Four local volleyball teams assigned to new districts

The possibility of a Class 1 volleyball championship rematch between Valle Catholic and Eminence was eliminated last Friday when MSHSAA released its district assignments for the next two seasons.

Those elite programs could meet in the state quarterfinal round, however, since they now occupy adjacent districts in the same quadrant.

Valle Catholic joined MAAA Small-School rivals Bismarck and Valley in a move to District 5 from District 3, where tournament finals were held in Ellington and Lesterville over the past two years.

District 5 also picked up Kingston and Crystal City, both of which previously competed at the Class 2 level. The 7-team group is rounded out by Chamois and New Haven, which dropped the state final to Valle in 2010.

Eminence is located in Class 1, District 6 with fellow state power Winona. The District 7 tournament winner will host the sectional and quarterfinal rounds on October 27.

The other eight MAAA schools emerged from the cycle unchanged. Defending champion Farmington holds its spot in Class 4, District 1, while West County and Arcadia Valley maintain residence in Class 2, District 3.

Class 3, District 2 kept Central, Ste. Genevieve, Potosi and North County aligned with Festus, De Soto, and Windsor from Jefferson County.

Fredericktown stayed in Class 3, District 1, which covers the southeastern corner of Missouri.