Class 5 District 1-4 Preview and Predictions

The Class 5 playoffs have kicked off, and powerhouse teams like Jackson, Lafayette, and St. Dominic are in prime position to advance past the districts—unless a major upset shakes things up. Here's a closer look at the matchups and what to expect in Districts 1 through 4.   District 1   Jackson 34-2   Cor Jesu 19-8   Farmington 18-6-1   Oakville 15-16-1   Seckman 21-8-2   Lindbergh 13-14-1   Northwest 14-15-5   Mehlville 6-14-1   Fox 6-13   Predictions   Semifinals:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Semifinal 1: Jackson vs. Seckman Jackson has been on fire this season, showcasing their skill and teamwork. However, Seckman boasts one of the top players in Missouri's 2028 class, the impressive 6'2” outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='729470' first='Sarah' last='Albers']. Jackson counters with their own standout 2028 athletes, [player_tooltip player_id='630748' first='Avery' last='Brune'] and [player_tooltip player_id='729480' first='Lauren' last='Dorey']. Having been battle-tested throughout the season, I predict that Jackson will come away with a decisive 3-0 sweep.</li>   <li>Semifinal 2: Lindbergh vs. Cor Jesu Lindbergh pulled off an upset against Farmington, fueled by the strong performances of [player_tooltip player_id='828314' first='Marlee' last='Steiner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='828400' first='Gillian' last='Pfeiffer']. In contrast, Cor Jesu had little trouble sweeping Northwest. With [player_tooltip player_id='222069' first='Lauren' last='Ortwerth'] and Ally Pasagic delivering powerful games on the pins, I foresee Cor Jesu sweeping Lindbergh in this matchup.</li> </ul>   Finals: Jackson vs. Cor Jesu This will mark the second meeting between these two teams, with Jackson previously winning in a tightly contested match: 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-22, led by [player_tooltip player_id='490200' first='Lyla' last='Sands'] and [player_tooltip player_id='806736' first='Melaina' last='Haines']. Cor Jesu's [player_tooltip player_id='222069' first='Lauren' last='Ortwerth'] shone brightly in that match with 21 kills, while 2029 standout [player_tooltip player_id='786448' first='Addison' last='Lehman'] contributed nine. I anticipate this final will be another nail-biter, but Jackson will survive and advance thanks to the exceptional play of their talented youth.   District 2   Lafayette 34-1   St. Joseph's Academy 21-10-1   Marquette 17-16   Eureka 15-14-1   Ursuline 16-6   Kirkwood 21-10-1   Parkway West 17-9-1   Nerinx Hall 8-11   Parkway South 13-6-2   Predictions   Semifinals:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Semifinal 1: Lafayette vs. Ursuline Lafayette breezed into the semifinals without any issues, while Ursuline faced a tough challenge, having to survive a five-set battle against Eureka to secure their spot. I expect Lafayette to continue their strong performance and advance to the finals.</li>   <li>Semifinal 2: St. Joseph's vs. Marquette In their previous matchup, St. Joseph's edged out Marquette in a thrilling five-set match, winning 15-11. [player_tooltip player_id='490238' first='Kathryn' last='Teepe'] led St. Joe with an impressive 20 kills, while [player_tooltip player_id='808083' first='Remy' last='Stack'] contributed 13. Marquette showcased a strong blocking game with [player_tooltip player_id='220349' first='Teagan' last='Pocius'] recording 16 kills and seven blocks, and [player_tooltip player_id='545497' first='Jane' last='Covington'] adding three kills and six blocks in the loss. This rematch is poised to be another fierce battle, but I predict Marquette will get their revenge and win in 5 sets.</li> </ul>   Finals: Lafayette vs. Marquette In their earlier encounter, Lafayette triumphed behind a stellar performance from [player_tooltip player_id='475339' first='Shaye' last='Witherspoon'], who recorded 21 kills. [player_tooltip player_id='774316' first='Danaya' last='Petkova'] led the Mustangs with 13 kills in that match. Given Lafayette's playoff pedigree, I never bet against them in the postseason. I predict Lafayette will secure a 3-1 victory for yet another district title.   District 3   Westminster 23-7-1   Incarnate Word 20-14   Francis Howell North 12-12   Francis Howell Central 8-19-1   Lade 8-16-1   Pattonville 13-15   Hazelwood West 6-22-2   Hazelwood Central 4-12   Ritenour 4-16   Predictions   Semifinals:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Semifinal 1: Westminster vs. Francis Howell Central Westminster faces Francis Howell Central in what I expect to be a straightforward match for Westminster. With standout performances from [player_tooltip player_id='766296' first='Lyric' last='Hughes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='489911' first='Emory' last='Freesmeier'], I predict Westminster will secure another sweep over Central.</li>   <li>Semifinal 2: Incarnate Word Academy vs. Francis Howell North When it comes to playoff time, Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) is a team I rarely bet against. In this matchup, IWA will lean heavily on the talents of [player_tooltip player_id='245321' first='Cate' last='McCulloch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='834391' first='Kylee' last='Donahue'] to propel them into the finals with a convincing sweep.</li> </ul>   Finals: Westminster vs. Incarnate Word Academy In their first match of the season, Westminster swept IWA, thanks to the exceptional setting of [player_tooltip player_id='827988' first='Vivian' last='Sharlow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='492630' first='Sophia' last='Arana']. However, in this rematch, IWA has been playing at a high level and will look to high-flyer [player_tooltip player_id='475326' first='Bailey' last='Hensgens'] to lead them to victory. I foresee a hard-fought battle, but I predict IWA will emerge victorious in 5 sets.   District 4   St. Dominic 22-9-2   North Point 29-3   Liberty 15-12-1   Ft. Zumwalt West 22-3   Timberland 24-6-2   Troy 11-15-4   Howell 7-20-2   Ft. Zumwalt North 13-13-1   Predictions   Semifinals:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Semifinal 1: St. Dominic vs. Ft. Zumwalt West In their previous matchup earlier this season, St. Dominic triumphed with scores of 25-20, 25-17, and 25-9. The Crusaders showcased their strength with ten kills each from [player_tooltip player_id='808062' first='Natalie' last='Frazier'] and [player_tooltip player_id='843615' first='Maddy' last='Mannebach']. Ft. Zumwalt West is a young team, featuring up to four players from the 2029 class, which may hinder their performance against a more experienced St. Dominic squad. I predict St. Dominic will sweep West again.</li>   <li>Semifinal 2: North Point vs. Liberty Both teams have claimed a victory over each other this season, making this a competitive matchup. In their recent encounter, Liberty earned a sweep, with [player_tooltip player_id='618831' first='Albany' last='Humphrey'] contributing eight kills. North Point will need significant offensive support from its role players to secure a spot in the district title match. I foresee North Point winning this matchup in 4 sets.</li> </ul>   Finals: St. Dominic vs. North Point This final will mark the first meeting between St. Dominic and North Point this season. I expect a thrilling district title match, especially considering St. Dominic has lost four of their last seven matches, while North Point comes in with an impressive seven-match winning streak. Despite this, St. Dominic has more offensive weapons and has faced a tougher schedule overall. I predict they will secure a 3-1 victory and the district title.

The Class 5 playoffs have kicked off, and powerhouse teams like Jackson, Lafayette, and St. Dominic are in prime position to advance past the districts—unless a major upset shakes things up. Here's a closer look at the matchups and what to expect in Districts 1 through 4.