Class 5 District Preview: Contenders, Predictions, Key Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 5 districts bring a mix of established contenders, deep fields, and potential surprises. Jackson and Incarnate Word Academy look like favorites in their brackets, while District 2 is packed with teams capable of making a run. Here are my predictions and the players to watch in Districts 1–4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} --> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jackson — 34-3</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Oakville — 17-15-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Seckman — 18-9-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mehlville — 10-12-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Pius X — 12-14</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Northwest — 13-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Poplar Bluff — 12-16-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fox — 5-13-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> Jackson and Mehlville should meet after Jackson handles Fox and Mehlville edges St. Pius X in the quarterfinals. Lindbergh offers an interesting comparison: both teams swept the Flyers, but Jackson did it more comfortably. <strong>Audrey Thomas</strong> and <strong>Lily Deroy</strong> led Mehlville in its 25-20, 27-25, and 25-22 wins. Jackson beat Lindbergh at the Jackson Tournament, 25-19, 25-19, though the team doesn't regularly update its stats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson has too much firepower for Mehlville to contain and sweeps the Panthers to reach the final. UPDATE: <strong>(St. Pius X swept Mehlville)!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> Oakville and Seckman should advance after sweeping their quarterfinal opponents. This would be a rematch of a match Seckman won just a week ago, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16. <strong>Sarah Albers</strong> had 11 kills, and <strong>Zoe Matus</strong> added nine for Seckman, while <strong>Evelyn Haarmann</strong> led Oakville with nine kills. Seckman has too many options on the pins for the Tigers to contain and sweeps again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> Jackson and Seckman meet for the district title. Jackson's <strong>Lauren Dorey, Avery Brune</strong>, and <strong>Kate Church </strong>lead the way as the Indians sweep Seckman to claim the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} --> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lafayette — 28-5</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Eureka — 26-8</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Westminster Christian — 22-8-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cor Jesu — 16-10</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kirkwood — 17-11</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Marquette — 14-17</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lindbergh — 16-9</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkway South — 20-7</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkway West — 10-13-4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This district is loaded. With Cor Jesu, Westminster Christian, and Lindbergh joining an already strong field, it may be the state's toughest bracket. Any of these teams could win on the right night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1: Lafayette</strong> vs. Cor Jesu. Lafayette should sweep Parkway South to advance, while Cor Jesu faces Marquette in a rematch. In their previous matchup, Cor Jesu got 10 kills from <strong>Lilah Mazur</strong>, four blocks from <strong>Ally Pasagic</strong>, and 16 assists from <strong>Avery Finney</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette and Cor Jesu met in the season opener, with Lafayette winning in five. <strong>Madi Alleman</strong> had 10 kills, <strong>Peyton Dolly</strong> had 11, and <strong>Aubrey Toti</strong> led the way with 32. Cor Jesu spread its offense across 11 players, with <strong>Addison Lehman</strong> leading the team with seven kills. Lafayette's 66 kills to Cor Jesu's 37, along with 17 blocks to Cor Jesu's zero, made the difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time, Lafayette wins in four sets and advances to the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2: Eureka</strong> vs. Westminster. Eureka swept Lindbergh, while Westminster swept the youthful Mustangs, setting up their matchup. Westminster won their last meeting, 25-17, 25-17, with<strong> Emory</strong> <strong>Freesmeier </strong>and <strong>Lyric Hughes</strong> recording eight kills each. Westminster was more efficient offensively and outblocked Eureka, which had more swings but struggled to finish. I'll take Eureka to respond with a five-set win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final: Lafayette</strong> vs. Eureka. Lafayette and Eureka meet for the title. Lafayette won their matchup just over a week ago, 25-14, 25-21, 28-26, behind 24 kills from Toti, 19 assists from <strong>Gigi Foley</strong>, and 22 digs from <strong>Aubrey Dumstorff</strong>. <strong>Shaye Witherspoon</strong> also played, recording six kills in just her second match of the season. With Witherspoon, Lafayette gets the sweep; without her, I still expect the Lancers to win in four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} --> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Incarnate Word Academy — 29-6</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fort Zumwalt North — 14-7</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Francis Howell Central — 13-19</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Francis Howell North — 11-15-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pattonville — 11-15</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ladue — 4-12</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ritenour — 16-12</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hazelwood West — 13-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hazelwood Central — 11-11</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This looks like a one-team race, with Incarnate Word Academy the clear favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1: Incarnate Word Academy</strong> and Francis Howell North should meet in the first semifinal. I don't expect this one to be close: IWA beat Howell North 25-21 and 25-17 just last week. <strong>Audrey Schaeffer</strong> was excellent defensively, collecting 18 digs in the two-set match. IWA completes the job with a sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> <strong>Fort Zumwalt North</strong> and Francis Howell Central meet in the other semifinal. North beat Central last week, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 25-18. <strong>Gabby Cusumano</strong> came through with 11 kills, while <strong>Nadia Bray</strong> recorded a double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs. <strong>Charlotte Fischer</strong> and <strong>Ava Schuette</strong> led Central. I'll take North to a 3-1 win and advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> <strong>Incarnate Word Academy</strong> and Fort Zumwalt North meet for the title. Festus is a common opponent: North went 0-2 against the Tigers, while IWA beat them 25-22, 25-13. Erin Donald and <strong>Bailey Hensgens</strong> give IWA too much firepower, while <strong>Audrey Schaeffer, Kendall Stroer, Lucy Reckamp</strong> and <strong>Abbi Koelling </strong>anchor a defense that keeps the ball off the floor. The Red Knights sweep their way to another district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"start":1} --> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Fort Zumwalt West — 22-5</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>North Point — 22-10</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rock Bridge — 16-18</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Battle — 24-8-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Francis Howell — 12-17</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hickman — 13-13-5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Troy — 7-17-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Timberland — 8-15-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liberty — 8-17-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> <strong>Fort Zumwalt West</strong> and Battle should meet in the first semifinal. West already swept Battle at the Warrenton Tournament, 25-11, 25-20. <strong>Lyla Steber</strong> had 13 kills on .600, and <strong>Natalie Pineda</strong> added eight kills on .350. <strong>Ady Buttrum</strong> leads the attack, while <strong>Isabella Marecek</strong> and <strong>Jetta Jones </strong>help anchor the defense. I'll take West in another sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> <strong>North Point</strong> and Rock Bridge have each beaten the other this season. Rock Bridge won at an early-season tournament, but North Point took the most recent matchup, 18-25, 25-17, 26-24. <strong>Raina Reynolds</strong> led the Grizzlies with seven kills and a .545 hitting percentage. Rock Bridge got 11 kills from <strong>Kinley Blakeman</strong> and 25 assists from <strong>Chloe Bakker</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one should go five sets, with <strong>Albany Humphrey</strong> coming up big to help North Point advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> <strong>Fort Zumwalt West</strong> and North Point meet for the title. West won the regular-season matchup, 25-17, 25-22, 25-20, with 18 kills from <strong>Ady Buttrum</strong> and 11 from Steber. Four West players also had at least eight digs. I expect a similar result: <strong>Carina Buttrum</strong> and the defense make the difference as West wins the district title, 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->