Final Four Aspirations: Class 2 Quarterfinals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the excitement builds in Class 2 volleyball, we've got some thrilling matchups lined up for the quarterfinals. With teams vying for their chance at the Final Four, here's a look at the upcoming matches and my predictions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal 1: St. Vincent Indians (25-6-2) vs. Valle Warriors (28-6-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Results:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>St. Vincent:</strong> Defeated Portageville 25-18, 25-23, 25-11</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Valle:</strong> Beat Arcadia Valley 25-23, 25-20, 25-23</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Vincent won 28-26, 25-21, 25-20.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players in the Previous Meeting:</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='831247' first='Clara' last='Clifton'] (2026):</strong> 10 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel'] (2026):</strong> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'] (2026):</strong> 47 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Valle:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Reece Weiler (2028):</strong> 17 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='790958' first='Ada' last='Bley'] (2027):</strong> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='827056' first='Lexie' last='Rayoum'] (2027):</strong> 12 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> The previous encounter was a hard-fought battle, but Valle is in solid form. St. Vincent has the edge in athleticism and depth. Expect this match to go the distance, with St. Vincent pulling off a 3-2 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal 2: Hermann Bearcats (17-13-2) vs. Fatima Comets (25-8-1)</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>Hermann won 26-24, 26-24, 25-23.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players in the Previous Match:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- 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> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='796041' first='Leah' last='Muenks'] (2027):</strong> 10 digs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lilly Kempker (2026):</strong> 18 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>Brynlee Ash (2029):</strong> 19 assists</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='897273' first='Kalli' last='Landolt'] (2029):</strong> 9 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] (2026):</strong> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Hermann has a storied playoff history, seeking their 31st trip to the Final Four. Their tradition and experience in high-pressure situations make them tough to beat. I predict Hermann will win in 4 sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal 3: New Covenant Academy (26-4-3) vs. Miller Cardinals (31-4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Results:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>New Covenant:</strong> Defeated Cabool 19-25, 25-19, 25-13, 25-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Miller:</strong> Beat Adrian 25-12, 23-25, 25-17, 25-20</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Miller won 25-10, 23-25, 25-16, 20-25, 15-12.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players in Previous Meeting:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>New Covenant:</strong><!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Addison Cuquet (2026):</strong> 13 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kiera Edwards (2029):</strong> 11 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Audrey Mouery (2026):</strong> 49 digs</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='809838' first='Rachel' last='Nunez'] (2026):</strong> 28 digs and 22 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Layni Johnson (2028):</strong> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Loghann Leivan (2026):</strong> 14 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> New Covenant is looking to make history, while Miller has experience from their previous Final Four run. With a talented roster, Miller is favored to win again, this time in a close 3-2 match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterfinal 4: Lafayette County Huskers (25-6-2) vs. East Buchanan Bulldogs (25-10-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Results:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lafayette County:</strong> Defeated West Platte 26-24, 25-18, 25-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>East Buchanan:</strong> Overcame Lawson 20-25, 25-15, 25-19, 26-24</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting:</strong> None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lafayette County went 4-3, and East Buchanan finished 3-2-2 against common opponents.</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>[player_tooltip player_id='809872' first='Sophie' last='Frank'] (2026):</strong> 383 kills</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>Katie Draisey (2026):</strong> 662 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>[player_tooltip player_id='811976' first='Brooklynn' last='Johnson'] (2027):</strong> 311 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='826666' first='Kamryn' last='Werle'] (2027):</strong> 266 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Kourtney Keling (2027):</strong> 262 kills</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> East Buchanan has a balanced squad, but Lafayette County relies heavily on [player_tooltip player_id='809872' first='Sophie' last='Frank'], who could be the standout player on the court. The match will likely hinge on passing and defense. I predict East Buchanan will edge out a nail-biting 3-1 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->