Four Heavyweights, One Crown: Class 5 Final Four Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East meets West in a Class 5 Final Four packed with proven contenders. The top two teams from the St. Louis area face off in one semifinal, while two Kansas City-area rivals meet in the other. There's no Cinderella story here: all four teams have been among the state's best all season, and each has a real shot at the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette is chasing a fifth consecutive championship. Incarnate Word Academy hopes to beat the Lancers for the second time this season. Lee's Summit North is aiming to return to the title match after finishing runner-up last year, while Lee's Summit West is ready to show why the Titans live up to their name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5 Semifinal 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette (33-5) vs.</strong> Incarnate Word Academy (33-6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette swept Jackson in the quarterfinals, 25-16, 25-19, 25-21. Incarnate Word Academy advanced with a four-set win over Rock Bridge, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Common opponents favor Lafayette, which went 9-0 against them, while IWA finished 7-2. But the Red Knights have already shown they can beat the Lancers: IWA swept Lafayette, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers are looking to capture their fifth straight championship and 11th state title overall. In the earlier meeting with IWA, 2029 pin hitter <strong>Aubrey Toti</strong> led Lafayette with 14 kills. <strong>Sylvia Caby</strong>, a 2028, added six kills and four blocks, while 2027 middle <strong>Peyton Dolly</strong> had five kills and three blocks. <strong>Mia Bergoudian</strong>, a 2030, also finished with five kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hailey Lowery</strong> recorded 16 assists, and libero <strong>Aubrey Dumstorff</strong> posted 25 digs. But Lafayette was missing an important piece: <strong>Shaye Witherspoon</strong> did not play. Witherspoon's return gives the Lancers another potent left-side attacker and adds a new dimension to an already dangerous lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Incarnate Word Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>IWA is making its 29th Final Four appearance and will be chasing its 13th state title. Two of the Red Knights' losses this season came against Jackson—the same team Lafayette defeated to reach the Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their sweep of Lafayette, IWA's middles delivered a dominant performance.<strong> Bailey Hensgens </strong>piled up 16 kills and five blocks, while 2029 middle <strong>Erin Donald</strong> added six kills and five blocks. <strong>Sara Stanek</strong> and <strong>Alyssa Brown</strong>, both 2030s, combined for 10 kills and six blocks. <strong>Avery Buckley</strong>, a 2028, handed out 15 assists, and libero <strong>Audrey Schaeffer</strong> anchored the defense with 20 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rematch should look very different with Witherspoon back in Lafayette's lineup. Both teams defend well, but their strengths create a compelling contrast: IWA's tough middle attack against Lafayette's powerful pins. Both sides also bring strong blocking, capable setters, and elite liberos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette has the edge in upperclassmen experience, while three 2030s play key roles for IWA. This could be a long, physical battle—but Lafayette has a knack for rising to the occasion at the Final Four, and I don't bet against the Lancers there. The Lancers win in four grueling sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5 Semifinal 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lee's Summit West (31-3) vs.</strong> Lee's Summit North (33-4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This semifinal brings a rivalry just seven miles down the road to the state stage. Lee's Summit West last reached the Final Four in 2023, finishing third. Lee's Summit North returns after taking runner-up honors last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams battled through five-set quarterfinals. North beat Liberty North, while West outlasted Ozark, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 15-10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West went 14-1 against common opponents; North finished 11-3. Their head-to-head meetings split the other way: North won 27-25, 25-19 at the MoKan Tournament, but West answered with a four-set win, 21-25, 25-23, 25-13, 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lee's Summit West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In its four-set win over North, West spread its attack across the lineup. <strong>Lauren Newbold</strong>, a 2027, led with 16 kills. <strong>Gracyn Lamely</strong>, a 2028, had 12, while 2027s <strong>Hallie Ganga</strong> and <strong>Tori Massengill</strong> each added 10. <strong>Briley Zerbe</strong> finished with eight kills, and <strong>Elley Barnett</strong>, a 2030, added five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mizzou committed, and 2028 libero Andi Gardner led the defense with 30 digs. Jaelyn Jordan paced the offense with 32 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lee's Summit North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North's offense is young, but already dangerous. In the loss to West, 2028 opposite <strong>Kenzie Huhman </strong>and 2029 <strong>Nylah Rinard</strong> each had 11 kills, while 2030 <strong>Tinsley Bahr</strong> added nine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leighton Benne,</strong> a 2027, kept the offense moving and helped steady the back row, finishing with 31 assists and 24 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rivalry is already intense, and a Final Four meeting raises the stakes even higher. West looks built to win now, with an experienced lineup, powerful pins, and strong defense. North is younger but has the benefit of last year's Final Four experience—and proved it could respond under pressure when injuries tested the team in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams bring size, athleticism, strong passing, and dangerous hitters on the pins. Expect a close match that goes the distance. West pulls away in the fifth set to earn a place in the title match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tinsley Bahr — Lee's Summit North.</strong> I was excited to watch Bahr when I saw the Broncos at the Rockwood Tournament. The 6-foot outside hitter finished that match with five kills, but her potential was clear. A physical attacker who keeps getting better, Bahr broke out in the district semifinal against Blue Springs with a season-high 19 kills, then followed with 13 in the championship match against Blue Springs South. She hit .429 in both matches. If she keeps that momentum going, she could be a major factor for North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andi Gardner — Lee's Summit West.</strong> This will be my first chance to see Gardner, a future Division I libero, in action—and she could be a difference-maker for the Titans. She anchors a strong defense and brings the kind of ball control that can keep West's offense rolling. If Gardner is at her best, West will be tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shaye Witherspoon — Lafayette.</strong> Who wouldn't want to watch Witherspoon? She's headed to Nebraska, home to one of the nation's top college programs, and her return gives Lafayette another high-impact attacker for its title defense. After watching from the sidelines as her team played without her, she's back for the postseason spotlight. In the district quarterfinals, her first swing was a crushing line shot—a reminder that she may be just getting started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bailey Hensgens — Incarnate Word Academy.</strong> The high-flying middle is looking to cap her remarkable career with a state title. Hensgens is a force in the middle, pairing power with the ability to find ways to score. Her .417 hitting percentage shows just how efficient she is. She's also closing in on 1,200 career kills and already has more than 380 career blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->