We’re Back! KC Metro Power 15
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The new season kicks off tomorrow in the KC Metro and no better time to return the KC Metro Power 15! Last year for about five weeks we introduced this concept ranking the teams on both sides of the state…
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Continue ReadingThe new season kicks off tomorrow in the KC Metro and no better time to return the KC Metro Power 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!
1. St. Thomas Aquinas
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.
Key Players: Alea Goolsby Alea Goolsby 5'11" | OH St. Thomas Aquinas | 2025 State #36 Nation KS , Betsy Goodenow Betsy Goodenow 6'0" | RS St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State #92 Nation KS , Kelsey Schenck Kelsey Schenck 5'11" | S St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State KS , Allie Puetz Allie Puetz 5'7" | DS/L State MO , Tatum Grimes Tatum Grimes 6'2" | MB St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State #184 Nation KS , Ashlyn Reeves Ashlyn Reeves 6'2" | MB St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State KS , Reagan Anderson Reagan Anderson 5'3" | DS/L St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State KS
2. Olathe Northwest
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.
Key Players: 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 , Alex Klukvin Alex Klukvin 5'7" | DS/L Olathe Northwest | 2025 State KS , Emmy Sher Emmy Sher 5'8" | DS/L Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS , Caroline Clayton Caroline Clayton 5'9" | OH Olathe South | 2025 State KS
3. Liberty
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.
Key Players: Abigail Mullen Abigail Mullen 6'3" | RS Liberty | 2025 State #3 Nation MO , Ashley Mullen Ashley Mullen 5'10" | S Liberty | 2023 State #9 Nation MO , Jocelyn Renfro Jocelyn Renfro 5'9" | OH Liberty | 2023 State MO , Grace Toney Grace Toney 5'11" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO , Brooklyn Young Brooklyn Young 6'0" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO , Aisha Aiono Aisha Aiono 6'3" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO
4. Shawnee Mission Northwest
Northwest lost some talent but returns enough pieces we feel to be in the mix as they were a season ago.
Key Players: Olivia Martin Olivia Martin 6'1" | MB Shawnee Mission NW | 2024 State KS , Tori Creason Tori Creason 5'9" | S Shawnee Mission NW | 2023 State KS , Taylour Standifer Taylour Standifer 5'9" | OH Shawnee Mission NW | 2024 State KS , Vix Vilott Vix Vilott 5'10" | OH Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2023 State KS , Elinor Engel Elinor Engel 6'1" | MB Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2023 State KS
5. Blue Valley North
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.
Key Players: Logan Parks Logan Parks 5'11" | S Blue Valley North | 2025 State #8 Nation KS , Janelle Green Janelle Green 5'9" | S Blue Valley North | 2024 State #68 Nation KS , Nora Carlsen Nora Carlsen 5'7" | DS/L Blue Valley North | 2023 State KS , Jenna McClure Jenna McClure 5'8" | OH Blue Valley North | 2025 State KS
6. Lawrence Free State
We think this team will turn some heads this fall behind their experience and solid play from some of their youth.
Key Players: Sawyer Thomsen Sawyer Thomsen 6'2" | MB Free State | 2023 State #145 Nation KS , Rylee Unruh Rylee Unruh 5'11" | S Free State | 2023 State KS , Fiona VanDyke Fiona VanDyke 6'1" | RS Lawrence Free State | 2024 State KS
7. Lansing
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.
Key Players: Virginia Van Der Werff, Ashlynn Jaccard Ashlynn Jaccard 5'11" | MB Lansing | 2024 State KS , Anna Laincz Anna Laincz 5'10" | OH Lansing | 2024 State KS , Skylar Weaver Skylar Weaver 5'8" | OH Lansing | 2023 State KS
8. Bishop Miege
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.
Key Players: Ava Martin Ava Martin 5'10" | S Bishop Miege | 2024 State #77 Nation KS , Lauren Lopez Lauren Lopez 5'10" | OH Bishop Miege | 2025 State KS , Ali Olson Ali Olson 6'0" | MB Bishop Miege | 2023 State KS , Trinniti Stevens Trinniti Stevens 6'2" | MB Bishop Miege | 2025 State KS ,
9. Blue Valley West
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.
Key Players: Lily Wedman Lily Wedman 5'8" | S Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Ella Davidson Ella Davidson 5'10" | OH Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Brookelyn Hatton Brookelyn Hatton 5'4" | DS/L Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Allison Heck Allison Heck 6'0" | MB Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS
10. St. James
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.
Key Players: Reese Messer Reese Messer 5'11" | S St. James | 2025 State #6 Nation KS , Ava Spachek Ava Spachek 5'11" | OH St. James Academy | 2024 State KS , Heidi Devers Heidi Devers 5'4" | DS/L St. James | 2024 State KS , Mya Bolton Mya Bolton 5'3" | DS/L St. James Academy | 2024 State #134 Nation KS , Ashlee Chavez Ashlee Chavez 5'9" | RS St. James | 2025 State KS
11. St. Pius X
Pius had a remarkable season in 2021 and will look to keep that momentum going behind strong passing and middle play in 2022.
Key Players: Claire Mosh Claire Mosh 5'6" | DS/L St. Pius X | 2024 State MO , Avery Ashby Avery Ashby 5'10" | OH St. Pius X | 2024 State MO
12. St. Teresa’s Academy
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.
Key Players: Reagan Fox Reagan Fox 6'2" | OH St. Teresa's Academy | 2023 State #104 Nation MO , Piper Newton Piper Newton 5'11" | MB St. Teresa's | 2024 State MO , Madeline Sallee Madeline Sallee 5'10" | RS St. Teresa's | 2025 State MO , Brynne McGhie Brynne McGhie 5'10" | S St. Teresa's Academy | 2023 State MO , Isabel Glover Isabel Glover 6'1" | MB St. Teresa's | 2025 State MO
13. Heritage Christian
The smallest school in our Power 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.
Key Players: Rachel Van Gorp Rachel Van Gorp 5'9" | OH Heritage Christian | 2024 State #94 Nation KS , Cy Rae Campbell Cy Rae Campbell 5'11" | MB Heritage Christian | 2024 State #45 Nation KS , Lauren Jacobs Lauren Jacobs 5'5" | DS/L Heritage Christian | 2024 State KS
14. Spring Hill
Spring Hill was really good a season ago and should be able to make another strong push for the postseason behind some quality returnees.
Key Players: Keilah Rivers Keilah Rivers 5'10" | OH Spring Hill | 2024 State KS , Shannon Frakes Shannon Frakes 6'0" | OH Spring Hill | 2024 State KS , Daphne Gardner
15. Grain Valley
Our final team in the Power 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.
Key Players: Allison Koepkey, Addi Bybee Addi Bybee 6'1" | MB Grain Valley | 2023 State MO , Haylie Jennings
Others: Pleasant Hill, Pembroke Hill, Baldwin