Super Saturday is here – Class 2 Quarterfinal 1 & 2 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Quarterfinal 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Vincent Indians 21-8-5</strong> vs. Jefferson Blue Jays 20-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong> Jefferson moved to the quarterfinal with a thumping of Arcadia Valley 25-13, 25-10, and 25-18. St. Vincent swept past Portageville 25-19, 25-11, and 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Vincent:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel'] – 2026 – 6'0" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>305 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alaina Cates – 2026 – 5'11" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>179 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'] – 2026 – 5'8" – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>272 assists and 414 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jefferson:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493032' first='Megan' last='Wood'] – 2025 – 5'10" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>292 digs and 379 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Halayna Loyd – 2026 – 5'8” – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>453 assists and 201 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maggie Wrigley – 2025 – 5'7" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>168 kills and 143 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting:</strong> Jefferson pulled off the 25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 17-25, 15-11 win over St. Vincent. In the win, [player_tooltip player_id='493032' first='Megan' last='Wood'], Maggie Wrigley, and Ryleigh Johnson combined for 49 of the team's 55 kills. Clara Clifton led St. Vincent with 17 kills and 30 digs from [player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This one is going to be a doozy. Jefferson and St. Vincent are pretty even on all fronts. The difference will be who is running the offense at St. Vincent and who is playing libero. If [player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'] is the libero, this is a significant change from the last time they met. The key comes down to whether Jefferson contains the big front row of St. Vincent. St. Vincent will come up with big kills in crunch time to pull off the 3-1 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Quarterfinal 2:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hermann Bearcats 19-15</strong> vs. Licking 19-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong> Hermann knocked around the Pioneers of Duchesne 25-12, 25-10, 25-16 while Licking swept Stover 25-23, 25-21, 25-10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Licking: No stats were provided, but the video highlights gave me an idea of the top players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aubrey Gorman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zoey Dawson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='195385' first='Linzie' last='Wallace']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jadyn Barnes</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</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] – 2025 – 5'5” – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>425 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jillian Frederick -2026 – 5'11" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>155 kills and 48 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents</strong>: Both teams lost to Capital City in sweeps and beat Owensville in sweeps and Sullivan 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Hermann is the best example of playing teams that are better than you, so when it comes to playoffs, you are the most prepared team in your class. Hermann gets beat up by larger schools, and they are fearless in playing teams they know they will not beat. Hermann comes in with the best libero, outside hitter, and middle of the two teams. Hermann knows how to win at this stage. I don't bet against Hermann, and they will sweep Licking to return to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->