Want to take a peek at my favorites to win state titles next season. A lot depends on the success factor and who is moved up and down for next season. As things stand today I've made my way to early picks for next year's championships.   Class 1   Advance Hornets   Advance won their second title in as many years and their fifth title in six years. The cupboard is far from bare for the Hornets as they will return five players who have seen significant playing time since they were freshmen. [player_tooltip player_id='170048' first='Addison' last='Carlton'] a 2025 5'3” outside hitter will be the top returning attacker who finished the year with 259 kills and a team-leading 368 digs. 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='237006' first='Emma' last='Eilers'] will return at the other outside hitter position and bring her 132 kills and 326 digs. 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'] will return for her sophomore year after having one of the best seasons for any 2027 player in Class 1. The 5'9 middle will carry a massive load next season as the team's tallest and most talented player. She provided the Hornets with exactly what they need as a quick and powerful middle that can hit on either pin or her 148 kills will soar next season as one of the top offensive threats. Rounding out the lineup will be 2026 setter [player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] and libero Brogan Hawkins. Brogan finished the season with 250 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] helped run the 6-2 offense the last two seasons but next year will transition to run the 5-1.   Advance has one of the best coaches in Class 1 and if she stays the Hornets will be the heavy favorite to win another Class 1 title. If they can find a replacement for their star middle/setter [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'], opposite Abigail Kennedy, and outside Kaylee Cline they will be my favorite to repeat. Advance will be the best defensive team in Class 1 with what they have currently returning and if the rumor is correct will start two 2028 hitters for next season.   Top Returners:   [player_tooltip player_id='170048' first='Addison' last='Carlton'] – 5'7” – 2025 – Outside   Brogan Wright - Hawkins – 5'5” – 2026 – Libero   [player_tooltip player_id='237006' first='Emma' last='Eilers'] – 5'4” – 2026 – Outside   [player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'] – 5'9” – 2027 – Middle   [player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] – 5'5 – 2026 – Setter   Class 2   Fair Grove Eagles   Fair Grove outlasted Hermann in the state title winning in 5 taking the school's first state volleyball championship. They lose an outside, setter, and libero but return 812 of the team's 1348 kills. If they can find a replacement libero and either run a 5-1 with [player_tooltip player_id='168904' first='Bre' last='Daniels'] or get another setter, they will return as the favorites in Class 2. The class of 2025 is strong at Fair Grove and will return four. [player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby'] is the team's leading hitter and will return in the middle with 303 kills and 106 blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='168904' first='Bre' last='Daniels'] returns after having a fantastic season running a 6-2. She had 227 kills and 612 assists and had a monster state title match. My pick for the team MVP in the title match [player_tooltip player_id='737648' first='Ashton' last='Bell'] returns on the outside with her 147 kills and 326 digs. Rounding out the returners will be 5'11” middle [player_tooltip player_id='737639' first='Abbey' last='Green'] and her 121 kills and 99 blocks.   The two most important parts of next year's success will be finding a new libero and a solid six rotation outside replacing [player_tooltip player_id='495357' first='Allison' last='Findley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='495351' first='Faith' last='Klindworth']. Setting duties vacated by [player_tooltip player_id='342445' first='Hannah' last='Maxwell'] will be key but they have a fantastic returning setter if [player_tooltip player_id='168904' first='Bre' last='Daniels'] runs a 5-1 they will have to replace her attacking. Fair Grove returns enough firepower to be very dangerous and has a fantastic setter also returning. The key to another state title will be the libero position.   Top Returners:   [player_tooltip player_id='168904' first='Bre' last='Daniels'] – 5'5” – 2025 – Setter   [player_tooltip player_id='737639' first='Abbey' last='Green'] – 5'11” – 2025 – Middle   [player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby'] – 5'11” – 2025 – Middle   [player_tooltip player_id='737648' first='Ashton' last='Bell'] – 5'8” – 2025 – Outside   Class 3   Ursuline Academy Bears   Ursuline is stacked with 2026 talent and will be my favorite for a title next season. If they stay in Class 3 which I think they will the Bears have everything they need to make a return to the title match. They lose two from this year's squad but return an enormous number of key players. 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='207581' first='Jillian' last='Raterman'] is the top returning attacker along with classmates [player_tooltip player_id='224818' first='Addyson' last='Gresham'], libero [player_tooltip player_id='490582' first='Courtney' last='Houston'], opposite [player_tooltip player_id='490580' first='Katie' last='Krus'], and setters [player_tooltip player_id='224817' first='Elizabeth' last='Koenig'] and [player_tooltip player_id='490583' first='Lucy' last='Ellsworth'].   The Bears have all the tools to be a top Class 3 team and play in one of the toughest conferences in the state. St. Joseph, Cor Jesu, Nerinx Hall just to name a few. They must replace a middle and a defender but have the tools already to make those replacements. If they can then keep an eye out for Ursuline to compete for the Class 3 title with the plethora of 2026 talent returning. If Ursuline is moved to Class 4, they will be a contender for the final four.   Top Returners:   [player_tooltip player_id='207581' first='Jillian' last='Raterman'] – 5'11” – 2026 – Outside   [player_tooltip player_id='490580' first='Katie' last='Krus'] – 5'10” – 2026 – Opposite   [player_tooltip player_id='490582' first='Courtney' last='Houston'] – 5'5” – 2026 – Libero   [player_tooltip player_id='224817' first='Elizabeth' last='Koenig'] – 5'7” – 2026 – Opposite/Setter   [player_tooltip player_id='490583' first='Lucy' last='Ellsworth'] – 5'6” – 2026 – Setter   [player_tooltip player_id='224818' first='Addyson' last='Gresham'] – 5'8” – 2026 – Outside   Class 4   St. Pius X Lancers (Festus)   Another team here tittering on the verge of getting moved up because of the championship factor. If my figures are correct the Lancers will stay in Class 4 until after next season. They are loaded with talent in every position and return the majority of the offense and setter. They must replace a middle and then all of the defensive units. They will have two of the best 2025 outside hitters a D1 6'4” middle, a terrific setter, and a tough 2027 opposite. They return 1057 kills of the 1100 total and only 468 of the team's 1014 digs.   The Lancers will be the favorite to return to the final four and potentially are the front-runner for a Class 4 title. The key will be the replacement of the libero and the two terrific DS lost to graduation. The offensive power and setting are the strong points for next year. The big key to repeat success will fall on a new libero and defensive unit.   Top Returners:   [player_tooltip player_id='475322' first='Kate' last='Sherry'] – 5'10” – 2027 – Opposite   [player_tooltip player_id='221231' first='Elena' last='Ruble'] – 5'7” – 2026 – Setter   [player_tooltip player_id='168037' first='Hannah' last='Leftridge'] – 5'10” – 2025 – Outside   [player_tooltip player_id='475315' first='Anne' last='Makowski'] – 6'0” – 2025 – Outside   [player_tooltip player_id='221230' first='Bennett' last='Raterman'] – 6'4” – 2026 – Middle   Class 5   Lafayette Lancers   No one retools like Lafayette and taking back-to-back-to-back titles is a strong possibility. They lose the program's best setter, a 3-year starting outside, a tough middle, and two fantastic defenders. Returning the Witherspoon sister duo immediately makes them a top team with their combined 687 kills. The team's top blocker returns so the core is there to be great. The biggest question mark will be replacing the setter who ran the offense for the last three seasons but has two quality possibilities waiting in line. Another concern will be the defense as they only return 531 digs from the team's 1890 digs.   Lafayette always has players waiting for their chance to shine. With the possibility of having the Witherspoon sisters slamming on the outside that will be one giant issue for opponents. If they can stabilize the backcourt and find a suitable setter, then Lafayette will be in a good position to win another championship.   Top Returners:   [player_tooltip player_id='153929' first='Maya' last='Witherspoon'] – 6'0” – 2025 – Outside   [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon'] – 6'2” – 2027 – Opposite   [player_tooltip player_id='207267' first='Kira' last='Dufner'] – 6'2” – 2025 – Middle   Megan Muschick – 5'6” – 2025 – DS   [player_tooltip player_id='207268' first='Mackie' last='Mueller'] – 6'0” – 2025 – Middle   [player_tooltip player_id='540296' first='Kyla' last='Krimmel'] – 5'9” – 2025 – Outside

Want to take a peek at my favorites to win state titles next season. A lot depends on the success factor and who is moved up and down for next season. As things stand today I've made my way to early picks for next year's championships.