Class 2 Quarterfinal Previews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saxony Lutheran 26-8-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vs. <strong>Jefferson 29-5-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson is looking to return and finish better than 3rd from last year. In the last week of the season, Jefferson avenged an earlier defeat to Saxony 25-19, 20-25, 17-25, 25-17, 16-14. Saxony is looking to make the school's first final four. Both teams stacked with talent in every position; unfortunately, one of these teams will not make the final four. Jefferson wins the edge in passing and defense, with [player_tooltip player_id='202458' first='Grace' last='Lowery'] and [player_tooltip player_id='102557' first='Ava' last='Roth'] combining for 540 digs. Setter Paige Sibert runs the show with 958 assists and distributes the ball to three big bombers, [player_tooltip player_id='168923' first='Emma' last='Breier'], [player_tooltip player_id='101698' first='Kirstyn' last='Loyd'], and [player_tooltip player_id='102557' first='Ava' last='Roth'], with 980+ kills between the three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saxony opened everyone's eyes when they knocked off Jefferson at the Dig for Life Tournament 25-22, 25-24, and went on to win the 62-team tournament. Comparing common opponents, Saxony has the edge with a 7-1 while Jefferson went 5-2-1. Josey Wahlers dominates the middle for the Crusaders with 301 kills and 133 blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='230387' first='Isabel' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='230386' first='Landre' last='Hoehne'] run the 6-2 offense and have 885 assists. Paige Seibel and [player_tooltip player_id='240203' first='Clara' last='brune'] combine for 372 kills, and Anna Mueller patrols the backcourt with 360 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the game to watch for Class 2 because either one of these teams has the talent to win it all in Class 2. The battle will come down to the combination of the defense for Jefferson and their big hitters. Jefferson will advance to its second final four with a 3-1 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lone Jack 30-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vs. <strong>East Buchanan 30-5-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lone Jack has [player_tooltip player_id='171217' first='Ashlynn' last='Rowland'] and her 379 kills, while East Buchanan has [player_tooltip player_id='99225' first='Maya' last='Watkins'] and her 380 kills. Kylie Clark runs the offense for East Buchanan with 909 assists. Both teams went 5-1 with common opponents and sought their school's first-ever trip to the volleyball final four. Kinzie Woodside has 508 digs to lead the defense. East Buchanan is a more balanced team offensively and defensively than Lone Jack. Lone Jack is a younger team that starts only one senior, while East Buchanan starts two seniors and four juniors. East Buchanan with the 3-1 win to advance to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hermann 29-9-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vs. Stover 25-6-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2 state playoffs roll around, and Hermann breaks many teams' hearts, and this year will be no different. The defending Class 2 champions will return to the final four with a 3-0 sweep of the Bulldogs. [player_tooltip player_id='168912' first='Holly' last='Heldt'] will dominate out of the middle and add to her 553 kills. Jill Rood and Shelby Schutt will chip in at the net, while [player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus'] and Paige Schulte keep the balls from hitting the floor. Stover will counter with [player_tooltip player_id='493061' first='Ashlyn' last='Pinzke'] and Allie Palmer at the net while Hannah Bauer moves the ball to her pin hitters. Ultimately Hermann is just too much for Stover to contend with and will end their season in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Strafford 25-8-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vs. Fair Grove 30-1-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only season loss for Fair Grove came at the hands of the Indians 25-19, 25-15 in the Branson tournament the first weekend of the season. Since then, Fair Grove has gone 29-0-1 and knocked off Strafford 21-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-22, and 15-12. [player_tooltip player_id='171211' first='Kameron' last='Green'] led the way with 18 kills, Hannah Maxwell 10, Brooke Daniels 9, [player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby'] 9, Strafford received 12 kills from Ashley Suter, Sophia Frerking 10, and [player_tooltip player_id='150023' first='Abby' last='Chadwell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='170042' first='Halle' last='Forester'] both added nine kills each in the loss. Strafford knows how to win come playoffs and make a repeat trip to the final four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->