We’re Back! KC Metro Power 15

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The new season kicks off tomorrow in the KC Metro and no better time to return the KC Metro [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15! Last year for about five weeks we introduced this concept ranking the teams on both sides of the state line ranging as far south as to Spring Hill and Baldwin and north to Smithville. With many of our teams in action tomorrow at the St. James Volleyball Slam, let's roll out our rankings!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. St. Thomas Aquinas</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints will start the season as our number one team. Other teams may have better overall talent, this team has very good players at every position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'], [player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'], [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'], [player_tooltip player_id='214752' first='Allie' last='Puetz'], [player_tooltip player_id='119725' first='Tatum' last='Grimes'], [player_tooltip player_id='152161' first='Ashlyn' last='Reeves'], [player_tooltip player_id='152165' first='Reagan' last='Anderson']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. Olathe Northwest</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest has made consecutive state title runs and will look to make it a third. They are a young team but full of veterans with many players having quality experience in their careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='119707' first='Skyler' last='Pierce'], [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'], [player_tooltip player_id='185632' first='Alex' last='Klukvin'], [player_tooltip player_id='119703' first='Emmy' last='Sher'], [player_tooltip player_id='173393' first='Caroline' last='Clayton']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. Liberty </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the teams to watch on the Missouri side. They return a lot of experience plus adding in a big transfer will make them dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen'], [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'], [player_tooltip player_id='152129' first='Jocelyn' last='Renfro'], [player_tooltip player_id='102558' first='Grace' last='Toney'], [player_tooltip player_id='99215' first='Brooklyn' last='Young'], [player_tooltip player_id='119222' first='Aisha' last='Aiona']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. Shawnee Mission Northwest</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwest lost some talent but returns enough pieces we feel to be in the mix as they were a season ago. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='150072' first='Olivia' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='120038' first='Tori' last='Creason'], [player_tooltip player_id='150074' first='Taylour' last='Standifer'], [player_tooltip player_id='152169' first='Vix' last='Vilott'], [player_tooltip player_id='171295' first='Elinor' last='Engel']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. Blue Valley North</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending state champs come in at number 5. They lost some staples to their lineup but return enough to make a run to another final four appearances in 2022. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'], [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='120030' first='Nora' last='Carlsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>6. Lawrence Free State</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We think this team will turn some heads this fall behind their experience and solid play from some of their youth. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='120010' first='Sawyer' last='Thomsen'], [player_tooltip player_id='120033' first='Rylee' last='Unruh'], [player_tooltip player_id='150069' first='Fiona' last='Van Dyke']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>7. Lansing</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing has had a tremendous run over the last few years. They always find a way to reload and don't count on this year being any different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: Virginia Van Der Werff, [player_tooltip player_id='119730' first='Ashlynn' last='Jaccard'], <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/anna-laincz/CV_sd-01EeqAzqREozo6lw/default.htm">[player_tooltip player_id='119810' first='Anna' last='Laincz']</a>, [player_tooltip player_id='120045' first='Skylar' last='Weaver']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>8. Bishop Miege</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miege has taken their bumps and bruises in regular season play the last couple of years playing bigger programs but it preps them for the postseason. This season, look for them to be way more successful in the months of September and October. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='119689' first='Ava' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='173376' first='Lauren' last='Lopez'], [player_tooltip player_id='152166' first='Ali' last='Olson'], [player_tooltip player_id='154040' first='Trinniti' last='Stevens'], </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>9. Blue Valley West</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley West surprised us a year ago after their state title run the previous year. They had some hits graduation-wise but return a solid nucleus that should compete this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'], [player_tooltip player_id='173371' first='Ella' last='Davidson'], [player_tooltip player_id='173395' first='Brookelyn' last='Hatton'], [player_tooltip player_id='173397' first='Allison' last='Heck']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>10. St. James</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any team with one of the top players in the country will be in the mix. We will see how the newcomers mesh with the returnees to determine how quickly they move up the rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], [player_tooltip player_id='119718' first='Ava' last='Spachek'], [player_tooltip player_id='150067' first='Heidi' last='Devers'], [player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'], [player_tooltip player_id='173382' first='Ashlee' last='Chavez']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>11. St. Pius X</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pius had a remarkable season in 2021 and will look to keep that momentum going behind strong passing and middle play in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='150046' first='Claire' last='Mosh'], [player_tooltip player_id='150042' first='Avery' last='Ashby']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>12. St. Teresa's Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We feel this team has the potential to be a top 6 or 7 team once the season gets going. They have the talent to make noise this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='101697' first='Reagan' last='Fox'], [player_tooltip player_id='216417' first='Piper' last='Newton'], [player_tooltip player_id='219776' first='Madeline' last='Sallee'], [player_tooltip player_id='123468' first='Brynne' last='McGhie'], [player_tooltip player_id='219742' first='Isabel' last='Glover']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>13. Heritage Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The smallest school in our [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15 enters into the mix like they did a season ago. The defending Class 3A state champs look to repeat and make it a total of three in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='119708' first='Rachel' last='Van Gorp'], [player_tooltip player_id='119704' first='Cy' last='Rae Campbell'], [player_tooltip player_id='216387' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>14. Spring Hill</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Hill was really good a season ago and should be able to make another strong push for the postseason behind some quality returnees.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='216384' first='Keilah' last='Rivers'], [player_tooltip player_id='119712' first='Shannon' last='Frakes'], Daphne Gardner</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>15. Grain Valley</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our final team in the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15 will come from the east side of the coverage area in Grain Valley. Like some teams, lost some important pieces but has enough to do damage this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: Allison Koepkey, [player_tooltip player_id='152143' first='Addi' last='Bybee'], [player_tooltip player_id='179347' first='Haylie' last='Jennings']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: Pleasant Hill, Pembroke Hill, Baldwin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->