Spectrum St. James Volleyball Slam Preview
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We are excited for the high school season to kick off this weekend in Kansas and Missouri with the annual volleyball slam taking place at St. James Academy. After a year off, everyone is excited to get this party started…
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Continue ReadingWe are excited for the high school season to kick off this weekend in Kansas and Missouri with the annual volleyball slam taking place at St. James Academy. After a year off, everyone is excited to get this party started again in 2021. There are many intriguing matchups, including some cross-border battles. Many of the top players from previous years are off to college, but there will be tons of top talent in the gym for this event.
Shawnee Mission East vs Gardner Edgerton
Both of these teams lost major weapons in Sarah Bingham Sarah Bingham 6'3" | MB Shawnee Mission East | 2021 State KS (Illinois) for East and Kendra Wait Kendra Wait 5'10" | S Gardner Edgerton | 2021 State KS (Creighton) for Gardner Edgerton. The next Bingham in line, Rachel along with fellow junior Zoë McDonald Zoë McDonald 6'2" | MB Shawnee Mission East | 2024 State KS will look to fill the offensive void. Senior Ella Bunde Ella Bunde 5'6" | DS/L Shawnee Mission East | 2022 State KS is back to anchor the defense. Senior Jaylyne Bell Jaylyne Bell 6'1" | MB Gardner Edgerton | 2022 State KS and her 275 kills from last season return for Gardner. Also, look for junior Gracen Mealman Gracen Mealman 5'9" | OH Gardner Edgerton | 2022 State KS to contribute at the net.
Prediction: Gardner Edgerton
Mill Valley vs Blue Valley
This should be a good early-season test for both teams as they look to find their identity in 2021. Mill Valley returns the arms to be competitive this season. Senior Brylee Peterson Brylee Peterson 5'11" | RS Mill Valley | 2022 State KS and Junor Madeline Schnepf Madeline Schnepf 6'0" | MB Mill Valley | 2023 State KS return close to 450 kills from last fall. Sidney Kacsir Sidney Kacsir 5'6" | DS/L Mill Valley | 2023 State KS is the top returnee in the dig department. On the other side of the net, Blue Valley will look for some players to step up this fall. The only returning player to get 100 kills was junior Connelly Kilgore Connelly Kilgore 5'10" | OH Blue Valley | 2023 State KS . They do have some quality back in ball control with Tori Hamilton Tori Hamilton 5'7" | DS/L Blue Valley | 2022 State KS and Kate Peterson
Prediction: Mill Valley
Olathe East vs Blue Valley Northwest
Sophomore Chloe Tyrell had an impressive freshman year for Olathe East. Ball control should be no issue for Blue Valley Northwest, returning three players tallying more than 100 digs last year. They will be surrounding recent Texas A&M commit Alayna Pearson. Ellison Gracik is the only player back to register more than 100 kills, with 119.
Prediction: Blue Valley Northwest
Lee’s Summit West vs Blue Valley North
We talked about Lee’s Summit West this week when highlighting the Suburban Gold Conference. Sydney Handel Sydney Handel 5'10" | OH Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO is among one of the top pins in the city and will look to team with setter Lacey Higgins Lacey Higgins 5'9" | S Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO throughout the match. For the Mustangs, Jasmine Dulan Jasmine Dulan 5'7" | OH Blue Valley North | 2022 State KS is back after a close to 300 kill season last fall. Janelle Green Janelle Green 5'9" | S Blue Valley North | 2024 State #68 Nation KS should be primed to take over the setting duties full-time in her sophomore year.
Prediction: Lee’s Summit West
St. Teresa’s Academy vs Blue Valley West
St. Teresa’s graduated their top scorer but Junior Reagan Fox Reagan Fox 6'2" | OH St. Teresa's Academy | 2023 State #104 Nation MO looks ready to take the next step after a strong club season. When healthy, she’s a premier pin. Setter Brynne McGhie Brynne McGhie 5'10" | S St. Teresa's Academy | 2023 State MO is back to lead the offense. Blue Valley West will enter the contest with a couple of capable scorers in Taylor Stockman Taylor Stockman 5'11" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS and Brooke Leiker Brooke Leiker 6'0" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS .
Prediction: Blue Valley West
Liberty North vs Washburn Rural
This may be my top match of the day and what a match to start the year. The defending Missouri Class 5 State Champions against one of the Kansas 6A final four teams. On one side of the net, you have Auburn commit RS Isabel Zimmerman Isabel Zimmerman 6'2" | RS Liberty North | 2022 State #30 Nation MO . On the left pin for Washburn Kentucky pledge Brooklyn DeLeye Brooklyn DeLeye 6'2" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State #30 Nation KS . Depending on rotations, they should face off on occasion. Both teams feature talented setters in Addison Beagle Addison Beagle 5'9" | S Liberty North | 2022 State MO and Zoe Canfield Zoe Canfield 5'9" | S Washburn Rural | 2024 State KS .
Prediction: Liberty North
St. Thomas Aquinas vs Lansing
This is another elite match-up to start the fall season. St. Thomas Aquinas graduated 1st Team All-American Caroline Bien Caroline Bien 6'0" | OH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State KS but Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS is back. The Creighton commit is an exciting player to match. RS Betsy Goodenow Betsy Goodenow 6'0" | RS St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State #92 Nation KS had a tremendous club year. Lansing has made the state tournament a habit and looks to return again this November. Setter Caitlin Bishop Caitlin Bishop 5'8" | S Lansing | 2022 State KS seems like she’s been there forever but is back for her last go around. All of their scoring is back from last year with the focus being on senior Olivia Mae Van Der Werff Olivia Mae Van Der Werff 6'0" | OH Lansing | 2022 State KS .
Prediction: Lansing
Olathe Northwest vs St. James Academy
Another fun match to end the evening. We talked about Olathe Northwest earlier in the top of 6A piece. They are loaded at the net. The key will be who fills the void at setter. Whoever opens with the job will have resources in Skyler Pierce Skyler Pierce 6'3" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2024 State #4 Nation KS , Jillian Huckabey Jillian Huckabey 6'0" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2024 State #74 Nation KS , and company. St. James lost some valuable players in the Lovett twins but return setters, Lauren Wheeler Lauren Wheeler 5'10" | S St. James Academy | 2021 State KS and Mya Bolton Mya Bolton 5'3" | DS/L St. James Academy | 2024 State #134 Nation KS . They will look to feed Ava Spachek Ava Spachek 5'11" | OH St. James Academy | 2024 State KS and Rachel Ziesman Rachel Ziesman 6'1" | MB St. James | 2022 State KS .
Prediction: Olathe Northwest