Class 2 Volleyball Preview: Who Will Rise to the Challenge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2 volleyball is shaping up to be an exhilarating tournament this year, with no clear-cut favorite emerging from the pack. Several teams are poised to make a deep run toward the finals, including St. Vincent and Hermann, who are eager to return to the championship stage. Meanwhile, Miller and Valle are looking to make their mark after several years away from the spotlight. However, the path to glory isn't guaranteed, as teams like Portageville, Adrian, and Fatima could shake things up and challenge the top contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Portageville Bulldogs (31-6) vs. St. Vincent Indians (24-6-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head-to-Head:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Vincent leads the series 3-0 against Portageville.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>St. Vincent:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel']:</strong> 438 digs and 554 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel']:</strong> 280 digs and 268 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Portageville:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735534' first='Gloriaha' last='Farmer'] (2026):</strong> 359 kills and 365 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816571' first='Maggie' last='Priggel'] (2026):</strong> 250 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Vincent ended Portageville's season last year in this same matchup with a decisive sweep. They also swept the Bulldogs earlier this season. Expect St. Vincent to keep their playoff hopes alive with another strong performance and secure a sweep over Portageville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valle Catholic Warriors (27-6-1) vs. Arcadia Valley Tigers (19-14)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head-to-Head:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Valle Catholic has recorded wins of 3-0 and 2-0 against the Tigers.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Valle Catholic:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827056' first='Lexie' last='Rayoum'] (2027):</strong> 368 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='790958' first='Ada' last='Bley'] (2027):</strong> 236 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796862' first='Mara' last='Hoog'] (2027):</strong> 311 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Arcadia Valley:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='813867' first='Hattie' last='Vinyard'] (2027):</strong> 352 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Alena Maxwell (2029):</strong> 194 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valle Catholic has already defeated Arcadia Valley with relative ease earlier in the season, and I anticipate a similar outcome in this matchup. Expect Valle to secure a 3-0 victory over the Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cabool Bulldogs (26-7-3) vs. New Covenant Warriors (25-4-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Cabool:</strong> 3-2-1 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>New Covenant:</strong> 4-0-2 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Cabool:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735571' first='Cambree' last='Woodard'] (2026):</strong> 779 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809459' first='Jayne' last='Thompson'] (2028):</strong> 441 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='808104' first='Sophia' last='Dotson'] (2026):</strong> 364 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>New Covenant:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Audrey Mouery (2026):</strong> 436 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Addison Cuquet (2026):</strong> 207 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kiera Edwards (2029):</strong> 203 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup could go either way. Cabool relies heavily on its outside hitters and has a high scoring rate. However, New Covenant features a strong libero who may pose challenges for Cabool's pins. I predict New Covenant will advance with a 3-1 victory, leveraging their middle players to outmaneuver Cabool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adrian Blackhawks (27-6-1) vs. Miller Cardinals (30-4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>None listed</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Adrian:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='237005' first='Olivia' last='Engeman'] (2026):</strong> 373 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835010' first='Lizzie' last='Clifton'] (2026):</strong> 319 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='635415' first='Grace' last='Engeman'] (2028):</strong> 809 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Miller:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490143' first='Camden' last='Stockton'] (2026):</strong> 927 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809838' first='Rachel' last='Nunez'] (2026):</strong> 358 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829756' first='Ashlynn' last='Helton'] (2026):</strong> 405 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup is one of the toughest to predict. Both teams boast strong 2026 classes and exceptional setters. Adrian relies heavily on their left-side hitters, while Miller looks to its middle players for scoring. Adrian is seeking their first-ever Final Four appearance, while Miller aims to return after their 2022 season. Recently, Adrian defeated one of the top teams in Class 2, Butler, to win their district. In contrast, Miller had a slightly easier path to this point. Expect a fierce battle that goes the distance, with Adrian ultimately pulling out a hard-fought victory in five sets to survive and advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette County Huskers (24-6-2) vs. West Platte Jays (21-15-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both teams defeated Cameron.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both teams lost to Lawson and Maryville.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lafayette County:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Katie Draisey (2026):</strong> 662 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='829126' first='Alex' last='Erdman'] (2026):</strong> 308 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809872' first='Sophie' last='Frank'] (2026):</strong> 383 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>West Platte:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Nora Meyerkorth (2029):</strong> 383 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812265' first='Catelyn' last='Carlson'] (2027):</strong> 187 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Amber Rutherford (2028):</strong> 688 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette County features the standout hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='809872' first='Sophie' last='Frank'], who will be pivotal in this matchup. West Platte had a relatively easier path through their district, and I expect Lafayette County to leverage their strengths early and often. Look for Lafayette County to secure a decisive 3-0 sweep over West Platte.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lawson Cardinals (26-5-2) vs. East Buchanan Bulldogs (24-10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both teams have an 8-1 record, with their only loss coming against Maryville.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head-to-Head:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lawson holds a strong record against East Buchanan, winning their last two matchups 3-0 and also securing a tie.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lawson:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809400' first='Kayla' last='Phipps'] (2026):</strong> 439 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mena Caresia (2026):</strong> 283 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='485621' first='Hadley' last='Toomay'] (2027):</strong> 520 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>East Buchanan:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kaylynn Engnes (2026):</strong> 440 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='720350' first='Kendyl' last='Edwards'] (2027):</strong> 497 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='811976' first='Brooklynn' last='Johnson'] (2027):</strong> 300 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their last encounter, Lawson secured a decisive victory, thanks to 14 kills from Mena Caresia and ten from [player_tooltip player_id='842829' first='Izzy' last='Slominski'] (2027). While East Buchanan recorded 26 kills, they struggled with 21 hitting errors, which ultimately cost them the match. Lawson also showcased their defensive strength with ten blocks in that win. Expect Lawson to maintain their momentum and secure a 3-1 victory over the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duchesne Pioneers (20-9-2) vs. Hermann Bearcats (16-13-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Duchesne:</strong> 0-3 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Hermann:</strong> 3-0 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Duchesne:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Emmie Nikodym (2029):</strong> 240 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='708619' first='Mia' last='Piskulich'] (2028):</strong> 217 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Gabi Ulrich (2026):</strong> 299 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Hermann:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] (2026):</strong> 227 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jillian Fredrick (2026):</strong> 207 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kealie Lane (2026):</strong> 311 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having observed both teams this season, I noted that Duchesne started strong in their early tournaments but relies heavily on younger players. On the other hand, Hermann has established itself as a powerhouse in Class 2. They play with speed and precision, featuring the best libero on the court and one of the top middles in class 2. Expect Hermann to showcase their playoff prowess and secure a decisive 3-0 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Licking Wildcats (14-16-5) vs. Fatima Comets (26-8-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head to Head:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>No previous matches</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Licking:</strong> 0-3-1 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Fatima:</strong> 4-0 record</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Licking:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='814153' first='Jadyn' last='Barnes']:</strong> Outside hitter</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Penelop Huff:</strong> Middle hitter</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='802453' first='Kylee' last='Rinne']:</strong> Libero</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Fatima:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828140' first='Alayna' last='Backes'] (2026):</strong> 400 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Gracie Dickneite (2028):</strong> 160 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lily Kempker (2026):</strong> 803 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cinderella story for Licking will likely come to an end against the formidable Comets. I predict Fatima will secure a decisive victory with a clean sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->