Players to Get to Know in Time for Missouri Class 1 Sectionals
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Image Credit: Semoball.com Now that the dust has settled and 16 teams have staked their claim to Sectionals, we will look at the players you may not know heading into Class 1 sectionals – but should. There will be plenty…
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Now that the dust has settled and 16 teams have staked their claim to Sectionals, we will look at the players you may not know heading into Class 1 sectionals – but should. There will be plenty of names you will recognize: all-staters Kenna O’Riley from Bishop LeBlond; Alyssa Miles, Roz Schrader and Nyah Wilson from Advance – and more.
Sectionals begin November 2 at various sites around the state. Here are the match-ups in Class 1.
Bloomfield (14-15-1) vs. Advance (32-2)
Holcomb (17-11-2) vs. Crystal City (13-13-2)
Winners will meet for spot in Final Four
Crest Ridge (24-6-3) vs. Bishop LeBlond (21-10-2)
Santa Fe (31-1-3) vs. Rock Port (20-5)
Winners will meet for spot in Final Four
Summersville (11-18-4) vs. Billings (20-5-2)
Lesterville (18-11-4) vs. Miller (27-3-2)
Winners will meet for spot in Final Four
Rich Hill (14-13-1) vs. Sacred Heart (14-10-3)
Greenfield (8-12-4) vs. Calvary Lutheran (21-6-3)
Winners will meet for spot in Final Four
Ashton Bell – Setter, Bloomfield
The season was full of question marks for Bloomfield, as many believed the cupboard was bare; the winners of five-straight district titles had lost a handful of senior leadership at the end of 2018. Bell has quarterbacked the Bloomfield offense beautifully, averaging 7.8 assists per set. The junior had 25 assists in eliminating state-qualifier Bernie at districts, then 18 assists in the final against Campbell.
Ashleigh Damazyn – Libero, Crystal City
An all-district selection last season, Damazyn and Crystal City turned around a 2018 where it finished 8-14 into a trip to sectionals in 2019. The senior libero is averaging 5.7 digs per set and has 355 digs and 271 serve receptions heading into the final week of the season.
Morgan Heimer – Middle Hitter, Billings
Heimer and senior all-state outside Bailey Groves are a tough match-up for any defense. Heimer has been a dynamo for the Wildcats this season and would love to lead the way back to Cape Girardeau. The senior is averaging 4.5 kills per set and had 17 kills, 28 digs and three blocks in the district final against Blue Eye.
Mitchell – courtesy Ozark Sports ZoneAlli Mitchell – Setter, Miller
Mitchell has done a stellar job handling Miller’s offense in her sophomore season, averaging 8.3 assists per set in 64 sets for 532 assists on the year. She has a great handle on spreading the ball out to all of her options on the court; the Cardinals have four players with over 100 kills this season. Miller will be a tough out in Sectionals and – if they advance – in the Final Four behind an offense run by Mitchell.
Carrigan Smith – Outside Hitter, Santa Fe
Smith has followed up her junior all-state season with 293 kills entering sectionals. The outside also has 235 digs and 75 aces. Smith has really come on of late for the Chiefs, with double-digit kills and digs in her last four matches.
Adriauna Wallen – Middle Hitter, Greenfield
There is such a thing in sports where being hot at the right time can mean everything. Greenfield is a hot team right now, winning seven straight matches. Wallen is amongst Class 1’s leaders in solo blocks with 55. The senior captain is also averaging 2.5 kills per set for the Wildcats. In Greenfield’s seven-match win-streak, Wallen averaged one block per set, as well as 8.4 kills per set.