Kansas 5A Substate Results and St Thomas Aquinas Review

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The substate weekend has come and gone with some clear winners and some upsets in the making. We'll go down to the list on the winners from the 5A substates before we dive in to the St. Thomas Aquinas site. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">5A Substate winners</span></strong><br><strong>St James Academy</strong> over Spring Hill<br><strong>Seaman</strong> over FL Schlagle<br><strong>Lansing </strong>over Sumner Academy<br><strong>Maize South</strong> over Kapaun Mt. Carmel<br><strong>Andover Central</strong> over Newton<br><strong>Hutchinson</strong> over Eisenhower<br><strong>Bishop Carroll</strong> over Emporia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span><strong style="text-decoration: underline">St. Thomas Aquinas Site Review</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bonner Springs defeated the Highland Park in straight sets with scores of 25-12, 25-12. Unfortunately, I did not get to see a lot the match to cover any of the Highland Park players. We'll go to the Bonner Springs and Aquinas match for the first semifinal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll start with Bonner Springs players in our review as Aquinas defeated the Braves in straight set 25-8, 25-12. Bonner Springs was outmatched against Aquinas but had some glimpses of good volleyball in some rallies. We start with senior Wren VanCleave who indeed set for the Braves until they needed her to be a passer against Aquinas top serving team. VanCleave did all she could with balls off the net to set her hitters. The lack of communication within the team created a bit of chaos for them but they had some rallies against the number one team in the state. Senior Mariah Noel impressed me the most with her hitting as she unloaded a kill down the line that erupted the Braves bench and spectators. She had a few touches in the front to slow down Aquinas' offense with junior McKenzie Campbell. The 5'10" Noel and Campbell got a few blocks against Aquinas created an energy shift for the Braves. Aquinas' serving kept the Braves offense in check returning a plethora of easy balls over. The Saints took advantage and powered through to set up the final match with the next match's winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piper and Blue Valley Southwest was a more closely contested matchup in which the Timberwolves took the match in 2 with scores of 25-21, 25-20. It was a back and forth match with teams trading leads. We'll go to our usual player analysis for this one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63561ea023e35","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":238918,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Sage Grann","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Piper High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I watched Piper earlier in the year against Mill Valley and Gardner-Edgerton at a triangular. I did notice Grann there but the two opponents they faced were two opposing skill set of the Pirates. Grann is one of the two outside hitters for Piper and deservingly so. Grann has a solid passing platform in service receive and fluid to do a pass-to-attack option for the Pirates. One of her best attributes was to transition to be available for [player_tooltip player_id='493376' first='Abbie' last='Roth'] (featured below) to set her the ball. In broken plays, Grann is the recipient for a pipe-option to create an attacking option from the back row.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["216402"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":238919,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I mentioned Cahill on my previous article that the Pirates will rely heavily on her. That was still the case during substate as she was in most of the serve receive formation during their match against Blue Valley Southwest. Cahill is a powerful hitter that's able to find the holes in the block as she was utilized in the left and right side option depending on the rotation they were in. She has a jump float serves that got the team going after they were down early in the match.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":238920,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Avery Bejan","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Piper High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Bejan was a strong force in the middle with her 6'0u0022 frame. She was effective as a blocker and was a nuisance for Blue Valley Southwest's attackers. She has a lot of power hitting through the middle when given the opportunity to swing. Any tight contested balls and Bejan would jump up and beat you to the spot.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":238931,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='493376' first='Abbie' last='Roth']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Piper High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Roth ran a 5-1 offense for the Pirates, occasionally active to be a secondary hitter on the right side when balls do not go her way in transition plays. The sophomore setter had her unique serving form that kept the Timberwolves guessing. She's also good to get off the net on the off-balls to set her two hot hitters in Grann and Cahill as mentioned above.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-65831725327de"} /--> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The substate final featured our two other teams I have not mentioned on the article . Blue Valley Southwest's families know that they were the underdogs in the match but that did not mean that they did not ball out. The first set was close with the Timberwolves front row's doing the workload and blocking Aquinas' top hitters. They even had [player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'] questioning where to hit as she asked her coaches to see what's open after several blocked balls. Fortunately for the Saints, their experiences in big time matches prevailed and propelled them to straight sets victory in the 25-19, 25-15 Substate Final. Aquinas will play at the Kansas 5A State Finals in Salina on October 28th and 29th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6356cd5023e3c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222092"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":239099,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Weninger's powerful swings got the Timberwolves going as she was their leading hitter during the Bonner Springs semifinal match. Weninger used her 6'1u0022 frame to cause trouble for the hitters and got plenty of block touches for the Timberwolves. Though she hasn't served in the 6-2 rotation as an opposite, I'm sure that she'll be a force in the backline as we saw during warmups.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["222097"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":239100,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Stanley is another fabulous freshman for the Timberwolves offense. Primarily utilized as an opposite, she used her lengthy frame to create hitting opportunities for Southwest. We saw her play on the outside for a few plays to create different looks for the Timberwolves. Perhaps a preview for next year's squad?","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":239102,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jordan Elliot","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Blue Valley Southwest","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Elliot is under shadowed by her teammates who's already committed to colleges but she rarely gets recognition on the court. She was a beast in the middle providing big blocks that changed the game around for the Timberwolves. Elliot is the leader in blocks for the Timberwolves for the season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["173370"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":239098,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Tingey is still the go-to player for the Timberwolves playing as a 6-rotation outside hitter. The sophomore sensation provided both offensive opportunities and defensive presence in the two matches on Saturday. She was implemented in different serve-receive formations for Blue Valley Southwest when they struggled in passing the ball.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["150080"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":239103,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Bates continually be a difference maker in the serving line for the Timberwolves. She was able to change up her serving power to get teams out of sync during serve receive. Bates complimented Weninger well with her sets to get points for the Timberwolves during the day. Her calm demeanor as a setter provides the necessary tool for Southwest to play as well as they did during Substate.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["220285"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":239104,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Purmort showed why she dons the libero jersey during the past few weeks, replacing the inured [player_tooltip player_id='173381' first='Hadley' last='Porter']. She had some great digs against the top hitters of Piper and Aquinas to provide ample opportunities for the Timberwolves to battle in the offensive end. She had a calm platform to bump-set the out-of-system balls to her pin hitters.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-65831725328fd"} /--> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Thomas Aquinas Saints proved to us why they're the number one team in the 5A classification on Saturday. They have plenty of firepower options in the front row, defensive presence in their back row players, and two outstanding setters that makes them a contender at State this upcoming weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6356e349e844c","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["150076"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":239134,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'] was doing what's [player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'] is good at on Saturday, hitting the ball with power and authority. The senior southpaw hitter was utilized early and often for the Saints offense. She unloaded a few kills with a cool 0.750 hitting percentage during the first match of Substate. When in trouble, Goodenow found holes with a few roll shots to get her back in rhythm when the opposition denied a few of her swings.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["152161"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":239135,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Reeves is what I call a quiet middle for the Saints. Standing at 6'4u0022, she's difficult to miss on and off the court. Given the opportunity, Reeves will make opponents pay with her thunderous hits through the middle. We did see her run a few slides to change up the pace for the Saints' offense. She followed suit Goodenow's hot hitting with her own 0.714 hitting percentage.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["214752"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":239136,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Puetz was the serving and defensive specialist for Aquinas on Saturday. She challenged teams with her jump float serves with a few aces along the way. A key component on her game is her serve-receive portion creating great opportunities for her setters to succeed.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["119691"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":239137,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With that, we transition to [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'] in the setter position. Schenck was instrumental in setting the offense succeed in what they do, to score points. She utilized all of the offensive weapons that the Saints have and went with her hot hitters. She's smart on reversing the flow and finding Goodenow as we mentioned above. If that's not enough, she recorded some kills and blocks when she rotates in the front row in Aquinas' 6-2 offense.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["152165"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":239138,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Anderson's presence in the back row was noticeable as one of the three defensive players for Aquinas. She was not afraid to hit the floor and did so in a few occasions to get the ball up during short serves and defensive digs (if pancake - no, not the food - is a statistical component, she would have a few).  She was the dig-leader as the Saints defensive presence.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["153937"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":239139,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"If you like offense, then you need to come see Goolsby and Aquinas play in person. Goolsby was obliterating balls in various plays for the Saints. Even her own teammates were shocked and had the expression of u0022I wouldn't want to be on the other side of those hitsu0022! Goolsby is versatile as a player and was utilized in serve-receive plays whenever the Saints wanted to make a change or needed a different perspective in the passing game. She had a few receives in the middle of the court and transitioned to hit a 2-ball to compliment Aquinas' offensive firepower.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-65831725329db"} /--> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"center","id":239038,"width":843,"height":562,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/AquinasSubstate-0245.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-239038" width="843" height="562" /><figcaption><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">St Thomas Aquinas - Kansas 5A Substate Champions</mark></strong></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":239183,"width":843,"height":978,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/10/AquinasSubstate-0268-2-not-used-882x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-239183" width="843" height="978" /><figcaption><mark class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">An awesome tradition as the Seniors posed with the Freshmen with the Substate trophy</mark></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->