Kansas 1A D1 State Championship Preview
The small schools are ready to rumble! They will get going Friday in Dodge City, KS. The top seed will be 37-2 Rosalia-Flinthills. They are on a 32-match winning streak since September 1st. They lost twice that week and couldn’t…
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Continue ReadingThe small schools are ready to rumble! They will get going Friday in Dodge City, KS.
The top seed will be 37-2 Rosalia-Flinthills. They are on a 32-match winning streak since September 1st. They lost twice that week and couldn’t tell you what a loss has looked like since. Middle Harlee Randall is doing work offensively with over four kills per set. Setter Karly Girty is leading the team in assists, digs, and service aces.
Sylvan-Lucas matches the 37-2 record and will be seeded second. They own their own double-digit winning streak with 23. Keeli Knobbe is doing damage with 382 kills on the season and a .374 hitting percentage. Emma Cline has shined defensively grabbing five digs per set. The tandem of Sophie Pancost and Maggie Labertew have done a good job of running the offense.
The Pretty Prairie Bulldogs earned the third seed and enter with a 36-4 showing. They dropped their second match of the year before running off twelve in a row. Trinity Kruse leads the team with 340 digs. Joley Harbaugh will work to get the ball to Bailey Young and her 395 kills as often as she can. They came up a win short of a state title and hope to avenge that loss this year.
Little River joins Pretty Prairie on their return trip to the United Wireless Center after qualifying a year ago. At 35-4, Their last defeat was to 2A qualifier Inman. This team features a couple of players capable of finding the floor with swings in Alaina Eck Alaina Eck 5'4" | OH Little River | 2024 State KS and Aubrey Olander. They also run a two-setter system with Chenzi Debaere and Kate Elwood both tallying over 300 assists.
The fifth seed of the championship pool play will be Spearville, the defending state champion. 32-4 on the season, the Lancers are winners of five straight. Taylen Stout was a standout last year and delivered this year as well. They will attempt to go back-to-back from the top pool.
34-5 Highland-Doniphan West joins the field in 2022 after a strong fall campaign. They started their year with an 11-game winning streak then come back and have a longer one later in 14 games. Katie Johnson and Avery Weathersbee lead a balanced offensive attack. Kyra Johnson leads the team in both assists and digs from the right side of the court.
Seventh seed St. Francis has a 29-9 record in 2022 entering the championship rounds. They picked up most of their defeats in October but won the matches that matter to get to Dodge City. Ellee Krien Ellee Krien 5'6" | DS/L St. Francis | 2023 State KS has been great defensively from the back row, evidenced by her 507 digs.
Our final team in the big dance will be Olpe. They sport a 24-15 record and will be the only team in the field with double-digit losses on the year. The Eagles are led by Grace Coughlin’s 167 kills.
Pools
Rosalia-Flinthills, Little River, Spearville, Olpe
Sylvan-Lucas, Pretty Prairie, Highland-Doniphan West, St. Francis
Predictions
Rosalia-Flinthills and Spearville advance
Sylvan-Lucas and Pretty Prairie Advance
Semi-Finals
Spearville over Sylvan-Lucas
Pretty Prairie over Rosalia-Flinthills
State Champion
Pretty Prairie bounces back from the sour taste of 2021 to win a state title.