Class 4 Finals: St. Dominic Wins First State Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Dominic claimed the first state championship in program history, defeating defending Class 3 champion Helias in the Class 4 final. Smithville rallied from an opening-set loss to earn third place in its first Final Four appearance, while Summit finished fourth in its Final Four debut.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4 Championship: Helias vs. St. Dominic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Dominic controlled the first two sets, winning 25–13 and 25–19. Helias responded with a strong third set, taking it 25–23, and pushed the Crusaders to the limit in the fourth. After four ties and three lead changes, St. Dominic held on for a 27–25 win and its first state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Maddy Mannebach — St. Dominic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mannebach was a powerful presence on the left pin and one of St. Dominic's go-to attackers throughout the final. She finished with 19 kills at a .261 hitting percentage, consistently pressuring Helias' defense. She also contributed at the net with three blocks and helped in the back row with eight digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Anna Denny — St. Dominic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denny delivered an efficient performance on the opposite pin, finishing with 14 kills at a .538 hitting percentage. Her timely attacks helped St. Dominic maintain its early advantage, and she added 17 digs to support the defense. Denny was especially impactful late in the fourth set, making key plays that helped the Crusaders regain the lead and close out the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emily Frazier — St. Dominic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frazier helped set the defensive tone early, making difficult digs as St. Dominic built its two-set lead. She finished as the match's digs leader with 26, keeping Helias' attacks alive and helping the Crusaders transition from defense to offense. She also added seven assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Charlotte Bland — St. Dominic</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bland would be my pick for the Final Four MVP. She did an excellent job directing St. Dominic's offense, finding the team's big hitters while also varying the attack. Her choices helped keep Helias guessing, especially as the match tightened. Bland finished with a match-high 56 assists, 16 digs, four kills and two blocks for a double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emma Hulsey — Helias</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hulsey raised her level after Helias fell behind by two sets, helping the Crusaders fight back. She contributed to Helias' third-set win and remained a major offensive option in the fourth. Hulsey finished with 16 kills on .359 shooting, committing only two errors. She also recorded three digs and three blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Aubrie Bernskoetter — Helias</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bernskoetter entered the match in the third set and gave Helias an important spark. The 6-foot middle helped drive the Crusaders' comeback, attacking efficiently and contributing at the net. She led Helias with a .438 hitting percentage, recording eight kills with just one error, along with three blocks. Her play helped Helias stay competitive through the final two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Alyssa Scherr — Helias</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scherr kept Helias' offense moving, distributing the ball to the hitters, finding success as the Crusaders mounted their comeback. The setter finished with 42 assists and 14 digs, recording a double-double. Her ability to spread the offense helped Helias win the third set and push St. Dominic to a close finish in the fourth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 4 Third-Place Match: Smithville vs. Summit</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smithville bounced back after dropping the opening set 25–15, winning the next three, 25–23, 25–23 and 25–20, to secure third place in its first Final Four appearance. Summit finished fourth in its first trip to the Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Jaycee Tyrrell — Smithville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyrrell helped shift the momentum in Smithville's favor in the second set and led the Warriors with 16 kills at a .256 hitting percentage. Her attacking helped Smithville respond after the opening-set loss and build its comeback. She also contributed three blocks and nine digs, finishing one dig short of a double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Paige Outler — Smithville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outler made her presence felt at the net, recording three blocks and disrupting Summit's attack. She was also exceptionally efficient offensively: her .600 hitting percentage was the highest in Class 4 among players with at least 10 attempts. Her combination of efficient attacking and blocking helped Smithville complete the comeback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Zoey Zweifel — Summit</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zweifel provided an efficient offensive option for Summit, leading the team with nine kills at a .444 hitting percentage. She made just one error on 18 attempts and added two blocks. Her jump float also pressured Smithville's serve receive, often forcing the Warriors out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->