Class 1 Rankings

1. Miller Cardinals 13-2   The defending state champions are still the favorite to repeat in Class 1. The losses are to Fair Grove 17-25, 23-25, 13-25, and Strafford 17-25, 25-14, 13-25, 23-25. Emberlynn Kingsley leads the team with 84 kills, Haylie Schnake with 81 kills, and libero Addison Stockton paces the defense with 112 digs. I can't see Miller getting a challenge until they make the state playoffs in Class 1.   2. Winona Wildcats 15-2-2   The Wildcats are on a tear this year with a big win over Lesterville 3-1 and received a monster game from Bailee Luttrell with 18 kills. A big weekend at the Perryville tournament should help see how good this team is with potential meetings with South Iron, Advance, and Lesterville. Right now, they are the 2nd best team in Class 1.   3. South Iron Panthers 12-4-3   South Iron won another big conference match against Lesterville 3-1. The Panthers would have big leads in each set and close it out in 4 to give them the nod in late October over the Bearcats in the districts. Lesterville beat South Iron 2-0 in the Dig for Life Tournament, and South Iron went into Lesterville and beat them on the home court. Perryville Tournament could see matchups with Advance, Winona, and Lesterville. [player_tooltip player_id='168914' first='Maddie' last='Ayers']'s defense and passing keep this team in every match.   4. Sacred Heart Gremlins 15-4   The Gremlins went to Santa Fe this week and knocked off the Chiefs in 5 with the 5th set 15-13. [player_tooltip player_id='152126' first='Emma' last='Siron'] would smash 33 kills on .492 hitting in the win. Win no losses to a Class 1 team and knocked off Santa Fe, who knocked out the Gremlins in the state playoffs last season. [player_tooltip player_id='152126' first='Emma' last='Siron'] has 262 kills for the season and is probably the best class 1 player.   5. Santa Fe Chiefs 10-3-2   With the five-set loss to Sacred Heart, the Chiefs drop a couple to the 5th spot. In the loss, [player_tooltip player_id='170031' first='Kameron' last='Dankenbring'] finished with 34 kills, and that's the highest kill number by any class 1 player at this point in the season. Santa Fe shouldn't have any troubles the rest of the season until the playoffs start.   6. Bell City Cubs 17-2-1   I can only look at opponents they've played with no accurate info on the Cubs regarding stats. One impressive win was over Advance in 4. A big match against Gideon on 10/7 will better gauge the Cubs. I can't see them losing to anyone else from the remaining schedule.   7. Drexel Bobcats 11-2   Another team should finish the year strong and be ready for the playoffs. The Bobcats lost to Lone Jack and Sherwood in 5 and avenged the loss to Lone Jack by beating them in the Drexel Tournament in 3. Emily Wheeler leads a trio of hitters with over 100+ kills, with 169. Paige Gordon adds 118 kills, and Olivia Shipps is next with 110 kills.   8. Lesterville Bearcats 14-3   The Bearcats started the year with a 13-1 but gone 1-2 in the last three games. Both losses come to district foe South Iron in 4 and then potential state playoff foe Winona 1-3. Big weekend at Perryville with potential rematches with South Iron, Winona, and Advance, who Lesterville beat 3-1.   9. Advance Hornets 8-4   The Hornets are in the Perryville Tournament, and it should be a big day to meet up with Winona, South Iron, or Lesterville. Lesterville took a 3-1 win over the Hornets already this year. In losing to the Bearcats, [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] led the team with 18 kills, and Addison Carlton finished with 8.   10. Gideon Bulldogs 16-6   The Bulldogs have lost six on the year, but those were to some excellent teams. Advance, Winona, Ste. Genevieve, Saxony Lutheran, Jefferson, and [program_tooltip program_id='428790' first='Park' last='Hills'] Central. Kaylee Ashabranner leads the team with 332 kills, while Skyla Woodall adds 107 kills. A big matchup is coming up with Bernie and Bell City in the first week of October.

1. Miller Cardinals 13-2