Previews - Class 1 Quarterfinals

They may be small towns, but the volleyball programs will be the hot action with packed gymnasiums. Class 1 will have at least two newcomers this year. The only teams still in the playoffs that made the final four last year are the two-time defending state champions Advance Hornets and 4th-place finisher Galena Bears. Jasper is looking for their program's first trip to the final four, and Jasper has the best hitter in Class 1. Rock Port and Bismarck are looking for their 2nd trip to a final four. Old timers Bernie, Santa Fe, and Winona are looking to make a return trip for these tradition-rich programs. Anywhere you go, you should see some terrific battles. Enjoy the preview!   Quarterfinal 1   Bernie Mules 19-9-3 vs. Advance Hornets 21-11-2   How they got here: Advance smacked around Oak Ridge 25-21, 25-10, and 25-11. Bernie had a little more of a fight to advance and beat Holcomb   Previous Meeting: Advance has a win over Bernie 25-21, 25-16, and 25-14. [player_tooltip player_id='170048' first='Addison' last='Carlton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'] were the kill leaders with nine and eight, respectively, in the win. 24-26, 25-11, 25-10, and 25-23.   Key Players   Advance:   [player_tooltip player_id='170048' first='Addison' last='Carlton'] – 2025 – 5'5" – Outside   372 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='475335' first='Olivia' last='Kennedy'] – 2027 – 5'9" – Middle   262 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='237006' first='Emma' last='Eilers'] – 2026 – 5'5" – Outside   183 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='230385' first='Kyndall' last='Hitt'] – 2026 – 5'4” – Setter   886 assists   Brogan Hawkins – 2026 – 5'6” – Libero   367 digs   Claire Sturgeon – 2027 – 5'8” – Middle   153 kills   Bernie:   [player_tooltip player_id='737672' first='Bailey' last='Henry'] – 2025 – 5'8" – Outside   390 kills   Blair Pleimling – 2026 – 5'8” – Outside   241 kills   Kealea Powell – 2025 – 5'8" – Middle   228 kills   Prediction: Advance has been here and done it enough to know what they are doing to keep on going. Every player on the Advance team has been a part of the program's success since they were little. Bernie was a power program in the 90s but has yet to find the success they once had to make a return to the final four since 2015. This Advance program knows how to win and will sweep Bernie to keep their hopes alive for a three-peat.   Quarterfinal 4   Santa Fe Chiefs 22-9 vs. Rock Port Blue Jays 16-14-2   How they got here: Santa Fe pulled out the 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, and 25-14 win over Osceola. Rock Port did the same to Plattsburg, getting the 25-19, 25-19, 19-25, 25-22 win.   Common Opponent: Both lost to Lone Jack. Santa Fe lost 2-3, while Rock Port lost 0-2.   Key Players:   Santa Fe:   [player_tooltip player_id='174283' first='Emma' last='Michael'] – 2025 – 5'9" – Middle   396 kills   Brooke Dierking – 2025 – 5'8" – Outside   178 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='735265' first='Mia' last='Lark'] – 2026 – 5'5” – Libero   418 digs   [player_tooltip player_id='735568' first='Mae' last='Vandiver'] – 2026 – 5'0” – Setter   780 assists   Rock Port:   Braylyn Wood – 2028 – 5'9" – Outside   177 kills   Ella Meyerkorth – 2026 – 5'7” – Outside   151 kills   Kinley Lair – 2028 – 5'10" – Middle   140 kills   Addison Maifeld – 2025 – 5'4" – Setter   630 assists   Prediction: Rock Port might be a few years away from making a trip to the final four. They start or play up to six 2028s. Santa Fe is looking for its 24th trip to the final four and eighth state championships. Santa Fe will knock out Rock Port in a 3-0 sweep.   Quarterfinal 2   Bismarck Indians 31-5-1 vs. Winona Wildcats 31-3-2   How they got here: Bismarck stomped Tipton 25-8, 25-11, 25-16, and Winona thumped Chadwick 25-13, 25-7, 25-9.   Common Opponents: Bunker, Clarkton, Ellington, Lesterville, South Iron, and Valle Catholic   Bismarck beat all but lost to Valle Catholic 0-3. Winona beat all and split with Valle Catholic.   Key Players:   Winona:   Sadie Kile – 2028 – 5'9" – Middle   481 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='237001' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] – 2026 – 5'9" – Middle   357 kills   Lauren Martin – 2028 – 5'7" – Outside   143 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='232323' first='Lexi' last='Lindsey'] – 2026 – 5'4" – Setter   966 assists   Bismarck:   [player_tooltip player_id='236994' first='Ashley' last='Hawkins'] – 2026 – 5'10” – Outside   509 kills   [player_tooltip player_id='729484' first='Loryn' last='Pierson'] – 2028 – 5'10” – Middle   269 kills   Karlee Dickey – 2028 – 5'4” – Libero   275 digs   Prediction: Keep these two teams in mind over the next few years because we could see them battle it out for the right to reach a final four, as both have a solid 2028 class. Both teams have been one of the best Class 1 teams all season and have played demanding schedules for Class 1 teams. Both teams have common opponents and beat those teams very similarly. I've watched Bismarck win the district over Lesterville. I watched enough videos of Winona to know what they have, and I have watched them in person over the last two years. Both play 2028s in critical positions and rely on those players to make enormous contributions. [player_tooltip player_id='236994' first='Ashley' last='Hawkins'] is one of the top hitters in Class 1, and [player_tooltip player_id='237001' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] of Winona. Winona has the edge on setting as [player_tooltip player_id='232323' first='Lexi' last='Lindsey'] has run the offense since she started as a freshman. Here's the difference maker in this game. When [player_tooltip player_id='236994' first='Ashley' last='Hawkins'] rotates to the back row, they need a solid #2 hitter who can routinely put the ball down. This is where Winona will have a considerable edge. When [player_tooltip player_id='237001' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] isn't up front, they have the best Class 1 2028 hitter in Sadie Kile, who is doing damage. I saw it in the Bismarck/Lesterville match. Winona gets the sweep over Bismarck to advance to the school's 16th final four.   Quarterfinals 3   Galena Bears 30-8 vs. Jasper Eagles 33-1   How they got here: Galena knocked off Lockwood 25-23, 24-26, 25-21, 25-15 while Jasper knocked out Archie 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21.   Common Opponents: Greenfield, Greenwood, Lockwood, Marionville, McAuley Catholic, School of the Ozarks, Thomas Jefferson.   Galena went 5-2, while Jasper went 7-0   Key Players   Galena:   [player_tooltip player_id='234466' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] – 2026 – 5'7" – Outside   625 kills and 469 digs   Baylee Stacy – 2025 – 5'6" – Outside   285 kills   Averi Foster – 2025 – 5'5” – Setter   453 digs and 926 assists   Jasper:   [player_tooltip player_id='234361' first='Crystal' last='Smith'] – 2025 – 5'10” – Middle   535 kills and 75 blocks   [player_tooltip player_id='493079' first='Shiloh' last='Storm'] – 2025 – 5'6” – Setter   870 assists   Alivea Roberts – 2026 – 5'7” – Outside   126 kills and 223 digs   Prediction: Jasper was 1 point away from making the school's first final four last year at this very point last year. Who beat them? Galena stormed back in the 5th set to make their first final four. The rosters are a little different this year, and so will the result. [player_tooltip player_id='234361' first='Crystal' last='Smith'] is an unreal athlete who will devastate the ball time and time again. She has 1959 kills and jumps out of the gym. [player_tooltip player_id='234466' first='Melanie' last='Rice'] is the stud for the Galena Bears this year and has 625 kills on the outside. This will be a battle. Jasper will get revenge and take a 3-2 win to advance to their first final four.

They may be small towns, but the volleyball programs will be the hot action with packed gymnasiums. Class 1 will have at least two newcomers this year. The only teams still in the playoffs that made the final four last year are the two-time defending state champions Advance Hornets and 4^th-place finisher Galena Bears. Jasper is looking for their program's first trip to the final four, and Jasper has the best hitter in Class 1. Rock Port and Bismarck are looking for their 2^nd trip to a final four. Old timers Bernie, Santa Fe, and Winona are looking to make a return trip for these tradition-rich programs. Anywhere you go, you should see some terrific battles. Enjoy the preview!