What Class 2 Teams to Watch?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are in August and time to continue our early watch of teams this year. Today, we focus on Class 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fair Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will start with the defending state champs, who only dropped one match a season ago. They graduated two of their top three attackers in the kill category but return players ready to contribute at even higher levels. Their leader in kills, [player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby'] is back for her final season. She paced the team with 303 kills. She won't be alone with [player_tooltip player_id='349621' first='Brooke' last='Daniels'] having over 200 kills of her own while doubling as a hitter and setter. A couple of other seniors who should play bigger roles are [player_tooltip player_id='737639' first='Abbey' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='737648' first='Ashton' last='Bell']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hermann</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hermann went 21-19 last fall and was a set win away from a state title. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='493045' first='Sydney' last='Schulte'] will look to lead this team back to the promise land. She will be depended on to score even more than the 300+ kills she secured a season ago. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] will look to build on the productive season she had as a sophomore to provide a 1-2 assault. Ball control will help them take that next step and they have as good a defender as there is in class 2 with [player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] back to keep the back row intact. A big question mark will be who will take over the setting position after losing over 1100 assists from Brecklyn Koeller.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop LeBlond</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LeBlond follows the trend of the other teams mentioned thus far. They lost a couple of high-impact attackers but also will return a couple of high-impact attackers. The third-place finishers from a year ago looked poised to make another deep tournament run. The first order of business will be finding a new setter with graduation. Once that is determined, getting the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='232218' first='Rilyn' last='Conard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='735227' first='Katie' last='Sego'] will be the priority. The duo brings experience and delivered more than 600 kills last season. Another area to keep an eye on will be back-row play as they will look to fill some voids behind the block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arcadia Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers got hot at the right type and finished the year 4th in the state. With their top attacker back and players who showed strong potential a year ago, they won't sneak up on anyone this year. Cate Newstead-Adams was good last year with over 300 kills. We expect her to be even better in 2024 and see an improvement in hitting numbers. We will look to see who emerges out of the trio of Paige Newstead-Adams, Jayden Crites, and Skylar Romines. The battle for the setter position will be something to watch in fall camp. [player_tooltip player_id='737619' first='Kayla' last='Sumpter'] is back to key the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>El Dorado Springs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs were knocked out in the quarterfinals by state champion Fair Grove. They will be a team to keep an eye on entering the 2024 campaign. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='195382' first='Neely' last='Schaaf'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493041' first='Alexis' last='Collins'] are back and both totaled over 200 kills, 300 digs, and 400 assists. The ability to hit, play defense, and set will be an asset for this team. [player_tooltip player_id='644730' first='Avery' last='Floyd'] and her 180 kills should see a higher total this fall. Junior defender [player_tooltip player_id='490215' first='McKinli' last='Mays'] had over 600 receptions and 400 digs and will be a catalyst in ball control and passing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Diamond</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Diamond was a rarely young team in 2023 and captured 32 wins for the season. They return a strong nucleus and will look to go deeper in the championship rounds. This fall they return four of their top five in the kill category, led by 232 from senior [player_tooltip player_id='737632' first='Lauren' last='Turner'] and 208 from junior Aubrey Ball. Ball and Addie Beckett will be counted on more in the back row after graduating a good percentage of their digs. Like other teams, the setter position is a question mark heading into the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->