State Title Match Recap: St. Vincent Claims Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thrilling Third Place Match</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In an intense third-place match, New Covenant Academy (NCA) triumphed over East Buchanan in a dramatic five-set encounter, finishing with scores of 22-25, 25-16, 25-23, 23-25, and 15-12. NCA's 2029 star Kiera Edwards delivered a standout performance, racking up 23 kills on a .231 hitting percentage, along with one ace, two digs, and two blocks. 2026 outside hitter Addison Cuquet added 15 kills to the mix, while 2027's Christina Voznyarska chipped in with 13 kills and five blocks. Notably, 6'2" middle blocker Gabriela Gaumer contributed six kills and made her presence felt defensively with eight blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Buchanan, coming off a heart-wrenching semifinal loss to Hermann, fought valiantly but fell short once again in a gripping five-set match. The Bulldogs were led by 2026 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='811976' first='Brooklynn' last='Johnson'], who delivered 23 kills and seven blocks. Teammates [player_tooltip player_id='826666' first='Kamryn' last='Werle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='815709' first='Layla' last='Watkins'] each added 15 kills, while Kourtney Keling contributed 13 kills. On the defensive end, libero Kaylynn Engnes shone with an incredible 49 digs, and setter [player_tooltip player_id='720350' first='Kendyl' last='Edwards'] provided critical playmaking with 61 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a thrilling state championship match, St. Vincent emerged victorious over Hermann, successfully claiming the title in a fiercely contested battle. The match was a nail-biter, with St. Vincent securing the win in three sets: 25-18, 27-25, and 25-23. Hermann's standout players, 2026 middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='702778' first='Ashlyn' last='Hughes'] and 2026 outside hitter Jillian Fredrick, led their team with impressive performances, recording 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Additionally, 2029 setter Brynlee Ash contributed 19 assists, while 2026 libero Kaelie Lane anchored the defense with 23 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This victory marks a significant achievement for St. Vincent, who finished third last year and second in basketball. The Indians showcased their talent and determination, with 2026 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel'] leading the charge with an impressive 22 kills. Supporting her were libero Callie Schnurbusch with 21 digs and 2026 setter [player_tooltip player_id='225326' first='Brie' last='Rubel'], who orchestrated the offense with 29 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->