Class 4 District Previews: Predictions and Key Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 4 district play promises tough matchups and plenty of standout players. Farmington and Festus look poised for another district-title showdown, while several other districts could come down to the wire. Here are my predictions for 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>Farmington — 22-7</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Festus — 17-10-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hillsboro — 21-7-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Windsor — 17-10-4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Sikeston — 15-12-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cape Central — 10-16-5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Affton — 10-15</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Confluence Prep — 7-10</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>DeSoto — 2-20-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> Farmington advances after sweeping DeSoto in the quarterfinals, while Windsor knocks out Sikeston to set up a matchup with the Black Knights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Festus is a common opponent that offers a useful comparison. Windsor went 0-2 against the Tigers, losing all five sets, while Farmington beat Festus 3-1. In that win, <strong>Lila Roth</strong> had 16 kills and 12 digs, <strong>Kylie Woods</strong> added 16 kills and 13 digs, and <strong>Ally Boyd</strong> recorded 13 digs and 41 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Windsor's loss to Festus, 2029 middle <strong>Claire Wofford</strong> led the Owls with 10 kills. Farmington has too much firepower on the pins for Windsor to contain. The Black Knights sweep the Owls and advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> Festus and Hillsboro meet after Festus handled Affton and Hillsboro beat Cape Central in the quarterfinals. Festus won the teams' regular-season meeting, 25-17, 25-23, 25-18, behind 14 kills from <strong>Rylee</strong> <strong>Lawrence</strong> and 18 digs from <strong>Maggie Drury</strong>. Hillsboro libero <strong>Tessa Woods</strong> led the Hawks with 19 digs. I'll take Festus to repeat the result with a sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> Farmington and Festus meet for the second time this season. Farmington won the first matchup, 25-22, 26-24, 19-25, 25-18, with double-doubles from Roth (16 kills, 12 digs) and Woods (16 kills, 13 digs). Boyd added 13 digs and 41 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Festus will need more production from its other hitters alongside Lawrence, who had 21 kills in the earlier match. Farmington wins again, but this time it takes five sets, pulling out a 15-12 victory in the deciding set.</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>Rockwood Summit — 22-9-1</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pacific — 19-4-4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ursuline — 9-9</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Webster Groves — 11-13</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Nerinx Hall — 16-14</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Washington — 17-13-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Union — 6-18-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gateway — 3-14</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> Summit rolls past Gateway in the quarterfinals, while Webster Groves edges Nerinx Hall in four sets. Summit beat Webster Groves during the regular season, 25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 25-17, with <strong>Avery Long </strong>contributing 10 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webster Groves provides little statistical information, but 2028 middle <strong>Addie Rice</strong> is the district's top middle. To pull off the upset, Webster Groves needs to get her the ball consistently while she's in the front row. Summit still gets the 3-1 win and advances to the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> Pacific sweeps Union, while Ursuline handles Washington to set up the other semifinal. Lindbergh is the common opponent to watch: it beat Pacific in a five-set marathon, winning the deciding set 15-10, and defeated Ursuline, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pacific's young hitters—2029 <strong>Caroline Payne, Kaitlyn Bonds</strong>, and 2029 <strong>Daisy Wengler</strong>—had 10, 12, and 13 kills, respectively, in their match against Lindbergh. Ursuline got key contributions from 2030 <strong>Brynn Valin</strong> (10 kills), <strong>Reese Adamec</strong> (12), and <strong>Eliza Torres</strong> (13).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The difference-maker could be Pacific's 6-foot-3 middle, <strong>Arden Brewer</strong>. She'll help contain Ursuline's pin hitters as Pacific wins in five and advances to meet Summit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> Summit and Pacific meet for the district title. Summit recently swept Lindbergh, and I expect the Falcons to carry that momentum into the final. Led by 2029 libero <strong>MacKenzie Pancer</strong> and middles <strong>Jayla</strong> <strong>Williams</strong> and <strong>Zoey Zwiefel</strong>, Summit sweeps Pacific.</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>St. Joseph's Academy — 17-14</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>MICDS — 22-4</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkway Central — 22-12-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Clayton — 14-12</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkway North — 11-8</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hazelwood East — 13-5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>University City — 14-11</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>McCluer North — 8-18</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>McCluer — 1-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> St. Joseph's Academy and Clayton meet in the first semifinal. Both teams have played Nerinx Hall: St. Joe swept the Markers, while Clayton lost 1-2 early in the season. <strong>Hannah Maddock</strong> and <strong>Annie</strong> <strong>Beyer </strong>led Clayton with 17 kills. St. Joe got 12 kills from 2030 <strong>Emma Donovan</strong> and seven from <strong>Lilly Ringhofer</strong>. I'll take St. Joe to keep its momentum going and sweep Clayton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> MICDS and Parkway Central should have little trouble reaching the semifinals. Ladue is a common opponent: Parkway Central went 4-0 against the Rams, with <strong>Madelyn Schaefer</strong> adding 32 kills and <strong>Luca Arriola</strong> 9. MICDS also beat Ladue in three sets, 25-18, 25-15, 25-7, with <strong>May Durrill</strong> recording 19 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams rely on a top hitter, and Parkway Central has strong leadership from its seniors. MICDS has a more balanced offense, but the Colts are stronger defensively. The Rams will need a big performance from 6-foot-2 middle <strong>Gertie Habel</strong> to help contain Parkway Central's top pin hitter. I'll take MICDS in five.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final:</strong> St. Joe and MICDS met in a matchup against Marquette. St. Joe swept the matchup, while MICDS lost 1-2. <strong>Emma Donovan</strong> and <strong>Remy Stack</strong> each had 10 kills for St. Joe, while <strong>May Durrill</strong> led MICDS with 10, and 2029 <strong>Nadia Schultz</strong> added nine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This should be a battle, but St. Joe has the edge in passing and defense. The Angels win 3-1 and advance.</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>St. Dominic — 19-9</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Hannibal — 31-4</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Orchard Farm — 18-4-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Holt — 18-10</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Warrenton — 11-15-5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kirksville — 6-13</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fort Zumwalt South — 5-17-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Charles — 5-17</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Fort Zumwalt East — 3-23-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> St. Dominic should reach the final with a sweep of Holt, while Hannibal gets past Orchard Farm to set up a title matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Grove is a common opponent to compare against. St. Dominic lost 25-27, 21-25, while Hannibal fell 25-23, 25-17, 25-15. <strong>Maddy Mannebach</strong> led St. Dominic with seven kills, followed by <strong>Shelby Knittels</strong> with six. Hannibal got 15 kills from <strong>Marissa Falconer</strong> and 13 from <strong>Lyla Dorsey</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final will pit St. Dominic's size against Hannibal's quick offense. Hannibal finished third in Class 4 last year, while St. Dominic competed in Class 5. The Pirates' quick attack will be key, and a change at libero could help Hannibal edge St. Dominic in five sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->