Class 3 Volleyball: Top Contenders for the 2026 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3 volleyball experiences frequent changes due to the championship factor, making each season unpredictable. With Oak Grove returning their entire roster from a strong third-place finish, and Mt. Vernon boasting a solid core, next season is shaping up to be competitive. Can teams like Potosi, Strafford, and Borgia make a significant push to reach the Final Four? Only time will tell, as Class 3 promises to be a loaded field once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} --> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Oak Grove Panthers (36-1-1)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>As the third-place finishers this year, the Panthers will be the team to beat next season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Oak Grove returns an impressive lineup, primarily composed of 2029 players like [player_tooltip player_id='557372' first='Piper' last='Hudson'], [player_tooltip player_id='909861' first='Ava' last='Chrisco'], and [player_tooltip player_id='883474' first='Emmy' last='Brown'], who all played crucial roles.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Veteran players [player_tooltip player_id='485574' first='Eva' last='Alexander'] and <strong>Keiyana Lamell </strong>will provide leadership and experience, helping guide this youthful squad back to the Final Four. Don't be surprised if they clinch the title!</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":2} --> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Potosi Trojans (28-5-2)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Potosi secured another district title this season but fell short in the sectional round.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>They return standout outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='485570' first='Eden' last='Robart'], who tallied 652 kills, along with [player_tooltip player_id='813375' first='Eve' last='Litton'] (345 kills) and Presley Smith (113 kills).</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Additionally, [player_tooltip player_id='515744' first='Macyn' last='McCarthy'], a libero with over 1,000 digs, and [player_tooltip player_id='544678' first='Adalynn' last='Gibson'], who dished out 1,000 assists, are back to lead the charge. With a couple of additional hitters, Potosi could be a formidable contender for the Final Four.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":3} --> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Strafford Indians (29-5-2)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Strafford is set to return three of the top 2028 players in the Southwest Missouri area: [player_tooltip player_id='729521' first='Blair' last='Bough'], [player_tooltip player_id='770347' first='Ava' last='Lane'], and [player_tooltip player_id='729492' first='Trista' last='Vanhorn'].</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Libero<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='800319' first='Brooklynne' last='Lumley']</strong> will play a crucial role, and the team will need to find another setter to implement their 6-2 offense.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lydia Goodin</strong> (2027) will also be key in bolstering the defense. Having narrowly missed the district championship in the last two years, this could be Strafford's time to shine.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":4} --> <ol start="4" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mt. Vernon Mountaineers (26-8-2)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mt. Vernon surprised many with their runner-up finish this season, and they have the potential to repeat that success.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>They will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='464561' first='Ziah' last='Schmutz'], a double-double threat with 423 kills and 434 assists, and <strong>Ruth Fish</strong>, who contributed 502 assists.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='844386' first='Savannah' last='Dampf'] rounds out a strong core, but significant contributions from their 2028 class will be essential for the Mountaineers to return to championship contention.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":5} --> <ol start="5" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>St. Francis Borgia (22-13-2)</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Borgia will be back in their regular class next season after losing enough points to return to their standard enrollment classification.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The team retains talent, including setter [player_tooltip player_id='544669' first='Gabriella' last='Schwoeppe'] (2027), outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='897205' first='Emma' last='Hurst'], libero [player_tooltip player_id='778204' first='Cece' last='Becker'], and key players [player_tooltip player_id='826653' first='Kaiya' last='Weber'], Ainsley Skubic, and Gracie Bailey, who will need to step up offensively for Borgia to pursue their 12th state title in program history.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->