De Smet Spartans senior outside hitter Cole Esparza (6) hits down the line past the blocking of Lafayette Lancers sophomore outside hitter Patrick Riordan (12) and Lafayette Lancers sophomore middle blocker Matthew Knight (4) during the Class 2 Quarterfinals match held on Thursday May 21th, 2026 at DeSmet Jesuit High School in Creve Couer.
Rick Ulreich, Special to the Post-Dispatch
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The boys volleyball postseason in Missouri heads to Show-Me Center in Cape Girardeau for the Class 1 and Class 2 final four, and six area teams still have dreams of a state championship. Here is one thing to watch for each area team as the semifinals kick off Tuesday:
“When you got a player like that, I mean, it makes my job really easy,†De Smet setter Ryker Whittle said.
De Smet Spartans senior outside hitter Cole Esparza (6) hits down the line past the blocking of Lafayette Lancers sophomore outside hitter Patrick Riordan (12) and Lafayette Lancers sophomore middle blocker Matthew Knight (4) during the Class 2 Quarterfinals match held on Thursday May 21th, 2026 at DeSmet Jesuit High School in Creve Couer.
