Gateway Matchup Tournament Preview

One of the top tournaments in the Saint Louis area will take place on September 21, 22, and 24th. The pools are set, and the matchups will be something to watch. Two teams who made the state final four are on the field, and some big-time players will be making plays all over the court. Eureka knocked off Nerinx Hall, and Oakville squeezed past Marquette in the semifinals last year. Eureka would hold off Oakville in the final for a 2-1 win.    Pool A   Oakville – Pool Winner   Visitation Academy – 2nd   Webster Groves – 4th   Parkway West – 3rd   [player_tooltip player_id='150012' first='Tess' last='McConnell'] carries her team to first place in Pool A. [player_tooltip player_id='220388' first='Giovanna' last='Bonifacio'] does enough damage on the outside to help the Vivettes finish in 2nd.   Pool B   Eureka – Pool Winner   Kirkwood – 3rd   Pattonville – 2nd   Rosati Kain -4th   Eureka rolls this pool with [player_tooltip player_id='124215' first='Olivia' last='Hasbrook'] patrolling the backcourt and [player_tooltip player_id='123473' first='Abby' last='Holt'] taking care of the outside. Pattonville takes second behind the two outside studs in Nelson and Surratt.   Pool C   Nerinx Hall – 2nd   Francis Howell – Pool Winner   Incarnate Word Academy – 3rd   Rockwood Summit -4th   This pool will be a battle with Francis Howell's Dumm sisters dishing out the assists is just enough to squeak past the Markers.   Pool D   Marquette – 2nd   St. Dominic – Pool Winner   Lutheran South – 4th   Jackson – 3rd   It should be called Pool of Death because any four could win this one. St. Dominic has a more rounded team and should take the pool title. The Mustangs put all the weight on the setter's shoulders, and she delivers enough to the pins for the 2nd place finish.   Semifinals:   Eureka   Vs.   Francis Howell   Eureka already swept Howell earlier in the season and will do so again with a 2-0 win.   St. Dominic   Vs.   Oakville   The Crusaders have the edge in setting and pin hitters. Oakville has the edge in the middle, but that isn't enough to knock off St. Dominic as the Crusaders take the semifinal 2-1.   Finals:   Eureka   Vs.   St. Dominic   Eureka is too much to handle for teams in this field. The Wildcats have a stacked lineup at every position with one of the best liberos in the state. Mix in the 6-2 offense they run and have a front-row of 6-footers across the net makes Eureka a tough team to beat. They have ball control, setting, blocking, and hitters everywhere on the court. The first contact is the one aspect of their game that sets them apart. St. Dominic also has talent all over the court, but ball control is an area that Eureka dominates. Eureka behind [player_tooltip player_id='150048' first='Rylie' last='Cepicky'], [player_tooltip player_id='123459' first='Mia' last='Berg'], [player_tooltip player_id='169897' first='Jenna' last='Cubbage'], [player_tooltip player_id='123473' first='Abby' last='Holt'], and Paige Klipsch is more than the Crusaders can handle. Eureka wins in a sweep.

One of the top tournaments in the Saint Louis area will take place on September 21, 22, and 24^th. The pools are set, and the matchups will be something to watch. Two teams who made the state final four are on the field, and some big-time players will be making plays all over the court. Eureka knocked off Nerinx Hall, and Oakville squeezed past Marquette in the semifinals last year. Eureka would hold off Oakville in the final for a 2-1 win.