Class 5 Districts 3 and 4 Preview

District 3   Francis Howell Central 17-6-3   Vs. Hazelwood Central 2-4   Francis Howell North 10-17-1   Vs. St. Joseph's Academy 14-8   Pattonville 25-5-1   Vs. Ritenour 11-9-3   Nerinx Hall 23-7-2   Vs. Hazelwood West 11-13-1   Projection:   Semifinal 1   Mizzou commits [player_tooltip player_id='124216' first='Claire' last='Morrissey'] will do all she can to knock off Francis Howell Central but stopping [player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith'], LaShae Pearson, and [player_tooltip player_id='123471' first='Emma' last='Blaine'] is easier said than done. The Spartans should not have much trouble with the Angels and take a 3-0 sweep.   Semifinal 2   The Pirates from Pattonville have two of the most potent attackers in the Saint Louis area: [player_tooltip player_id='150044' first='Kylie' last='Surratt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='168035' first='Reagan' last='Nelson']. Both are outstanding attackers, passers, and defenders for Pattonville. The Markers have a balanced attack with Audrey O'Neill, Kate Schaller, Suzannah Veltz, [player_tooltip player_id='207286' first='Hannah' last='Whatley-Blaine'], and a Florida State commit in [player_tooltip player_id='171210' first='Ella' last='Gaona']. If Pattonville can get help from the role players, they have a shot at knocking off the Markers, but Nerinx Hall has been to the final four the last two years. Pattonville will take care of the Markers in a 5 set battle to move to the finals.   Finals   Francis Howell Central and Pattonville meet up in the finals, a rematch of a knockdown drag-out earlier in the year. Central would take a 23-25, 17-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-11 win over the Pirates. [player_tooltip player_id='150044' first='Kylie' last='Surratt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='168035' first='Reagan' last='Nelson'] would finish with 57 of the team's 61 kills, while Central would get 19 from [player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith'] and 14 from LaShae Pearson. The difference in the match was blocking, where Central would finish with 18 to 7 for the Pirates. In another five-set win, the Spartans move on to the state playoffs.   District 4   Liberty 24-1   Vs. Troy 2-14   Timberland 16-9-3   Vs. Ft. Zumwalt West 11-13   St. Dominic 18-6-3   Vs. Battle 12-5   Francis Howell 21-9-1   Vs. Ft. Zumwalt North 13-9-2   Projection:   Semifinal 1   Liberty has been on cruise control all year, and St. Dominic is going for another district run and return trip to the final four. Liberty will face off with Timberland in the semifinals, and St. Dominic will meet Francis Howell. Liberty beat Timberland the 2nd week of the season 25-21, 30-28, 25-14, and Liberty is playing their best ball at the right time. Savannah Meyer and Abigail Harder led the attack combining 28 of the 49 kills in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='221711' first='Zoey' last='Mitchell'] was the only attacker for Timberland to finish in double digits with 12. Crosstown rivals will battle for a 4-set Liberty win.   Semifinal 2   St. Dominic and Francis Howell matchup will be the third meeting of the year, each taking a win and a loss. [player_tooltip player_id='168903' first='Kayla' last='Robertson'] from St. Dominic had 17 kills in those two meetings, while Howell's [player_tooltip player_id='495274' first='Ella' last='Kloepper'] had 24 kills. Francis Howell has a 23-25, 28-26, 25-15 win in the Oakville Tournament and a 17-25,m 24-26 loss to St. Dominic in the Oakville Tournament. Francis Howell will do enough offensively to take the 3-1 win.   Finals   Liberty and Francis Howell meet in the finals and should come down to defense and blocking. Liberty has a fantastic record but hasn't played as tough a schedule as Howell. Liberty has a massive win over Mater Dei, IL, in 2, and the only loss was to Breese Central, IL, in three. Francis Howell has big wins over Cor Jesu and St. Joseph's Academy. Liberty has the hype this year, and if they can put together another Mater Dei performance, they will win their first district title in 5.

District 3