4A Playoff Preview W/Predictions

<p>We are taking a dive into each regional tournament, where the winner will take a trip to state and the three other teams will be heading home. We will make some predictions and look at some of the players that could help their team stay alive. </p> <p>In each regional, the #1 seed (team listed first) will be the host school.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #1</strong></span>- #1 ranked Regent Prep, Dewey, Locust Grove, and Central (Tulsa).</p> <p><strong>My Prediction</strong> is Regent doesn’t drop a set. 2022 OH [player_tooltip player_id="144088" first="Beth" last="Bayless"] and Coach Christie remember getting knocked out of the state tournament last season despite being the overall #1 seed. They won't take any games easy now that the playoffs are here. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #2</strong></span>- Victory Christian, Christian Heritage, Seminole, and Douglas.</p> <p>Victory will be looking to grab their fifth straight title. The Conquerors just have too much firepower at the pins for most teams to slow them down. <b> My prediction </b>Victory will also not drop a set in their regional behind 2022 OH [player_tooltip player_id="144089" first="Hannah" last="Warlick"] and [player_tooltip player_id="144087" first="Bella" last="Wakley"]. They have one of the best student sections and it will show at home. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Regional #3</strong>- Verdigris, Skiatook, Wagoner, and Webster.</p> <p>Coach Horton has done a wonderful job for Verdigris. They punched their ticket last season to state before falling in the first round. This has pushed the whole team to work harder this year and has come in as the #3 seed. Look for <strong>Logan Hamilton</strong> to show up in big moments for Verdigris.  My prediction is Verdigris punches their ticket, but not before Skiatook takes at least 1 set. Coach Fithian and company have been to the state tournament plenty of times and know how hard they will need to fight. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #4</strong></span>- Lincoln Christian, Oklahoma Christian School, Blanchard, and Harding Charter Prep.</p> <p>Lincoln is on a "three-peat" currently for state titles. Coach Rader coaches so well that despite losing basically the entire starting lineup from last season, she still has them ranked fourth and eyeing a 4th straight title. <strong>Paiton Tuggle</strong> will be a kid to watch, and if she can hit efficiently from the front row, the Bulldogs will be tough to slow down. 2023 RH <strong>Claire Jeter</strong> and OCS won't go down without a fight. <strong>My prediction</strong> is Lincoln wins 3 close sets over OCS. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #5</strong></span>- Holland Hall, Oklahoma Bible, Weatherford, and Chickasha. </p> <p>All three of these teams will need to travel all the way to Tulsa. Holland hall only has two losses at home this season, to #1 Cascia Hall and to #1 Regent prep. <strong>My prediction: </strong>Home court is just too much and Holland Hall rolls in straight sets both matches. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #6</strong></span>- Inola, Heritage Hall, Oolagah-Talala, and Berryhill. </p> <p>This may be the toughest regional meeting in 4A. Inola has won 30 games this season. Heritage Hall plays in the tough Chisholm Trail Conference. Oologah has 14 wins themselves as a 3 seed. They also have a quality coach that gets the most bang for her buck in terms of her athletes. <strong>My prediction</strong> is Inola will get a hard-fought regional championship. Coach Swope has done a great job building up this program, and leaders such as <strong>Saige Day</strong>, <strong>Sydney Biggs,</strong> and <strong>Brooke Walker</strong> will step up and get their team over the hump. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #7</strong></span>- Catoosa, Bethany, John Marshall, and Mclain. </p> <p>Catoosa has played 41 matches on the year and hasn't played a match since last Tuesday. They will have plenty of experience and rest, a great combo come playoff time. However, Bethany beat Catoosa early in the season. It was razor close with the last set ending 14-16. <strong>My prediction</strong> is Catoosa gets it done at home but it will go the distance to the 5th set and be within 4 points at the end. Look for <strong>Macie Wayne</strong> for Catoosa to get some massive kills that spark some runs for her team.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Regional #8</strong></span>- North Rock Creek, Cache, Tuttle, and Tecumseh. </p> <p>North Rock Creek is in its second year as part of OSSAA in volleyball. They made the state playoffs last season in year one. Unfortunately, <strong>my prediction</strong> is the Western Conference Champs, Cache and new head coach Dalton Dismuke, get the upset in the 4th set. Kloe Heidebrecht and Taylor Schrick are both dynamic players that will lead the Bulldogs to the state tournament. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>