A Spooky Class 2 Sectional 3 & 4 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want to win Class 2 at some point, you will have to beat Hermann Bearcats; that is always easier said than done. Can the Pioneers knock off the Class 2 runner-up? Can Stover take the win to get a rematch with Hermann? Will Licking take out Stover and keep the dream of reaching the quarters alive? It is up in the air until the first serve at 6:30 tonight. Happy Halloween.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duchesne Pioneers 13-13-3 vs. <strong>Hermann Bearcats 17-15</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duchesne had a relatively easy time with their district as they beat Metro and Whitfield both in sweeps. Hermann does what Hermann does. They win districts, and this season, they swept their way through Linn and Fatima to win the school's 31^st district championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duchesne:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='708451' first='Claire' last='Burks'] – 2025 – 5'9" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>234 kills and 178 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='708619' first='Mia' last='Piskulich'] – 2028 – 5'8” – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>180 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexis Conti – 2025 – 5'4” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>269 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hermann:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493045' first='Sydney' last='Schulte'] – 2025 – 5'8" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>294 kills and 119 digs&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] – 2026 – 5'10" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>230 kills and 68 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] – 2025 – 5'3” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>425 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaelee Kahler – 2026 – 5'10” – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>681 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hermann beat Orchard Farm 2-0, Duchesne lost 2-3, and both teams lost to Pacific, with Hermann losing 2-3 and Duchesne was swept by Pacific 0-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> It's Class 2 playoff time, which means Hermann is ready to battle. Duchesne was a powerhouse in the late 80s and early 90s. Hermann has been a power program since they first appeared at the final four in 1986.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duchesne has three 2^nd place, two 3^rd place, and three 4^th place finishes at state. Hermann has 15 state titles and seven 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes. Hermann players are built to win and know the struggles during the season; playing larger schools means success in the playoffs. Duchesne is in new territory this year and has a chance to knock out the Bearcats. It's been since 2015 that Hermann didn't advance to the final four. [player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] came alive during Hermann's run to the state title match last year, and [player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] is one of the top liberos in Class 2. Hermann gets the 3-1 win to move into the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stover Bulldogs 25-5-2</strong> vs. Licking Wildcats 18-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stover won the school's 14^th district championship, getting Russellville and Cole Camp sweeps. Licking won their district with sweeps of Steelville and Belle to claim the school's 17^th title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stover:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493061' first='Ashlyn' last='Pinzke'] – 2025 – 5'9" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>414 kills and 319 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kennedy Worthly – 2027 – 5'3" – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>155 digs and 675 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maycee Burton – 2026 – 5'7" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>189 kills and 214 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Licking: </strong>No stats provided</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Allie Hock – 2025 – 5'10" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jadyn Barnes – 2026 – 5'9" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aubrey Gorman – 2025 – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong> None</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> After the fiasco with Licking last season, they came out this season to make a statement during district meetings. Licking is a middle-minded offense, while Stover relies on its pins more. The competition that Licking plays compared to Stover is a big difference—Licking played against five teams still in the playoffs, and Stover only 2. Stover will ride the arm of [player_tooltip player_id='493061' first='Ashlyn' last='Pinzke'] and rely on her defensively to get it done in 5 sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->