Kansas 2A State Championships Preview
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Kansas Class 2A State Previews are here! Who will walk away as the top dog after the final whistle at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City Kansas? Hillsboro at 39-1 will be your top seed and a favorite to…
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Continue ReadingKansas Class 2A State Previews are here! Who will walk away as the top dog after the final whistle at the United Wireless Arena in Dodge City Kansas?
Hillsboro at 39-1 will be your top seed and a favorite to walk away as state champion this weekend. After coming up just short a year ago, they hope to take home the top prize this year. They haven’t tasted defeat since losing to larger Circle in three sets on September 10th. That would be a 31-match win streak on the line entering the big dance. They have a lot of firepower with juniors Zaylee Werth Zaylee Werth 6'0" | OH Hillsboro | 2024 State KS and Savannah Shahan. They emerged as leaders a year ago and the taste of defeat is still lingering in their mouths. Werth is averaging 5.4 kills per set, Shahan 4.1. The backcourt leader is senior Kori Arnold Kori Arnold 5'4" | DS/L Hillsboro | 2023 State KS and her 384 digs. Setter Ella Suderman continues to be steady, dishing out 836 assists.
Second seed and defending state champion Smith Center made us look like experts a year ago claiming the state title we predicted. They will enter with a record of 36-4 as they look to defend their title. They have back enough contributors to the roster to run it back led by setter Camryn Hutchinson Camryn Hutchinson 5'4" | S Smith Center | 2024 State KS .
Inman and their 34-5 record will come into the tournament as the third seed. They are winners of ten in a row. They do own a win over Garden Plain, who is also in the tournament.
Meade and their 31-7 will be the fourth seed. They own a 13-match win streak. They have a balanced offensive attack led by the duo of middle CC Krier and outside Carlie Martin. Martin is also a force defensively averaging close to 5 digs per set. Ryleigh Foster will run the offense after a season with just under 600 assists.
Winchester-Jefferson County North will be the fifth seed and enters with an almost identical to last year’s 32-win season with a 30-8 record. They have rolled off 9 in a row. Macy Thompson, Claire Jobbins, and the Bertels sisters of Korrie and Kaydee are back from last season’s state qualifying team.
Sixth-seed Garden Plain (30-9) is a team making another trip to Dodge City. They get high-quality matches throughout the season being near Wichita. They do have a loss to Inman, who is in this tournament along with undefeated Class 4 Andale. Senior Sydney Elizabeth Rea Puetz Sydney Elizabeth Rea Puetz 5'3" | DS/L Garden Plain | 2023 State KS led the way last year defensively and didn’t lose a step this year with 441 digs. Ryleigh Stuhlsatz took over the primary setting duties to dish out over 700 assists.
Blue Rapids-Valley Heights and their 25-13 record will be the seventh seed. They have been up and down year but closed the year with three wins. They are a young team depending on many freshmen and sophomores. The experience will enable them to be a team who should see the tournament for years to come.
The final team and eighth seed will be St. Mary’s Colgan (23-16). They came in as the 8th seed a year ago and hope to have success this time around. Lauren Torrance was here a year ago and after a season averaging 4 kills per set, she hopes to take the next step with her team. The tandem of Addi Dewey and Caroline Imhof has been good in the 6-2 for this squad.
Predictions
Pool 1: Hillsboro, Meade, Winchester JCN, St. Mary’s-Colgan
Pool 2: Smith-Center, Inman, Garden Plain, Blue Rapids-Valley Heights
Advancing: Hillsboro, Meade
Advancing: Smith Center, Inman
Hillsboro over Inman
Smith Center over Meade
Our prediction: Rematch with Hillsboro claiming the title.