6A Playoff Preview W/ Predictions
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We are taking a look 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…
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Continue ReadingWe are taking a look 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 teams stay alive.
Regional #1- #1 ranked Bishop Kelley, Sand Springs, Booker T. Washington, and Ponca city
The Bishop Kelley Comets have only lost 3 games against teams from Oklahoma this season. Curry Kendall Curry Kendall 6'1" | OH Bishop Kelley | 2024 State OK has been the main firepower for their offense. If she has a big game, BK is a hard team to stop. The 16th ranked team Sand Springs will play a tough match against #17 BTW. The Hornets got the best of the Sandites in the silver championship of the Owasso Tournament. This game will likely come down to the battle in the middle between Layla Lenex Layla Lenex 6'0" | MB Charles Page | 2023 State OK and Taryn McIntosh. Another big battle to watch is between Sydney Thompson Sydney Thompson 5'8" | DS/L Washington | 2022 State OK and Payton Robbins, both are 6 rotation players. Robbins is a little more offensive, while Thompson is more defensive-minded. They both have played well all season. Whichever team wins will play BK for their shot a state. My prediction is reigning state champion, Bishop Kelley, will win in the 4th set against either team that just gave everything they had to win the first match.
Regional #2- Edmond Santa Fe, Mustang, Putnam City North, and Putnam City.
Edmond Santa Fe has bounced between number one and two all season long. They have players at every position on the court that step up in big moments. It will be an interesting matchup with Mustang, as Mustang has been taking sets from highly ranked teams lately and Santa Fe has lost a few sets to lower-ranked teams. My prediction is Mustang snags a set from Santa Fe but it won’t be enough to snap their regional championship streak. Katelyn Branson Katelyn Branson 5'6" | OH Santa Fe | 2022 State OK and Madison Edwards Madison Edwards 6'0" | MB Edmond Santa Fe | 2022 State OK come up big for Santa Fe, as they have in this position many times before.
Regional #3- Jenks, Moore, Stillwater, and Yukon.
This should be an interesting region. Yukon has a middle blocker named Katie Clark Katie Clark 6'1" | MB Yukon | 2022 State OK that is a big kid and if they can get her the ball, she is a playmaker. Stillwater has Bess Glenn Bess Glenn 5'11" | RS Stillwater | 2023 State OK that hits from all over the court and the energy she brings makes her a great teammate. Moore’s Reilly Morrow Reilly Morrow 5'11" | S Moore | 2022 State OK is a very crafty setter and hitter. She makes some brilliant plays that appear to be effortless. My prediction is Jenks has too many weapons and they get into the state tournament. Mikiah Perdue Mikiah Perdue 5'10" | MB Jenks | 2022 State OK and Megan Salyer Megan Salyer 5'5" | DS/L Jenks | 2022 State OK are possibly the best middle blocker and libero in the state. That makes it rough for hitters, if you can get past Perdue’s massive block, Salyer is patrolling behind her.
Regional #4- Edmond Deer Creek, Edmond North, Choctaw, and US. Grant.
Edmond North and Deer Creek saw each other in August and that match went five sets. I see them meeting again in the regional championship match and it being tight again. Cameron Turner Cameron Turner 6'0" | S Deer Creek | 2022 State OK and Jenna Houk Jenna Houk 5'9" | OH Deer Creek | 2023 State OK are both very smart players that don’t make many mistakes. My prediction is Deer Creek punches their ticket in the fourth set.
Regional #5- Norman North, Bartlesville, Westmoore, and Lawton
Norman North has really gotten on a roll as of late. They have won 18 of the last 19 matches, with 11 of those being over top 15 teams. My prediction is this trend continues against Bartlesville. Mia Otten Mia Otten 6'3" | RS Bartlesville | 2022 State OK is probably the best opposite in the state, but it won’t be enough for all of Norman North’s options.
Regional #6- Edmond Memorial, Bixby, Norman, and Southmoore.
Norman has been a scare for some teams this year. Bixby, and 6 rotation standout, Olivia Vance Olivia Vance 5'10" | OH Bixby | 2023 State OK , may have a fight early on their hands. Edmond Memorial has gone through a rough patch lately but all of those losses were to top 10 teams. This is going to help them this time of year. Playing tough teams will just be another week for them. Joeci Hunt Joeci Hunt 5'5" | DS/L Edmond Memorial | 2022 State OK , Devon Scott Devon Scott 5'11" | MB Edmond Memorial | 2022 State OK , and Annie Davis will be too much to handle. My prediction is they win in the 4th set but each set will be close.
Regional #7- Broken Arrow, Union, Northwest Classen, and Enid
Both Union and Broken Arrow are in the same conference and have plenty of seniors who will not be ready for the season to end. This matchup for a state berth will be a knock-down-drag-out fight. They will trade blow for blow with their big front row players. Union is a better serving team but BA is better in serve receive. My prediction is Union feels good winning the last 14 of 15 games, including BA themselves, they get it done across town in a tough 5 set match to upset BA and keep their season alive. Some big hitters from both teams will be worth the watch, Mackenzie McGuire Mackenzie McGuire 6'2" | OH Broken Arrow | 2022 State OK , Madison LaPointe Madison LaPointe 6'1" | RS Union | 2022 State OK , Tierney Jackson Tierney Jackson 6'2" | MB Union | 2022 State OK , and Mia Martin Mia Martin 5'9" | OH Union | 2022 State OK .
Regional #8- Owasso, Bishop McGuinness, Putnam City West, and Muskogee.
Owasso and Bishop McGuinness will both get their first two games over with quickly. Rylee Martin Rylee Martin 5'8" | S Owasso | 2022 State OK for Owasso has been a workhorse for her team all season long. Grace Smallwood Grace Smallwood 5'7" | OH Bishop McGuiness | 2023 State OK came back from her injury and has made McGuinness a totally different team. My prediction is the home crowd for Owasso, who usually shows up in swarms, will help keep their energy and allow them to outlast the Irish to punch their ticket to state.