5 Slam Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a day, let's take the opportunity to think about all the great things we saw yesterday in Lenexa, Kansas! Eight high-impact games with all but two of the eight going three sets if my memory serves me correctly. 8 am to 8 pm...what a day! Here are 5 things I take away from yesterday's 13th annual. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. Why 2025 Top 3 Rankings Were So Tough</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The amount of back and forth on the top 3 many won't understand. While many may think it was a hand-down easy choice with the skill set of [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], it wasn't. When I started messing with the list a month ago, [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'] was sitting at the top. She does so many things and doing them well gave her a slight edge. She is also a very talented setter and can terminate on the pin. We also saw the impact [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] can have on a contest from the pin. She was able to fly down the middle and score often (would have been more if it wasn't for amazing defense). She also was solid in serve receive. I didn't catch the St. James match...the score tells me Messer was doing her thing!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. Speaking of Setters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We briefly talked about Messer and Parks. Parks teammate and Cincinnati commit [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'] was her usual self. Blue Valley West's [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'] is such a natural on the court and dished some back sets that had me doing the slow appreciative head shake. I don't know why <strong>Kate Peterson</strong> wasn't on my radar before...definitely an epic fail on my part but she's nice! [player_tooltip player_id='120033' first='Rylee' last='Unruh']'s decision-making I appreciated greatly. When their team needed a score, she went to the hot hand in [player_tooltip player_id='120010' first='Sawyer' last='Thomsen']. The youngster [player_tooltip player_id='219710' first='Marly' last='Burbach'] didn't let the bright lights of tv hamper her play. [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'] had a highlight reel performance and was on cruise control most of the night. St. Teresa's [player_tooltip player_id='123468' first='Brynne' last='McGhie'] showed why she's been leading the offense for a few years now. And in the last match I witnessed, both [player_tooltip player_id='119699' first='Zoe' last='Canfield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'] did their thing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. Biggest Surprise </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think my biggest surprise was seeing [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen'] primarily swinging from the left pin. After seeing her dominate from the right side so consistently and having such a dynamic setter, my non-expert opinion says her match-ups are more favorable on that side with so many undersized left-pins. Often when I see that type of move it's because of the lack of passing and out-of-system balls that need to get to your best attacker. Big sis can find her wherever she is so this was confusing to me. But hey, that's why I get paid to write and observe and not to coach. I have Coach Leone's number and will see what I can find out. She got off slow with some hitting errors but finally got going halfway through the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. While Talking About Liberty</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They may possibly win the state title this year. No pressure Blue Jays. Yes, they dropped a set but to a very good Olathe Northwest Team. This team has all the pieces to make a deep postseason run. They have experience on the bench with April Fleming. We discussed the Mullens, but this team also returns veterans [player_tooltip player_id='99215' first='Brooklyn' last='Young'], [player_tooltip player_id='102558' first='Grace' last='Toney'], and [player_tooltip player_id='152129' first='Jocelyn' last='Renfro']. The transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='119222' first='Aisha' last='Aiona'], who stands at 6'3" in the middle is the move that may help seal the deal. If <strong>Macy Barlett</strong> is holding down the libero jersey like she was yesterday, the Blue Jays may want to start looking at and sizing rings...but no pressure. Stay healthy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. A Great Run </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing has had a tremendous run over the last decade with some great talent to come thru the hallways. They still have some talent but with their youth, we can say this may be a rebuilding year. They could prove us wrong and show their old form come October but my spidey senses say this team will be much better next year when this team full of juniors are seniors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Bonus</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't know how the teams are selected but three Missouri schools of the sixteen. Let's give Missouri more love. But what I really would love to have seen...two of the really good small schools face off at the Slam! Maybe next year? I would love to see <strong>Heritage Christian</strong> and <strong>St. Pius X </strong>in this type of event facing off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Bonus Bonus</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spectrum Sports KC...thank you for broadcasting this event. Student sections...you are live! So glad to have Prep Dig Marshall join the team...another set of eyes in the area since I've been covering both states for the last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->