Missouri Class 3 and Class 4 Girls Final Four Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four semifinal matchups will decide who advances to the state championship matches in Missouri's Class 3 and Class 4 girls volleyball tournaments. In Class 3, undefeated Potosi is chasing another title, while Nevada is looking to cap the best season in program history. Class 4 features a first-time Final Four team in Summit, a St. Dominic squad seeking its first return to the title match since 2022, and defending Class 3 champion Helias Catholic, which has carried its winning momentum into a new class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3 Semifinal 1: Potosi (38-0-1) vs.</strong> Borgia (26-13-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potosi is making its second Final Four appearance in three years. The Trojans won the state title on their first trip two seasons ago and are back after defeating Burroughs in the quarterfinals, 25-12, 25-9, 20-25, 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Borgia is making its 22nd Final Four appearance and will seek its 12th state title—and its first since 2019. The Knights survived a five-set battle with Blair Oaks, winning 16-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 15-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Potosi went 6-0; Borgia went 3-2-1. Potosi swept Rogersville, while Borgia lost to Rogersville. Potosi also swept St. Pius X, while Borgia lost to St. Pius X, 1-3. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potosi</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A formidable trio leads the Trojans, including <strong>Eden Robart</strong>, one of the best hitters in state history. Robart had 28 kills while hitting .344 in the win over Burroughs. Libero <strong>Macyn McCarthy</strong> added 28 digs, and setter <strong>Adalynn Gibson</strong> dished out 45 assists. All three have put up standout numbers in Class 3 and statewide.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Borgia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Borgia returns to the Final Four after playing up two classes in recent years. In the five-set quarterfinal win over Blair Oaks, the Knights caught fire in the deciding set, with <strong>Gabby Schwoeppe's</strong> serving and setting helping them take an early lead. Middle <strong>Kaiya Weber</strong> delivered several key kills and two crucial blocks in the fifth set. Fellow middle <strong>Katelyn Straatmann</strong> also came through in the clutch, putting down the final four kills to send Borgia back to the Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams look capable of meeting again in the championship match, but Borgia faces a difficult challenge against a Potosi team that has been nearly unbeatable. The Knights should keep the match competitive, but containing Robart and the Trojans' offense will be a tall order. Potosi's supporting cast can make key plays to keep rallies alive and turn its defense into offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Potosi wins in four sets</strong> and advances to the championship match with a chance to claim its second title in three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3 Semifinal 2:</strong> Nevada (26-5-3) <strong>vs. Oak Grove (30-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nevada reached the first Final Four in program history by defeating Sullivan, 25-15, 17-25, 25-23, 26-24. Oak Grove is making back-to-back appearances and is looking to reach the championship match after falling in five sets to eventual champion Helias in last year's semifinals. The Panthers earned their return trip by holding off St. Pius X, 25-18, 25-18, 26-28, 27-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Nevada went 2-1-1; Oak Grove went 4-0. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nevada</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best season in program history has brought the Tigers to the Final Four, but they'll be aiming for more than a historic run. Nevada got a strong quarterfinal performance from<strong> Karlee Nall,</strong> who finished with 16 kills. <strong>Natalie Hope</strong> added 13 kills and 19 digs, setter <strong>Cora Braden</strong> had 17 digs and 35 assists, and defensive specialist <strong>Halle Hawks</strong> chipped in 13 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oak Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After last year's heartbreaking semifinal loss to eventual champion Helias, Oak Grove is once again among the state's top contenders. The Panthers' young roster is led by sisters <strong>Piper and Paisley Hudson</strong>, who have more than 425 and 413 kills, respectively. Setter <strong>Emmy Brown</strong> has 666 assists, <strong>Liv Schubert</strong> has 214, and libero <strong>Ava Chrisco</strong> has 191.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Piper Hudson</strong> is one of the nation's top sophomores. The 6-foot-1 left-handed opposite is a difficult matchup and gives Oak Grove a powerful attacking option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nevada has put together a tremendous season, but Oak Grove's high-powered attack will be tough to contain. <strong>Marlee Wilkinson</strong> is set to make her Final Four debut, and I expect her to help the Panthers get past the semifinals and reach the program's first state championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Oak Grove advances.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4 Semifinal 1:</strong> Summit (26-9-1) <strong>vs. St. Dominic (23-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summit will make the first Final Four appearance in program history after defeating Festus, 25-16, 25-20, 27-25. After surviving five-set battles in both the district semifinals and final, Summit advanced with a more comfortable quarterfinal win. St. Dominic swept St. Joseph's Academy, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14, to reach its sixth Final Four and first since 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Summit went 5-5; St. Dominic went 8-2. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> St. Dominic won 25-10, 25-19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Summit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summit battled through two five-set district matches before sweeping Festus in the quarterfinals. In the earlier meeting with St. Dominic, <strong>Maya Davis</strong> led Summit with six kills, followed by <strong>Lucy Vanderheyden</strong> with four. <strong>MacKenzie Pancer</strong> had a team-high nine digs, and <strong>Delaney Pye</strong> finished with five assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That meeting was a difficult one for Summit. When I watched the team face Nerinx Hall in the district semifinals, Jayla Williams stood out in the middle and showed the kind of presence Summit will need in this matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Dominic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders controlled the quarterfinal against St. Joseph's Academy. <strong>Maddy Mannebach</strong> led the attack with 12 kills and a .429 clip. <strong>Celia Wunderlich</strong> added six aces, libero <strong>Emily Frazier</strong> had a team-high 11 digs, and Charlotte Bland dished out 21 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Dominic won the teams' previous meeting decisively, and the Crusaders will likely look to build on that performance by continuing to run their offense through Mannebach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Summit to have a chance, it will need more production from Williams than it got in the previous meeting, when she finished with one kill on eight attempts. St. Dominic is one of the toughest teams left in the tournament, but getting Williams more involved in the attack could give Summit a better chance to compete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: St. Dominic wins in four sets</strong> and advances to the championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4 Semifinal 2: Helias Catholic (34-0-1) vs.</strong> Smithville (27-7-1)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Helias Catholic keeps rolling. The defending Class 3 champions earned their 30th sweep of the season by defeating West Plains. Smithville also advanced with a sweep, beating St. Teresa's Academy, 27-25, 25-18, 25-18.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common opponents:</strong> Helias swept Hickman; Smithville defeated Hickman in two sets. <strong>Head-to-head:</strong> None.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Helias Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After winning the Class 3 title, Helias moved up to Class 4 this season and has continued to dominate. Against West Plains, <strong>Nora Lock</strong> led the offense with 11 kills, followed by <strong>Kayla Pitts</strong> with nine.<strong> Emma Hulsey</strong> added eight blocks and seven kills, <strong>Hayley Hoffmann</strong> had 23 digs, and <strong>Alyssa Scherr</strong> finished with 34 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Smithville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the sweep of St. Teresa's Academy, <strong>Emily Hart</strong> and<strong> Jaycee Tyrrell </strong>each recorded seven kills, with Hart adding five blocks. <strong>Heidi Cochran</strong> also had seven kills and hit .538. Libero <strong>Lexie Seifert</strong> led the Warriors with 12 digs and 18 assists for a double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To take down the defending champions, Smithville will need a balanced attack and a strong defensive performance. Helias has experience in the state semifinals, reaching the title match in Class 3 last year after a five-set semifinal. The Warriors should make this a competitive matchup, but Helias has the experience and firepower to advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Helias wins in four sets</strong> and reaches the championship match against St. Dominic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->