Kansas 5A State Preview and Predictions
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We have mentioned we were a perfect 24-24 in our Kansas picks last week right? I don’t think we’ll have the same success this weekend because this thing is loaded! Let’s take a look at the teams and how they…
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Continue ReadingWe have mentioned we were a perfect 24-24 in our Kansas picks last week right? I don’t think we’ll have the same success this weekend because this thing is loaded! Let’s take a look at the teams and how they got here and make some bold predictions.
Lansing Lions (34-1) is our top seed and winner of 34 in a row. They haven’t lost since August in their opening contest. They had minimal problems in substate, with the highest point total earned by an opponent being 14. Olivia Mae Van Der Werff Olivia Mae Van Der Werff 6'0" | OH Lansing | 2022 State KS and Iyannah Jackson Iyannah Jackson 6'0" | MB Lansing | 2022 State KS combined for 14 of the 22 kills in the match against Shawnee Heights. Kamryn Farris Kamryn Farris 5'10" | DS/L Lansing | 2022 State KS had 13 digs from the libero position.
The second seed is the defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas Saints (34-3). They have played one of the toughest schedules in the state and skated through with only 3 losses. They are the only team to beat Lansing this season. Like Lansing, they didn’t get much of a threat in their substate. Against Bonner Springs, Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS led the way with 10 kills. Kelsey Schenck tallied 16 assists.
Spring Hill (30-6) grabs the third seed after a great season. They didn’t drop a set in their substate run. In their sweep of Basehor-Linwood, Keliah Rivers and Shannon Frakes Shannon Frakes 6'0" | OH Spring Hill | 2024 State KS combined for 15 of the team’s 30 kills. Junior setter Daphne Gardner dished out 22 assists.
Maize South (30-8) breaks up the North string of top seeds grabbing the fourth out of the South. They were perfect through two matches in their substate run. Jillian Gregory Jillian Gregory 6'0" | OH Maize South | 2025 State #66 Nation KS and Gracie Morrow Gracie Morrow 5'11" | OH Maize South | 2024 State KS had 8 kills apiece to pace the Mavericks. They now own an eight-game win streak heading into pool play.
Fifth seed St. James Academy (27-9) played in the one match we thought would be the closes to punch their ticket. The three-set barn burner with Mill Valley ended in a 25-22 victory. Senior middle Rachel Ziesman Rachel Ziesman 6'1" | MB St. James | 2022 State KS has 11 kills in the contest. Lauren Brown Lauren Brown 5'3" | DS/L St. James | 2023 State KS had 14 digs, while Heidi Devers Heidi Devers 5'4" | DS/L St. James | 2024 State KS added 12. Freshman Reese Messer Reese Messer 5'11" | S St. James | 2025 State #6 Nation KS was proficient with 38 assists.
Emporia will be the sixth seed entering with a 26-9 record. They scraped by Andover -20, -23 to get a seat at the table.
Topeka Seaman (25-10) emerged as we expected to grab the seventh seed. They knocked off surprising 13 seed Maize, who upset Eisenhower. Their stats from their substate matches were not updated in Maxpreps.
The final party participant and the eighth seed will be Wichita Bishop Carroll (25-12). We did predict them advancing from the sixth seed. They took down Valley Center by matching scores of -14, -14. Kenzie Dugan was unstoppable, averaging 7 kills per set to lead the charge.
Predictions:
Pool 1: Lansing, Maize South, St. James Academy, Bishop Carroll
Pool 2: St. Thomas Aquinas, Spring Hill, Emporia, Topeka Seaman
Advancing Pool 1: Lansing, St. James Academy
Advancing Pool 2: St. Thomas Aquinas, Spring Hill
Playoffs: Lansing over Spring Hill; St. Thomas Aquinas over St. James Academy
State Champion: Lansing…St. Thomas Aquinas…Lans…Aquin…We don’t know! Aquinas in 7!