Class 2 Districts 1-8: Road to the Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year in Class 2, there's a noticeable shift in the competition, with a new champion poised to be crowned and at least two fresh faces expected to join the Final Four. Teams like St. Vincent, Valle, and Hermann are among my top picks to advance to the sectional round. Let's dive into my predictions for each district, from 1 to 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Portageville 28-5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malden 20-7-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Prairie 13-15-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senath 12-17-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twin Rivers 8-13-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caruthersville 7-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> Portageville is set to face Malden for the third time this season. In the previous two matchups, Portageville emerged victorious, and I predict they will do so again. This victory would secure their fifth consecutive district title, fueled by the outstanding performances of [player_tooltip player_id='735534' first='Gloriaha' last='Farmer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816571' first='Maggie' last='Priggel'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Vincent 22-6-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodland 12-12-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott City 11-20-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Puxico 14-10-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly 6-19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charleston 0-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Semifinal Matchups:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 1: </strong><br><strong>St. Vincent </strong>vs. Puxico: I expect St. Vincent to advance smoothly to the finals, defeating Puxico without any trouble 3-0.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 2: </strong><br><strong>Woodland </strong>vs.<strong> </strong>Scott City<strong>:</strong> In a competitive semifinal, Woodland previously triumphed over Scott City with a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-20, 28-26, 21-25, 18-25, 15-10), thanks to an impressive 18 kills from [player_tooltip player_id='732886' first='Makayla' last='Altenthal']. I predict Woodland will secure another win, this time 3-1.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals:</strong> St. Vincent and Woodland met earlier this season, with St. Vincent winning decisively (25-22, 25-19, 25-11) behind a stellar performance featuring 30 kills from [player_tooltip player_id='225325' first='Kate' last='Rubel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='810478' first='Alaina' last='Cates'] (class of 2026). I anticipate an even easier match for St. Vincent in the finals, leading to a 3-0 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Arcadia Valley 16-13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West County 6-20-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenville 11-17-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kingston 6-22-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clearwater 3-29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grandview 4-17-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction:</strong> District 3 is among the weaker Class 2 districts, with only Arcadia Valley holding a winning record. Led by 2027 standout [player_tooltip player_id='813867' first='Hattie' last='Vinyard'] and 2026's [player_tooltip player_id='831923' first='Emma' last='Dunn'], both of whom contributed ten kills in their previous matches, Arcadia Valley has not lost a single set to any of the teams in their district this season. I predict they will dominate the competition and sweep their way to the district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valle Catholic 25-6-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson 17-11-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collegiate School of Med-Bio 29-3-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKinley 14-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop DuBourg 7-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valley Park 4-15-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 1:</strong> I predict Valle will sweep their way to the finals without any issues.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 2: </strong><br><strong>Jefferson </strong>vs. Med-Bio: In the second semifinal, Jefferson will face Med-Bio. Although Med-Bio boasts a better overall record, they haven't faced the same level of competition as Jefferson. With strong performances from [player_tooltip player_id='837554' first='Ryleigh' last='Johnson'] and <strong>Olivia Bone</strong>, Jefferson will decisively secure a sweep in this matchup.<br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals:</strong> Valle and Jefferson will meet for the second time this season. In their previous encounter, Valle won convincingly (25-19, 25-14, 29-27), with [player_tooltip player_id='827056' first='Lexie' last='Rayoum'] contributing 11 kills. Jefferson's top performer, 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='835817' first='Kendall' last='Broadwater'], managed only four kills in that match. I expect Valle to handle Jefferson once again, leading to another sweep in the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duchesne 18-9-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brentwood 22-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitfield 4-17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lutheran North 11-18-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosati-Kain 4-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KIPP 2-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Semifinal 1: <br><strong>Duchesne </strong>vs. Lutheran North: Duchesne will sweep their way to the finals with a decisive victory over Lutheran North.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Semifinal 2: <br><strong>Brentwood </strong>vs. Whitfield: Brentwood will also secure a spot in the finals by delivering a strong performance against Whitfield, winning in a sweep.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the finals, Duchesne and Brentwood will meet for the first time this season. I predict that <strong>Emmie Nikodym</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='708619' first='Mia' last='Piskulich'] will shine at the net, leading Duchesne to end Brentwood's season with another sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hermann 14-13-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linn 20-7-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Callaway 16-9-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belle 13-9-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bourbon 14-13-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery County 3-23-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 1: </strong><br><strong>Hermann </strong>vs. Belle<br>Hermann, a powerhouse in the district, is expected to face Belle. I predict that Hermann will advance to the finals with a decisive sweep over Belle.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 2: </strong><br><strong>Linn </strong>vs. North Callaway<br>In the second semifinal, Linn will take on North Callaway. Linn has already secured a solid victory earlier this season, winning 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-9) against North Callaway, with [player_tooltip player_id='812185' first='Carley' last='Brandt'] leading the charge with 11 kills. I anticipate that Linn will repeat this success and move on to the finals.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals: Hermann </strong>vs. Linn<br>In the championship match, Linn's aspirations for a district title will likely be dashed quickly. Hermann is expected to dominate, pulling off a sweep and showcasing their defensive strength. Linn may struggle to get the ball down against Hermann's stellar libero, <strong>Kealie Lane</strong>, who is known for her impressive digging performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fatima 22-8-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole Camp 26-3-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stover 22-9-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tipton 19-8-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Russellville 20-8-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eugene 8-22-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Bloomfield 3-19-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 1: Fatima </strong>vs. Tipton<br>Fatima is expected to dominate this matchup against Tipton, advancing to the finals with a decisive 3-0 sweep.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 2: Cole Camp </strong>vs. Stover<br>Cole Camp will face Stover in the second semifinal. Having already beaten Stover twice this season (2-0 in matches and 5-1 in sets), Cole Camp is favored to secure another victory. In their last encounter, [player_tooltip player_id='809509' first='Andrea' last='Dieckman'] shined with 12 kills, while Stover's Rory Pinzke contributed 11 kills in a losing effort. I predict Cole Camp will take this match 3-1, moving on to meet Fatima in the finals.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals: Fatima </strong>vs. Cole Camp<br>In the championship match, Fatima and Cole Camp will meet for the first time this season. This matchup promises to be a thrilling battle at the net. Cole Camp boasts strong middle hitters, including 6'1” [player_tooltip player_id='809509' first='Andrea' last='Dieckman'] and 5'9” <strong>Mandy Goosen</strong>, who have combined for an impressive 550 kills and 147 blocks this season. Fatima will counter with their trio of middle hitters: [player_tooltip player_id='828140' first='Alayna' last='Backes'], <strong>Gracie Dickneite,</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='810311' first='Addison' last='Lehmen'], who together have amassed 664 kills. Despite Cole Camp's strong performance, Fatima has faced a more challenging schedule this season, which may give them an edge. I predict this match will go the distance, with Fatima pulling out a hard-fought victory in five sets, thanks to standout defensive plays from [player_tooltip player_id='795449' first='Kaylee' last='Berhorst'] and [player_tooltip player_id='796041' first='Leah' last='Muenks'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Licking 12-16-5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steelville 14-7-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conway 15-14-1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plato 12-14-2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laquey 4-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon 1-25-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semifinals:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 1: Licking </strong>vs. Plato<br>I predict that Licking will handle Plato with ease, advancing to the finals with a decisive 3-0 sweep.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Semifinal 2: Steelville</strong> vs. Conway<br>In the second semifinal, Steelville is expected to edge past Conway, winning the match 3-1.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Finals: Licking </strong>vs. Steelville<br>Licking and Steelville have faced off once this season, with Licking coming out on top in a closely contested match (22-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-22). Key player [player_tooltip player_id='831801' first='Emeri' last='Perkins'] (class of 2027) contributed significantly with 12 kills in that match. Given Licking's strong coaching and performance throughout the season, I predict they will once again take the victory in the finals, winning the district title with a sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->