Previews, Predictions: Class 3A Regional Finals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week, <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-3a-regional-brackets/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/10/predictions-players-to-watch-in-class-3a-regional-brackets/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I wrote about players to watch and offered predictions</a> for the Class 3A Regionals. All of the teams picked to reach state advanced through the semifinals last night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While I'm going to stick with my eight for the state tournament, I wanted to take a closer look at who will be playing in Tuesday's regional finals. Here are thoughts on each match:<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOUNT VERNON AT WILTON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> One of the most consistently competitive programs in Class 3A, Mount Vernon looks to reach the state tournament for a ninth year in a row and for the 14th time in 15 seasons. Wilton is a program on the rise attempting to top one of the standard bearers and advance to state for the first time since 2021 and the eighth time ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilton won the River Valley Conference Tournament behind the strong play of [player_tooltip player_id='490009' first='Leah' last='Caffery'], Aliana Walker, [player_tooltip player_id='917987' first='Abren' last='Bazal'], Everly Huthmacher, [player_tooltip player_id='894302' first='Taylor' last='Billhorn'] and others. [player_tooltip player_id='893732' first='Madison' last='Hoffert'], [player_tooltip player_id='555712' first='Sophia' last='Meester'], [player_tooltip player_id='773029' first='Brynlee' last='Bettcher'], [player_tooltip player_id='893729' first='Madelyn' last='Paulus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488579' first='Mavrik' last='Schweer'] have helped the Mustangs maintain a high level of play for yet another campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a toss-up match where five sets could very well be needed to decide a winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Mount Vernon, 3-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KUEMPER CATHOLIC AT CHEROKEE WASHINGTON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> Two teams that reached last year's state tournament face off with another bid on the line. Whoever advances will have earned it against an opponent worthy of being there, too. It's their first time meeting since at least 2008, according to Bound.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherokee Washington received the hosting assignment thanks to finishing higher in the IGHSAU final rankings with a talented roster that includes [player_tooltip player_id='574225' first='Addy' last='Wolfswinkel'], [player_tooltip player_id='493982' first='Deidra' last='Doeden'], Ellana Mortenson, [player_tooltip player_id='918847' first='Ireland' last='Kennedy'] and Mahren Malausky. Kuemper counters with a group powered by [player_tooltip player_id='902857' first='Mariah' last='Heuton'], [player_tooltip player_id='902929' first='Kolbi' last='Peter'], Addy Anthofer, [player_tooltip player_id='946351' first='Sophie' last='Lohrmann'] and [player_tooltip player_id='946319' first='Riley' last='Sommerfeld'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This match should be very competitive with perseverance needed to claim victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Cherokee Washington, 3-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MID-PRAIRIE AT ROLAND-STORY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> After stunning No. 1 seed Center Point-Urbana on the road in Thursday's regional semifinals, Mid-Prairie will be in enemy territory again in seeking its third trip in a row to state. Standing in the way is a host in Roland-Story seeking to secure its first state appearance since 2002.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The home team poses a stiff challenge for the Golden Hawks with [player_tooltip player_id='493981' first='Brookelyn' last='Jondle'], Maddi Lucas, [player_tooltip player_id='493603' first='Miley' last='Geise'], Karsyn Lande and Riley Johnson on its side of the net. Mid-Prairie counters with a formidable bunch that includes [player_tooltip player_id='775157' first='Jeorgia' last='Evans'], [player_tooltip player_id='878434' first='Ashlee' last='Statler'], [player_tooltip player_id='819843' first='Tessa' last='Bombei'], [player_tooltip player_id='847955' first='Sierra' last='Crowner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='847970' first='Elise' last='Foster'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I picked Roland-Story to win this region prior to it getting underway, and the Norsemen's odds went up now that they're hosting the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Roland-Story, 3-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST DELAWARE AT SOLON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> The Region 5 final pits a pair of WaMaC foes against each other with a state tournament bid on the line. West Delaware must reverse its fortunes this year after going 0-2 against the Spartans, including a 3-0 regular-season setback and 2-1 loss in the conference tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solon will be trying to punch its first ticket to state since 2014, when the program secured a title, behind a capable bunch that features [player_tooltip player_id='754537' first='Amelia' last='Guinn'], [player_tooltip player_id='768502' first='Charleigh' last='Whitford'], [player_tooltip player_id='993804' first='Addison' last='Walter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1017507' first='Zephie' last='Bishop'], [player_tooltip player_id='1036948' first='Macy' last='Fuller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='720363' first='Scarlett' last='Ferin']. A scrappy and well-connected bunch of Hawks includes Ava Hohn, [player_tooltip player_id='879460' first='Rylee' last='Berning'], [player_tooltip player_id='893666' first='Sofia' last='Schulte'], [player_tooltip player_id='893668' first='Karly' last='Ogden'], [player_tooltip player_id='1046924' first='Reagan' last='Cummings'] and Lily Kass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Solon, 3-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UNITY CHRISTIAN AT HUMBOLDT</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> Humboldt pulled off one of the state tournament's biggest stunners last season in knocking off favorite Western Christian en route to an appearance in the title match. Despite key graduation losses, the Wildcats have put themselves in position for another run at the crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their deep lineup has [player_tooltip player_id='545946' first='Addison' last='Waldorf'], [player_tooltip player_id='746258' first='Adelynn' last='Goodell'], [player_tooltip player_id='833174' first='Jazzie' last='Dodd'], [player_tooltip player_id='1046951' first='Callie' last='Olson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='993181' first='Ryah' last='Cirks'] leading the way. Unity Christian counters with a group led by Makenna Haan, [player_tooltip player_id='838761' first='Summer' last='Schouten'], Cheyenne Hulshof and Avery Rowenhorst. The Knights have a tall task ahead of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Humboldt, 3-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WILLIAMSBURG AT DIKE-NEW HARTFORD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> Dike-New Hartford ranks among the most successful programs in state history. The Wolverines are consistently in the hunt to win it all. This year certainly is no exception. They represent an incredibly stiff challenge for a Williamsburg program trying to reach state for the first time since 2010.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After knocking off higher-seeded Knoxville on the road in Thursday's semifinals, the Raiders will be looking to pull off a much larger upset behind [player_tooltip player_id='730449' first='Kylee' last='Suhr'], [player_tooltip player_id='589347' first='Clarissa' last='Suhr'], [player_tooltip player_id='849192' first='Ellie' last='Nielsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='782157' first='Maggie' last='Jensen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='805918' first='Jordyn' last='Skaggs']. It won't be easy against the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='751358' first='Emmie' last='Sager'], [player_tooltip player_id='893719' first='Aubrey' last='Asche'], [player_tooltip player_id='893076' first='Kailyn' last='Meester'], Jaelyn Smith, [player_tooltip player_id='1045426' first='Keilana' last='Berinobis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='894796' first='Ruby' last='Varney'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Dike-New Hartford, 3-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MOC-FLOYD VALLEY VS NEW HAMPTON AT ALGONA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> With almost four hours separating these two schools, they'll be the only teams in classes 3A-5A playing at a neutral site. It's understandable considering the distance but also seems unfair to an MOC-Floyd Valley squad that earned the right to play in its own gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dutchmen are equipped to overcome the unusual circumstances with [player_tooltip player_id='573313' first='Deviryn' last='McCarty'], [player_tooltip player_id='493656' first='Lily' last='Vander Pol'], [player_tooltip player_id='758792' first='Camryn' last='Brightwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='741261' first='Brielle' last='Hoegh'] and Beau Gilmore leading the pack. [player_tooltip player_id='604510' first='Aleigha' last='Cahoy'], Ella Wassenaar, [player_tooltip player_id='827878' first='Sydney' last='Laures'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1048382' first='Carlee' last='Steinlage'] stand out for a determined New Hampton outfit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> MOC-Floyd Valley, 3-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>REGION 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TREYNOR AT WESTERN CHRISTIAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Breakdown:</strong> Western Christian has been champing at the bit all season after coming up short of another state title last year as the favorite. The Wolfpack challenged itself with another tough schedule in 2026 and is the heavy favorite to win it all thanks to a loaded roster that includes [player_tooltip player_id='781456' first='Morgan' last='Kooiman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1053499' first='Josie' last='Hall'], [player_tooltip player_id='767740' first='Maddyn' last='De Jager'], [player_tooltip player_id='741260' first='Hadley' last='Dekkers'], [player_tooltip player_id='902904' first='Kennedy' last='Van't Hul'] and [player_tooltip player_id='741262' first='Breslyn' last='Kooima'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a great opportunity for Treynor. The Cardinals will have [player_tooltip player_id='837515' first='Rylee' last='Hemmingsen'], Addison Mauer, [player_tooltip player_id='728711' first='Shaylee' last='Smith'] and Izzy Vorthmann leading the way in pursuit of a major upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Western Christian, 3-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->