District champs face off today for shot at state semifinals

District champions will converge today when the Missouri volleyball state playoffs open with sectional and quarterfinal rounds in all four classes.

In Class 4, Jackson will (24-9-2) square off against Nerinx Hall (29-4-1) at 3 p.m. at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis. The winner will face Rosati-Kain (19-12-2) or Cor Jesu (24-10-1) in the quarterfinals at 6.

In Class 3, Notre Dame (31-5-1) will meet St. Francis Borgia (21-11) at 3 p.m. at Ste. Genevieve High School. Lutheran South (10-12) meets Park Hills Central (18-8-2) in the other sectional. Winners meet at 6.

In Class 2, Scott City (24-6-2) will meet Crystal City (27-3-3) at 4:30 p.m. at Bloomfield High School. Caruthersville (26-4-3) and Clearwater (19-9-2) will precede the match at 3 p.m. Winners meet at 6.

In Class 1, Leopold (30-2-1), the top-ranked team in Southeast Missouri, will face Gideon (24-3-1) in a 3 p.m. match at Advance High School. Playing in the other sectional will be host Advance (26-6-1) and Bismarck (22-4-3). Winners meet at 6.

Today's quarterfinal winners advance to next weekend's final four at the CMSU Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.

Round-robin semifinals will be held Friday and championship and third-place matches will take place on Saturday.