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<p>Better late than never.</p>
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<p><strong>Class 1 3<sup>rd</sup> Place</strong></p>
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<p>Northwest Lady Mustangs took on Galena Lady Bears in the Class 1 3<sup>rd</sup> place match and swept to the school's highest finishes with a 25-13, 25-13, 25-10 win. [player_tooltip player_id='234465' first='Kaesha' last='Walter'] was the only offensive output for the Bears as she finished with 15 kills and eight digs. Northwest had a balanced attack in the win and was led by 2024 outside <strong>Grace Walker</strong> who led the Northwest attack with 13 kills. In 2024 <strong>Karlie Smith</strong> added 12 kills and nine digs, and in 2026 <strong>Gabriella Meyer </strong>added 12 kills, eight digs, and two blocks in the win.</p>
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<p><strong>Class 2 3<sup>rd</sup> Place</strong></p>
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<p>After dropping a heartbreaker in 5 to Hermann the day before Bishop LeBlond regrouped and would win the 3<sup>rd</sup> Place match 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 25-20. 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='232218' first='Rilyn' last='Conard'], 2024 <strong>Madie Sego</strong> and<strong> Lindsey Atha</strong> combined for 42 of the team's 55 kills in the win. Arcadia Valley's 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='737619' first='Kayla' last='Sumpter']</strong> finished with 18 kills and 2024 <strong>Cate Newstead-Adams </strong>added 14 in the loss.</p>
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<p><strong>Class 2 Championship</strong></p>
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<p>This one started with the building being evacuated because of a fire and after an hour and a half wait to return to action the two teams got together for a little dance-off. Once the match started it was an epic Class 2 championship battle. Fair Grove would hold off the Bearcats with a dramatic 5-set win 22-25, 25-18,17-25, 25-21, and 15-5 to win the school's first state volleyball title. Fair Grove used everyone in its attack against the Bearcats getting double-digit kills from 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='342445' first='Hannah' last='Maxwell'] and 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493046' first='Shea' last='Skouby']</strong> added 16 and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='737648' first='Ashton' last='Bell'] </strong>contributed 11. Defense was the name of the game for the Eagles as they would finish with 119 team digs. In 2024 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495351' first='Faith' last='Klindworth']</strong> led the way with 33 and in 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349621' first='Brooke' last='Daniels']</strong> added 25. In the loss for the Bearcats 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='490635' first='Sydney' last='Schulte']</strong> finished with 16 as the team's kill leader followed by 2026 <strong>Ashlyn Hughes</strong> with 15, and 2024 <strong>Jill Rood </strong>with 12. 2025 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493022' first='Kennedie' last='Witthaus']</strong> carried the defense with 35 digs.</p>
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<p><strong>Class 1 Championship</strong></p>
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<p>Class 1 went as I expected all season long as the Advance Hornets would repeat as Champions and win their 5<sup>th</sup> title in 6 years. 2024's <strong>Abigail Kennedy</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='168900' first='Alexis' last='Hoffman'] were unstoppable in the win combining for 27 kills and hitting .482 in the convincing 25-13, 25-13, and 25-20 win. 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='168908' first='Enzley' last='Dinkins'] led the Panthers with eight kills, 10 assists, and 21 digs while 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='205304' first='Emmy' last='Gayle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='174284' first='Lexie' last='Bollinger'] added 19 kills. The Panther's highest finish was 4<sup>th</sup> in a prior visit to the final four and beat that finish this season taking 2<sup>nd</sup> in Class 1.</p>
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