Class 3 Title Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3 has been dominated by the Falcons from Blair Oaks for the last three years. Class 3 is more open this year, with the edge going to last year's runner-up, Ursuline Academy. Here's my list of the top 5 in Class 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blair Oaks Falcons 31-6-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They went from never being to a final four to winning the last three state championships. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='476879' first='Gabby' last='Horn']</strong> returns to the outside position and will be the team's star this season. At this point, no one in Class 3 has knocked Blair Oaks off in 3 final fours, so they might have some solid JV kids moving up and looking for their time to shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ursuline Academy Bears 16-14</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a hunch that the Bears would push to the final final despite the win/loss record. Don't let that fool any of you. They play in one of the toughest conferences in the state. The 2026 class at Ursuline is the best group in Class 3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207581' first='Jillian' last='Raterman'], [player_tooltip player_id='490580' first='Katie' last='Krus']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224817' first='Elizabeth' last='Koenig'], [player_tooltip player_id='490583' first='Lucy' last='Ellsworth'], [player_tooltip player_id='490582' first='Courtney' last='Houston'], Emerson McGrath</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='224818' first='Addyson' last='Gresham']</strong> are fantastic to watch. The Bears are my favorites to win Class 3 unless they bump into Class 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt. Vernon&nbsp; Mountaineers 20-12-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Vernon only lost one player from last season, but he was one of the most important players, so they have to find a suitable replacement for the libero position. If they can find someone to keep the ball up, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464561' first='Ziah' last='Schmutz'], Hali Stokes, [player_tooltip player_id='236990' first='Camryn' last='Cornell']</strong>, and <strong>Teagyn Huver</strong> will put the ball away<strong>. Macie West</strong> will help rerun the offense with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464561' first='Ziah' last='Schmutz']</strong>. The talent is there for the program's first final four appearances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Odessa Bulldogs 23-7-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs have been knocking on the school's first final-four appearance for several years; this could be the season. Outside hitter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221012' first='Rylee' last='Adams']</strong>, middle <strong>Kali Adamec</strong>, and <strong>Balie Ailor</strong> account for 911 kills from last season. <strong>BB Stevens</strong> handles the back row, and <strong>Lanyn Sick</strong> dishes the ball for those big hitters. Odessa's in a good position again this season for a push to its first final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pleasant Hill Chicks 21-10-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These Chicks of Pleasant Hill come out fighting at playoffs and have been to the last two final fours. They lost some big-time players from last season but return enough to be dangerous again<strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='219766' first='Riley' last='Hays'], [player_tooltip player_id='737588' first='Ella' last='Crain']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='475332' first='Miley' last='Layton'] </strong>are the top hitters returning from last year. <strong>Matti Manford</strong> should get her chance in the middle or opposite. However, the teams discover that chicks are always dangerous in late October or early November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->