Class 3 State Semifinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Potosi Trojans 25-9-1 vs. <strong>Odessa Bulldogs 25-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong> Potosi took out two Notre Dame on the way to the school's first final four. 1^st, they knocked out Cape Notre Dame 3-1 before sweeping past STL Notre Dame. Odessa squeaked a 3-2 win over Savannah before knocking off Class 3 power Pleasant Hill 3-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Potosi:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Layla Juliette – 2025 – 5'8" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>190 kills and 39 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eve Litton – 2028 – 5'7" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>46 kills and 36 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Macyn Mccarthy – 2027 – 5'2" – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>408 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Odessa:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221012' first='Rylee' last='Adams'] – 2025 – 5'8" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>272 kills and 227 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brooklyn Stevens – 2025 – 5'3" – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>265 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylee Hicklin – 2026 – 6'0" - Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>188 kills and 48 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting: No</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents: Kirkwood and St. Pius X</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Odessa beat Kirkwood and lost to St. Pius in 2, while Potosi lost to Kirkwood and St. Pius 1-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> These teams are new to the final four as first-time qualifiers. So, first-game jitters could cause one to fold, and one will rise. Both teams have their big bomber without being an outside, and the other is a middle. Both have a good mix of youth and experience. Offensively, the edge goes to Potosi with two players over 400 kills, but defensively, Odessa is stronger. The significant part of the game is what big bombers will put their team on their back and win. [player_tooltip player_id='170045' first='Ava' last='Robart'] has played some big-time games with many attempts and kills. Kali Adamec for Odessa will be hard for Potosi to stop. She's bigger and more athletic than the Potosi middles. Odessa will pull out the 3-1 win, moving them into the championship match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinal 2:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldon Mustangs 25-11-1 vs. <strong>Logan-Rogersville Wildcats 20-15-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How they got here:</strong> Rogersville swept through the Sectionals and Quarterfinals with wins over Sullivan and Mt. Vernon. Eldon got by Southern Boone 3-1 before sweeping MICDS in the quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eldon:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='236996' first='Corin' last='Davis'] – 2026 – 5'8" – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>297 kills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sarah Tompkins – 2027 – 5'2" – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>243 digs and 478 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sara Mccoy – 2026 – 5'7” – Middle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>195 kills and 56 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rogersville:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taylor Wray – 2026 – 5'7" – Libero</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>424 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='542226' first='Addison' last='Hammond'] – 2026 – 5'9" – Outside</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>153 kills and 331 digs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kamryn Marshall – 2026 – 5'7" – Setter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>234 digs and 534 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Previous Meeting:</strong> No</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Common Opponents: </strong>Bolivar, Buffalo, Fair Grove, Helias, Linn, Marshfield, Strafford, and Williard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldon went 2-5-1, and Rogersville went 4-4 against the opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> This will be a defensive battle with more than one team dominating offensively. After some research, I've heard both teams are very defensive without big-time hitters like Potosi and Odessa. This one will come down to who will terminate the ball at a higher rate than they did during the season. Both teams will keep the ball alive and make you make mistakes. This one will go 5, with Rogersville pulling out the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->