Class 3 Sectional Preview: Undefeated Potosi Leads the Pack

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3 sectionals feature a heavyweight rematch, several teams looking to keep breakthrough seasons alive, and a few familiar district rivals. Undefeated Potosi faces last year's state third-place finisher, Saxony Lutheran, while six matchups bring a place in the quarterfinals within reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saxony Lutheran (26-8-1) <strong>vs. Potosi (36-0-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saxony Lutheran 26-8-1 vs. Potosi 36-0-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saxony swept Fredericktown in districts, then survived a five-set battle with Notre Dame, winning 25-14, 25-23, 15-25, 26-28, 15-11. Potosi dominated St. Vincent and Ste. Genevieve to return to the sectional round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Saxony went 6-3-1; Potosi went 10-0-1. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> No meetings this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> Saxony's leaders include 2028 <strong>Kinley Couch</strong> with 344 kills, 2029 <strong>Brielyn Korn</strong> with 255 kills, 2030 <strong>Brissa Boyd</strong> with 225 kills, 2030 <strong>Emmie Debrower</strong> with 494 digs, and 2028 <strong>Kendall McDowell</strong> with 559 assists. Potosi is led by 2027 <strong>Eden Robart</strong>, 2027 <strong>Adalynn Gibson</strong>, and 2027 <strong>Macyn McCarthy</strong>. Robart has 720 kills, Gibson has 1,091 assists, and McCarthy has 660 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Saxony beat Potosi in last year's playoffs, then finished third. This time, the undefeated Trojans have momentum and a prolific pin hitter in Robart, while Saxony has the size up front. The outcome could hinge on Saxony's blocking and whether Potosi's supporting cast can produce more offense. If Robart can deliver a 30-kill performance, Potosi could win in five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran South (11-13-5) <strong>vs. Burroughs (19-8-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran South swept Herculaneum, then battled past Notre Dame St. Louis in five sets: 23-25, 25-16, 18-25, 25-18, 15-6. Burroughs swept Jennings, STEAM Academy and Maplewood to win its district.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Lutheran South went 6-5; Burroughs went 9-2. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> Burroughs swept conference rival Lutheran South 25-9, 25-19, 25-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> In the previous meeting, 2028<strong> Ries Schnuck</strong> had 11 kills for Burroughs. 2030 <strong>Salem Rhodes</strong> added nine kills, and 2029 <strong>Penelope Glosier</strong> had eight. 2027 setter <strong>Kaitlyn Ahn</strong> recorded 27 assists. Lutheran South's 2028 <strong>Claire Nelson</strong> led her team with eight kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Behind Ahn and the rest of the Bombers' attack, Burroughs sweeps Lutheran South and keeps its season alive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran St. Charles (18-17) <strong>vs. Borgia (24-13-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran St. Charles beat Visitation and Duchesne 3-1 to claim its district title. Borgia had a more straightforward path, sweeping Mexico and Wright City.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Both teams went 3-4. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> Borgia won 25-21, 25-21, 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> In the earlier meeting, 2028 <strong>Bailey Mierek</strong> led Lutheran with 10 kills. <strong>Kinslie Leonard</strong> added eight, and 2028 <strong>Eliana Sweet</strong> had 19 assists. 2027 setter <strong>Gabby Schwoeppe</strong> leads Borgia, along with <strong>Kaiya</strong> <strong>Weber, Emma Hurst, Cece Becker</strong>, and <strong>Audrey Hotz.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Borgia's senior-heavy lineup and strong setting give it the edge in the rematch. The Knights win in five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Boone (23-3) <strong>vs. Blair Oaks (24-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Boone beat Centralia 3-1, then swept Boonville to win its district. Blair Oaks defeated Versailles 3-1 and swept Osage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Both teams went 9-2. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> Blair Oaks won 25-18, 25-23, 25-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> In the previous meeting, Blair Oaks'<strong> Mallory Strope, Avery Trinklein</strong>, and 2030 <strong>Quinn Maassen</strong> each had six kills. <strong>Kendall Wood</strong> recorded 21 digs. Southern Boone's 2029 <strong>Kate Berendzen</strong> led with seven kills, and 2029 Kindle Himes led with 21 digs. 2028 <strong>Lilah Hinton</strong> had 15 digs and 11 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Southern Boone will need more offensive production to challenge Blair Oaks. Blair Oaks has looked stronger offensively, faced a tougher schedule, and won the first meeting convincingly. The Falcons sweep again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sullivan (29-7) <strong>vs. Strafford (26-4-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sullivan swept Owensville and St. Clair to win its district. Strafford also swept its way through, beating Ava and Mountain Grove.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Both teams lost to West Plains and swept Liberty of Mountain View. Sullivan lost to West Plains 0-2; Strafford lost 2-3. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> No meeting this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> Strafford's 2028 <strong>Ava Lane</strong> has 224 digs, 458 assists, and 257 kills. 2028 <strong>Trista Vanhorn</strong> has 239 kills and 50 blocks, while 2027 <strong>Reese Coulter </strong>has 254 digs. Sullivan has several contributors: 2029 <strong>Reya Rochleau</strong> with 325 kills and 296 digs; 2027 <strong>Karlee Head</strong> with 305 digs, 151 kills, and 558 assists; <strong>Hayden Webb </strong>with 443 assists; <strong>Payton Bray</strong> with 250 kills; and <strong>Ava Kirk</strong> with 235 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Sullivan's 29 wins mark the most in school history. Strafford, meanwhile, has one of Class 3's strongest all-around players in Lane. The Indians have the tools to make a deep run and win this one 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clever (24-12-1) <strong>vs. Nevada (24-5-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clever upset top-seeded Hollister in five sets to win its district, taking the deciding set 15-11. Nevada swept Monett and Lamar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Clever went 5-3-1; Nevada went 6-2-1. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> No meeting this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to watch:</strong> Nevada's leaders include 2028 <strong>Alatna Snyder</strong> with 400 digs and 2028 <strong>Cora Braden</strong> with 746 assists. 2029 <strong>Natalie Hope</strong> has 353 kills, 2027 <strong>Anna Swarnes</strong> has 179 kills, and 2028 <strong>Karlee Nall</strong> has 151 kills. Clever is led by 2027 <strong>Lauren Bos</strong> with 461 assists and 299 digs, and 2027 <strong>Addy Hoover</strong> with 592 digs. 2029 <strong>Kinsey Coble</strong> has 434 assists; 2029 <strong>Olivia Compton</strong> has 246 kills; and 2030 <strong>Malaya Hickman</strong> has 180 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Nevada has unfinished business after last season's quarterfinal loss. With Hope leading the attack, the Tigers sweep Clever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->