Kansas Teams in the 17s Division: Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We started close to a couple of weeks ago highlighting 17U teams on the Missouri side of the state line. Once we get into Kansas City it gets kind of dicey due to teams in Kansas also having players and Missouri and vice versa. Today we will start looking at some of the teams "based" in Kansas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We discuss this team often as they are arguably one of the top teams in the country after a crazy 2022. They are back with many familiar faces and some new but familiar faces. They started off the qualifier season as runner-ups at the Northern Lights Qualifier in the open division to clinch their bid. We know on the pins they have six rotation players [player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'] (Arizona), [player_tooltip player_id='119707' first='Skyler' last='Pierce'] (Nebraska), and [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen']. In the libero jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='150068' first='Ryan' last='McAleer'](Purdue) is back. One of the top players and setters in the 2025 class [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'] returns to lead the offense and add in [player_tooltip player_id='152821' first='Lauren' last='Wright'], who had a great year for Liberty North. DS [player_tooltip player_id='152831' first='Maya' last='Houseworth'] has looked good early in the ds position. The key in my opinion will be the play in the middle. They return [player_tooltip player_id='201027' first='Jada' last='Ingram'] (UNLV), who had a great year for Washburn Rural en route to a state title. [player_tooltip player_id='216417' first='Piper' last='Newton'] has looked explosive early in qualifiers and the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] league. And this year, add in [player_tooltip player_id='119704' first='Cy' last='Rae Campbell'] (Wake Forest), who played up the last couple of years. If they are on, they can be a favorite for a title. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Blue</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Blue checked one goal off their box early this season in earning a spot in the ever-competitive HOA [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] League, in a deep 17s division. They went 3-4 in the MLK tournament in the 17 Club division. They would follow that up by finishing 14th in the Northern Lights Qualifier in the USA division. This team features [player_tooltip player_id='261101' first='Addisen' last='Horn'], who set in a 6-2 for Olathe Northwest this past fall and established herself as a quality setter. They have a couple of St. James products in the middle in [player_tooltip player_id='154036' first='Geneva' last='Musolf'] and Emery Jackson. State champion [player_tooltip player_id='261103' first='Ava' last='Anderson'] has shown she can play multiple positions on the court and brings competitiveness to this team. Madelyn Meyer and [player_tooltip player_id='216402' first='Delaney' last='Cahill'] are on the pins. Defensively, Karsen Chapman from Lawrence Free State and Carly Hain of Olathe West look to play major roles behind the block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Mavs KC 17-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mavs KC is another veteran bunch back for 2023. [player_tooltip player_id='150066' first='Sara' last='Allmon'] is a pin who can score in many different ways. She has improved in the blocking department and her stock continues to rise. Joining her on the pins and also capable of doing damage is Ella Goodwin and [player_tooltip player_id='150220' first='Hope' last='Hickman']. This team hosts probably the deepest defender bunch in the state in this division with [player_tooltip player_id='119692' first='Sophia' last='Bond'], [player_tooltip player_id='152834' first='Remi' last='Nuss'], and [player_tooltip player_id='119703' first='Emmy' last='Sher']. You don't miss a beat regardless of which defender is on the court as they all are top-tier. [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'] (Lipscomb) has displayed the tools and playmaking ability to distinguish herself as one of the top setters in the city. Like with [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black, the middles will tell the story of how deep this team can go come July. [player_tooltip player_id='119725' first='Tatum' last='Grimes'] has made the move over from [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] to Mavs and provides instant scoring and defense. [player_tooltip player_id='119705' first='Lauren' last='Roediger'] (UMKC) and [player_tooltip player_id='150072' first='Olivia' last='Martin'] are both strong assets to have on your team. The first [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] League playdate saw them go 4-1, losing only to [program_tooltip program_id='428889' first='Dynasty' last=''] 17 Black. They went 3-2 this past Sunday dropping matches to [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 17-1 and Pohaku 17-1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']'] 17-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] is back and still has a roster capable of making some noise this spring. They return a dynamic pin duo of [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'] (Florida International) and 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'], who was key in St. Thomas Aquinas winning a state title. [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'] (Cincinnati) is back to run the offensive show. [player_tooltip player_id='119708' first='Rachel' last='Van Gorp'] (Iowa State) is a do-it-all player and brings many intangibles to the court. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'] (Michigan State) and [player_tooltip player_id='152134' first='Abby' last='Boyd'] (Rockhurst) will be contributors and tasked with keeping the offense in system. [player_tooltip player_id='119723' first='Julia' last='Headley'] (Colgate), [player_tooltip player_id='495628' first='Tatum' last='Tindall'], and [player_tooltip player_id='119812' first='Zoe' last='McDonald'] will roam the middle. They are perfect in two [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] League play dates and have only dropped one set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] 17-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='428892' first='PVA' last=''] traveled to Minnesota to kick off their qualifier season in the Liberty Division and returned with a 9th-place finish. Based on their final results, they possibly could have been in a position to get a bid had it not been for some second-day mishaps. We don't have the final story but it appears they have three sets forfeited. They dropped one whole match before losing a set before losing the match -17 to a Nebraska Premier Red team. Typically a forfeit such as this comes from not being on the court on time. Nonetheless, this team has weapons starting with Fiona Van Dyke on the pin. [player_tooltip player_id='124217' first='Gretel' last='Robbins'] will also play a factor in the team's success from the pin. [player_tooltip player_id='216453' first='Kennedy' last='Outler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='216378' first='Taryn' last='Marcum'] will see time on the front row. [player_tooltip player_id='152837' first='Lauren' last='Croom'] comes over from Mavs to help with the setting duties, joining Esther Archibald. [player_tooltip player_id='216380' first='Grace' last='Wagers'], who saw some varsity time for Blue Valley this year will be one of the middles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Shockwave 17-1</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shockwave earned a spot in the HOA [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] League after a strong qualifier performance. They opened going 3-2 dropping those matches to 417 and Mavs 17-1. They followed that up by going 2-3 on Sunday. The Wichita area team has weapons of their own led by pins [player_tooltip player_id='153936' first='Jillian' last='Gregory'] and [player_tooltip player_id='119709' first='Gracie' last='Morrow']. They provide a solid 1-2 punch. Both players are capable of taking over a match when they get going. Setter Camdyn Stuky (Tennesee) returns as an offensive-minded setter. [player_tooltip player_id='172454' first='Jacqueline' last='Corcoran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='185698' first='Abigail' last='Koontz'] had tremendous high school seasons. [player_tooltip player_id='119700' first='Grace' last='Hett'] is very good in the back row. [player_tooltip player_id='261115' first='Mia' last='Fox'], [player_tooltip player_id='246797' first='Nina' last='Mitchell'], and Avery Elofsson are all front-row players who may take swings from the middle and right side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->