Class 3 Rankings

Ryan Johnson September 20, 2024 @ 11:22 PM

Class 3 is wide open this season, with no absolute favorites separating themselves from the others. Districts in late October should be interesting, as at least 10 teams could make a run at the final four.   1. Strafford Indians 10-2   Strafford has lost to Fair Grove and Class 5 Republic, but other than that, it hasn't had much trouble. 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='664702' first='Ava' last='Lane'] leads the team in kills with 69, and [player_tooltip player_id='490211' first='Reese' last='Darnell'] is the team leader in assists with 150. A 3-1 win over Marshfield was a massive win for the Indians.   2. Clever LadyJays 11-1   Clever is hot this season and looking for a return to the final four. A date with Strafford in mid-October will be interesting. The winner will take the one seed in the districts. [player_tooltip player_id='737557' first='Chandlyr' last='Friend'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493018' first='Addie' last='Gilmore'] are the main offensive threats.   3. Potosi Trojans 10-2-1   Potosi has one of the best outside hitters in Class 3, [player_tooltip player_id='170045' first='Ava' last='Robart']. Losses to Notre Dame and Festus were letdowns, but then a sweep of Union pushed Potosi toward the top of the rankings.   4. Pleasant Hill Chicks 5-5   It's not a flashy record, but a sweep of previous undefeated Benton moves the Chicks up. [player_tooltip player_id='475332' first='Miley' last='Layton'] and Laney Rowe are doing their part in the middle to make PH a potential final-four team.   5. Odessa Bulldogs 13-4   I watched the Bulldogs at the Rockwood Tournament, and they finished with a 2-4 record. This will help them in the playoffs, as they don't shy away from playing bigger and better teams. [player_tooltip player_id='737573' first='Lanyn' last='Sisk'] keeps rewriting the record books at Odessa.   6. Valle Catholic Warriors 9-2-1   When it comes to the playoffs, the Warriors will always be in the mix. This season, the only blemishes are a loss to Class 5 Jackson, Class 1 Winona, and a split with Winona. Addi Donze is the team leader in digs with 109.   7. Notre Dame Bulldogs 12-4-2   I wasn't sure how good ND would be this season with the loss of the team's best player to transfer. Not much has changed, as the Bulldogs are getting big production from 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='708439' first='Courtney' last='Tatum'].   8. Savannah Savages 8-1-1   Savannah has only lost to Southern Boone at this point in the season. Next week, they have matches with LeBlond and Benton, then play in the Hyvee Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='737606' first='Trinaty' last='Fansher'], the hammer, is Savannah's top attacker.   9. Versailles Tigers 7-1   On October 7th, we will get a good feel for the Tigers as Class 2 El Dorado Springs comes to town. Until now, Versailles hasn't played that strong of a schedule.   10. Benton Cardinals 6-1   Previously undefeated, the Cardinals suffered their first loss to Pleasant Hill. The next three games with St. Pius X (KC), Chillicothe, and Savannah will tell how tough the Cardinals are this season.

Class 3 is wide open this season, with no absolute favorites separating themselves from the others. Districts in late October should be interesting, as at least 10 teams could make a run at the final four.