Preseason Kansas City Metro Power 15
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We are back with our Kansas City Metro Power 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! 1. St. James (37-4) Who to…
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Continue ReadingWe are back with our Kansas City Metro Power 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!
1. St. James (37-4)
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.
Key Returnees: Reese Messer Reese Messer 5'11" | S St. James | 2025 State #6 Nation KS , Mya Bolton Mya Bolton 5'3" | DS/L St. James Academy | 2024 State #134 Nation KS , Ava Spachek Ava Spachek 5'11" | OH St. James Academy | 2024 State KS , Ella Goodwin, Heidi Devers Heidi Devers 5'4" | DS/L St. James | 2024 State KS , Julia Headley Julia Headley 6'2" | MB St. James | 2024 State #103 Nation KS , Katelynn Blaesing Katelynn Blaesing 5'4" | DS/L St. James | 2024 State KS
2. St. Thomas Aquinas (40-3)
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.
Key returnees: Alea Gooslby, Tatum Grimes Tatum Grimes 6'2" | MB St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State #184 Nation KS , Alayna Vaeth Alayna Vaeth 5'9" | S St. Thomas Aquinas | 2026 State KS , Kelsey Schenck Kelsey Schenck 5'11" | S St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State KS , Sophia Bond Sophia Bond 5'7" | DS/L St. Thomas Aquinas | 2024 State KS
3. Liberty North (31-6)
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.
Key returnees: Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO , McKenna Jacquin McKenna Jacquin 5'10" | OH Liberty North | 2025 State MO , Mak Miller, Lauren Wright Lauren Wright 5'8" | S Liberty North | 2024 State MO , Emma Christian Emma Christian 5'8" | S Liberty North | 2025 State MO , Ella Morgan Ella Morgan 5'10" | MB Liberty North | 2024 State MO
4. Blue Valley North (27-11)
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.
Key returnees: Logan Parks Logan Parks 5'11" | S Blue Valley North | 2025 State #8 Nation KS , Janelle Green Janelle Green 5'9" | S Blue Valley North | 2024 State #68 Nation KS , Jenna McClure Jenna McClure 5'8" | OH Blue Valley North | 2025 State KS , Felicia Wu Felicia Wu 5'6" | S Blue Valley North | 2024 State KS , Aubrey Shaw, Natalie Herrington Natalie Herrington 6'1" | MB Blue Valley North | 2025 State KS
5. Mill Valley (32-11)
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.
Key returnees: Ella Florez Ella Florez 5'9" | S Mill Valley | 2026 State KS , Saida Jacobs Saida Jacobs 6'1" | MB Mill Valley | 2025 State KS , Kaitlyn Burke Kaitlyn Burke 5'10" | OH Mill Valley | 2024 State KS , Ashlyn Blazer Ashlyn Blazer 6'0" | MB Mill Valley | 2025 State KS , Ava Jones Ava Jones 5'6" | S Mill Valley | 2024 State KS
6. Olathe Northwest (26-9)
This team returns every player that saw minutes in 2022. They are deep and hungry going into the final season for some key players.
Key returnees: Syler Pierce, Jillian Huckabey Jillian Huckabey 6'0" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2024 State #74 Nation KS , Caroline Clayton Caroline Clayton 5'9" | OH Olathe South | 2025 State KS , Lauren Roediger Lauren Roediger 6'2" | MB Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS , Emmy Sher Emmy Sher 5'8" | DS/L Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS , Addisen Horn Addisen Horn 5'8" | S Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS , Alex Klukvin Alex Klukvin 5'7" | DS/L Olathe Northwest | 2025 State KS ,
7. Blue Valley West (24-15)
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.
Key returnees: Lily Wedman Lily Wedman 5'8" | S Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Ella Davidson Ella Davidson 5'10" | OH Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Allison Heck Allison Heck 6'0" | MB Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Alex Myers Alex Myers 6'1" | RS Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Ava Hefner Ava Hefner 6'0" | MB Blue Valley West | 2024 State KS , Katrina Whtehouse, Alyssa Young Alyssa Young 5'8" | DS/L Blue Valley West | 2026 State KS , Brookelyn Hatton Brookelyn Hatton 5'4" | DS/L Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS , Katie Phillips Katie Phillips 5'4" | DS/L Blue Valley West | 2025 State KS
8. Heritage Christian (36-7)
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!
Key returnees: Rachel Van Gorp Rachel Van Gorp 5'9" | OH Heritage Christian | 2024 State #94 Nation KS , CyRae Campbell, Grace Schmedding Grace Schmedding 6'0" | OH Heritage Christian Academy | 2024 State KS , Maddy Wolf Maddy Wolf 5'8" | RS Heritage Christian Academy | 2024 State KS , Caelyn Ferguson, Lauren Jacobs Lauren Jacobs 5'5" | DS/L Heritage Christian | 2024 State KS
9. Platte County (27-10)
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.
Key returnees: Kendall Johnson Kendall Johnson 5'10" | MB Platte County | 2024 State MO , Karlee Riggs Karlee Riggs 5'11" | RS Platte County | 2025 State MO , Tatianna Murray, Ava Wheeler, Avery Walter, Enna Wheeler, Emma Harned
10. Bishop Miege (22-21)
The reigning 4A state champions had an up-and-down year but took care of business when it mattered. They have the fire Power to make another run to a title despite losing a key player in the middle.
Key returnees: Lauren Lopez Lauren Lopez 5'10" | OH Bishop Miege | 2025 State KS , Ava Anderson Ava Anderson 6'0" | RS Bishop Miege | 2024 KS , Kirston Verhulst Kirston Verhulst 5'8" | OH Bishop Miege | 2025 State KS , Trinnit Stevens, Gabby Anderson Gabby Anderson 5'6" | DS/L Bishop Miege | 2024 State KS , Delaney Morrison
11. Lansing (27-10)
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.
Key returnees: Anna Laincz Anna Laincz 5'10" | OH Lansing | 2024 State KS , Ashlynn Jaccard Ashlynn Jaccard 5'11" | MB Lansing | 2024 State KS , Virginia Van Der Werff, Tabor Scanlon, Avery Sands Avery Sands 5'7" | OH Lansing | 2026 State KS
12. St. Michael the Archangel (27-6-1)
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.
Key returnees: Lily Vanbebber Lily Vanbebber 5'9" | OH St. Michael the Archangel | 2024 State MO , Mikalah Davis Mikalah Davis 5'9" | OH St. Michael The Archangel | 2024 State MO , Emma Campbell, Addi Maclean, Katie Vargo Katie Vargo 5'5" | DS/L St. Michael's | 2025 State MO
13. Pleasant Hill (26-9)
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.
Key returnees: Aby Widhalm, Gabriela Hanes Gabriela Hanes S Pleasant Hill | 2024 State MO , Riley Hays Riley Hays 5'10" | OH Pleasant Hill | 2025 State MO , Ella Crain, Izzy Kietzmann
14. Lee’s Summit West (22-11)
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.
Key returnees: Ryanne Wattree Ryanne Wattree 5'10" | RS Lees Summit West | 2024 State MO , Kamryn McDonald Kamryn McDonald 6'0" | OH Lee's Summit West | 2025 State MO , Zoe Barnes, Bella Bishop Bella Bishop OH Lee's Summit West | 2025 State MO , Ava Anderson Ava Anderson 6'0" | RS Bishop Miege | 2024 KS , Emily Mathis Emily Mathis 5'6" | DS/L Lee's Summit West | 2024 State MO , Addison Lindemann
15. St. Pius X (28-6-1)
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.
Key returnees: Claire Mosh Claire Mosh 5'6" | DS/L St. Pius X | 2024 State MO , Avery Ashby Avery Ashby 5'10" | OH St. Pius X | 2024 State MO , Lauren Fussell Lauren Fussell 5'10" | MB St Pius X | 2025 State MO , Adriana Conroy Adriana Conroy 5'10" | MB St. Pius X | 2024 State MO , Anna Ashby Anna Ashby 5'10" | MB St. Pius | 2026 State MO ,
Teams considered: Olathe West, Blue Valley Northwest, Park Hill South, Belton