Preseason Kansas City Metro Power 15

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are back with our Kansas City Metro [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15 rankings! With action kicking off tomorrow, no better time to set the state with our initial rankings to start the season! Here we go!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. St. James (37-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who to put at the top was a difficult choice but when looking at the returning pieces, along with where they finished last year, St. James will start on top. They finished 2022 as our second-ranked team to St. Thomas Aquinas. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], [player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'], [player_tooltip player_id='119718' first='Ava' last='Spachek'], Ella Goodwin, [player_tooltip player_id='150067' first='Heidi' last='Devers'], [player_tooltip player_id='119723' first='Julia' last='Headley'], [player_tooltip player_id='216373' first='Katelynn' last='Blaesing']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. St. Thomas Aquinas (40-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not putting the defending state champs at the top may raise some eyebrows. They return a lot of important players to a team that lost three matches last year. They also graduated a couple of high-valued contributors Betsy Goodenow and Reagan Anderson. They will be there at the end in a few short months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: Alea Gooslby, [player_tooltip player_id='119725' first='Tatum' last='Grimes'], [player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth'], [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'], [player_tooltip player_id='119692' first='Sophia' last='Bond']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Liberty North (31-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team returns many from a team that finished third in Missouri's top class. They lost a key play in the middle but do return one of the top players in the country. They were almost at the top of this ranking, but we need to wait and see if Cisneros is ready to start the year after missing the tail end of club ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'], [player_tooltip player_id='219774' first='McKenna' last='Jacquin'], Mak Miller, [player_tooltip player_id='152821' first='Lauren' last='Wright'], [player_tooltip player_id='153934' first='Emma' last='Christian'], [player_tooltip player_id='232620' first='Ella' last='Morgan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Blue Valley North (27-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs went through a slump in the middle of the season and turned it on when it mattered to make a deep push into the postseason. A lost little and will start the year in the 4th spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'], [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'], [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure'], [player_tooltip player_id='152832' first='Felicia' last='Wu'], Aubrey Shaw, [player_tooltip player_id='173394' first='Natalie' last='Herrington']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Mill Valley (32-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An extremely young team a year ago, look for them to build on the success they saw in 2022. Their season ended with a trip to the state tournament where they fell to #4 Blue Valley North in the consolation round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='154038' first='Ella' last='Florez'], [player_tooltip player_id='153938' first='Saida' last='Jacobs'], [player_tooltip player_id='152830' first='Kaitlyn' last='Burke'], [player_tooltip player_id='493515' first='Ashlyn' last='Blazer'], [player_tooltip player_id='216374' first='Ava' last='Jones']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Olathe Northwest (26-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team returns every player that saw minutes in 2022. They are deep and hungry going into the final season for some key players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: Syler Pierce, [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'], [player_tooltip player_id='173393' first='Caroline' last='Clayton'], [player_tooltip player_id='119705' first='Lauren' last='Roediger'], [player_tooltip player_id='119703' first='Emmy' last='Sher'], [player_tooltip player_id='261101' first='Addisen' last='Horn'], [player_tooltip player_id='185632' first='Alex' last='Klukvin'],</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Blue Valley West (24-15)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley West had a similar season to Blue Valley North last year. Great start, a rough patch, strong finish. They have enough key components back to start the year ranked #7. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'], [player_tooltip player_id='173371' first='Ella' last='Davidson'], [player_tooltip player_id='173397' first='Allison' last='Heck'], [player_tooltip player_id='227605' first='Alex' last='Myers'], [player_tooltip player_id='216401' first='Ava' last='Hefner'], Katrina Whtehouse, [player_tooltip player_id='223291' first='Alyssa' last='Young'], [player_tooltip player_id='173395' first='Brookelyn' last='Hatton'], [player_tooltip player_id='493578' first='Katie' last='Phillips']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Heritage Christian (36-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heritage Christian starts the year high, ranked at the 8th spot. They will look to win another state title, which would be their fourth in a row if my memory serves me right. Maybe more!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='119708' first='Rachel' last='Van Gorp'], CyRae Campbell, [player_tooltip player_id='261106' first='Grace' last='Schmedding'], [player_tooltip player_id='515019' first='Maddy' last='Wolf'], Caelyn Ferguson, [player_tooltip player_id='216387' first='Lauren' last='Jacobs']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Platte County (27-10)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pirates return a household of talent of 2023 after a trip to the final four in 2022. With players back in many key roles, expect them to make another run to Cape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='216466' first='Kendall' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='219756' first='Karlee' last='Riggs'], Tatianna Murray, Ava Wheeler, Avery Walter, Enna Wheeler, Emma Harned</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Bishop Miege (22-21)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning 4A state champions had an up-and-down year but took care of business when it mattered. They have the fire[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] to make another run to a title despite losing a key player in the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='173376' first='Lauren' last='Lopez'], [player_tooltip player_id='261103' first='Ava' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='493386' first='Kirston' last='Verhulst'], Trinnit Stevens, [player_tooltip player_id='342341' first='Gabby' last='Anderson'], Delaney Morrison</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. Lansing (27-10)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing crept up on me a year ago. I thought they were in a rebuild and they were in a reload. Their 2022 season saw them finish at the 5A state tournament. They have many back from that team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='119810' first='Anna' last='Laincz'], [player_tooltip player_id='119730' first='Ashlynn' last='Jaccard'], Virginia Van Der Werff, Tabor Scanlon, [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. St. Michael the Archangel (27-6-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Michael just missed a chance to compete at the state tournament, losing to a tough Platte County team. The team is back with a talented roster and will look to take that next step this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='124855' first='Lily' last='Vanbebber'], [player_tooltip player_id='124853' first='Mikalah' last='Davis'], Emma Campbell, Addi Maclean, [player_tooltip player_id='493102' first='Katie' last='Vargo']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. Pleasant Hill (26-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 3 runner-up starts the year at 13. The team just south of Kansas City proper lost one of their kill leaders but returned enough to make another run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: Aby Widhalm, [player_tooltip player_id='495317' first='Gabriela' last='Hanes'], [player_tooltip player_id='219766' first='Riley' last='Hays'], [player_tooltip player_id='737588' first='Ella' last='Crain'], Izzy Kietzmann</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. Lee's Summit West (22-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit continues to be in the mix year in and year out. That won't change this year considering what they have returning to their roster. They will have to sort out their setting duties. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='216020' first='Ryanne' last='Wattree'], [player_tooltip player_id='493090' first='Kamryn' last='McDonald'], Zoe Barnes, [player_tooltip player_id='349614' first='Bella' last='Bishop'], [player_tooltip player_id='261103' first='Ava' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='152824' first='Emily' last='Mathis'], Addison Lindemann</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. St. Pius X (28-6-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another sleeper in the Kansas City community, Pius is back in 2023 with two of the top players in the state last year in kills and digs. If their young players step up, 2023 could be special. Like some teams, the setter will be key.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key returnees: [player_tooltip player_id='150046' first='Claire' last='Mosh'], [player_tooltip player_id='150042' first='Avery' last='Ashby'], [player_tooltip player_id='261308' first='Lauren' last='Fussell'], [player_tooltip player_id='261279' first='Adriana' last='Conroy'], [player_tooltip player_id='357575' first='Anna' last='Ashby'], </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams considered: Olathe West, Blue Valley Northwest, Park Hill South, Belton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->