Class 5 Bottom Bracket Sectional Preview
What a week it was in district championship action. The blood pressure was high and the energy was electric as many matches ended up going to the pivotal fifth set to declare a winner. The first sectional matches kick off…
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Continue ReadingWhat a week it was in district championship action. The blood pressure was high and the energy was electric as many matches ended up going to the pivotal fifth set to declare a winner. The first sectional matches kick off tonight so let’s look at how the teams got here and give some predictions for the next rounds.
Rock Bridge vs Lebanon
Rock Bridge (32-4) swept its way through District 9 taking down Capital City and Helias Catholic. The team is led by pin Lily Dudley Lily Dudley 5'10" | OH Rock Bridge | 2023 State #192 Nation MO and setter Ella Swindle Ella Swindle 6'2" | S Rock Bridge | 2023 State #6 Nation MO . Lebanon (26-3) was the two seed in District 10 and beat Glendale 3-1 in their opening match before sweeping Central in the final. They got 12 kills from freshman Addy Rebmann to get the title.
Prediction: We like Rock Bridge’s experience and talent to get the win.
Nixa vs Joplin
The winners of district 11, Nixa (30-4) needed two four-set victories to advance to the championship rounds. In the clinching match over Kickapoo, Allie Billmyer tallied 13 kills, along with 10 from Jaycee Fixsen Jaycee Fixsen 5'11" | OH Nixa | 2022 State MO . Senior Sydney Golden Sydney Golden 5'9" | S Nixa | 2022 State MO had 36 assists. Joplin (15-11) knocked off top seed Carthage 3 sets to 1 to earn a trip to Nixa. Angelina Schramm was huge with 12 kills in the championship match. Jayla Hunter provided 21 digs.
Prediction: Nixa in straight sets.
Lee’s Summit West vs. Blue Springs
The first of two battles of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Gold conference matchups. Lee’s Summit West (22-9) advanced with a grueling five-set match over rival Lee’s Summit. Ashlyn Bellamy Ashlyn Bellamy 6'1" | OH Lee's Summit | 2023 State MO of Lees’s Summit and Sydney Handel Sydney Handel 5'10" | OH Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO of Lee’s Summit West went shot for shot with 24 and 22 kills. For the Titans, Ryanne Wattree was huge, 17-32, with no errors for a .531 hitting percentage. Blue Springs (21-12) took down rival Blue Springs South in straight sets breaking little sweat. Chloe Kaminski Chloe Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Blue Springs | 2022 State #115 Nation MO had 15 kills, 13 digs in the contest.
Prediction: This should be a good one. Lee’s Summit West in a close one.
Liberty North vs. Park Hill
The league champions against the underdog. Liberty North (31-3) had to beat rival Liberty in their third battle of the year and what a battle it was ending in a 19-17 5th set. Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO with the terrific cut shot inside the 3-meter line to end it. Cisneros finished with 21 kills, Kanoe Misipeka Kanoe Misipeka 5'8" | OH State MO added 16 of her own. Abby Christain had 23 digs. Park Hill (12-15) was the one team we didn’t expect to be here as we picked Platte County. They are making back-to-back trips to sectionals for the first time in three decades. Shaye Koski Shaye Koski 5'10" | OH Park Hill | 2023 State MO led the way with 23 kills. Devin Hoover had a big match with 14 kills.
Prediction: Liberty North for the third time.