Class 5 District 3 & 4 Previews

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"type":"1","start":1} --> <ol type="1" start="1"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Howell Central 23-12</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>St. Joseph's Academy 18-10</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pattonville 23-10-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Westminster Christian 20-7-5</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Francis Howell North 8-18-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ritenour 12-9-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hazelwood Central 4-7</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Hazelwood West 7-19-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Riverview Gardens 2-12-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> <strong>Howell Central</strong> and Westminster Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams had an easy quarterfinal round to meet in the semifinals. This one comes down to health for Central. Will they be fully loaded? Both teams have wins against each other. In the latest meeting, Westminster knocked off Central 3-2 with the 5^th set going 16-14. In the win, Westminster received 33 kills from trio <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219782' first='Emma' last='Woll'], Rachel Buchanan</strong>, and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='489911' first='Emory' last='Freesmeier']</strong> while Central 28 from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Logan</strong> <strong>Rubel</strong>. This one comes down to a fully healthy Central squad. If they have the full roster Central takes the win in 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong> <strong>St. Joseph's Academy </strong>and Pattonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the only meeting of the season a week ago, St. Joseph's pulled out a 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='174403' first='Zoe' last='Baliva']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='124216' first='Claire' last='Morrissey']</strong> combined for 25 kills in the win. Pattonville has two of the best outsides in the area <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='168035' first='Reagan' last='Nelson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150044' first='Kylie' last='Surratt']</strong>. If Pattonville wants to advance to the title they will need someone else to step up and help them their outsides<strong>. Faith Cunningham</strong> will need to have a huge blocking performance to help the Pirates knock off the Angels. The Angels counter with one of the top 2024 outsides in the country <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='124216' first='Claire' last='Morrissey']</strong> and hot off a 28-kill performance in a win over Incarnate Word. Morrissey and company knocked off the Pirates in a hotly contested 3-1 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals:</strong> Francis Howell Central and <strong>St. Joseph's Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one will be a gunslinger and whoever can play defense the best will pull out the win. Both teams have D1 commits on the outside. Both have solid middles. The difference between the two is defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='124216' first='Claire' last='Morrissey']</strong> is one of the best outside hitters in the country but what makes her stand out is her defense. She can flat-out defend and that will be the difference in the match. The Angels take the 3-2 championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true,"type":"1","start":1} --> <ol type="1" start="1"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Francis Howell 25-7-1</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Dominic 16-16</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Timberland 21-8</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liberty 20-7-1</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ft. Zumwalt North 17-9-2</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ft. Zumwalt West 15-10</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Troy 7-16-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Battle 7-18-3</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1: Francis Howell</strong> vs. Liberty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Francis Howell has too much for Liberty to handle and they knock off Liberty 3-0<strong>. [player_tooltip player_id='495386' first='Abby' last='Harder']</strong> <strong>and [player_tooltip player_id='216459' first='Reese' last='Douglas']</strong> do all they can for the Eagles but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495274' first='Ella' last='Kloepper'], [player_tooltip player_id='170047' first='Danielle' last='Moore']</strong>, <strong>and [player_tooltip player_id='207586' first='Avery' last='Guisinger']</strong> are more than Liberty can deal with. Plus <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='174285' first='Avery' last='Helms']</strong> keeps the ball from hitting the floor enough to let her attackers finish the plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2: </strong>St. Dominic vs. <strong>Timberland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timberland started the season off 9-0 and got a huge transfer. St. Dominic has been on a rollercoaster this season but plays a brutal schedule to prepare them for the playoffs. Both teams have two of the best setters in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222076' first='Abigail' last='Schoene']</strong> for Timberland and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='174406' first='Brytn' last='Lyon']</strong> for St. Dominic. Timberland attack is led by St. Dominic transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='365820' first='Kayla' last='Robertson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='174405' first='Abby' last='Chall']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207713' first='Kennedy' last='Draggs']</strong> and the Crusaders have <strong>Greta Heiney</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735635' first='Natalie' last='Frazier']</strong>. Emotions will be high in this one and Timberland will outlast the Crusaders in 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals: Francis Howell vs. </strong>Timberland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two have played twice this season and Francis Howell has yet to lose a set to the Wolves<strong>. Claudia Bonacorsi</strong> gets into the action while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153928' first='Morgan' last='Christine Dumm']</strong> and <strong>Mia Wilson</strong> run the offense to perfect. Francis Howell goes back to the playoffs with a 3-0 sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->