Class 5A: Kansas Sub-State Preview

Class 5A is loaded with hitting talent. Of the three substate brackets for the 6A-4A divisions, this one appears to be the most competitive.   The Andover Central and Seaman sub-states are both going to be very competitive on the western side of the state. While a possible sub-state final of St. Thomas Aquinas versus Blue Valley Southwest could be a great match.   Here are eight prospects, one from each sub-state, hoping that their teams can punch a ticket to the state championship tournament in Salina.   [player_tooltip player_id='355656' first='Leah' last='Robinson'], 6'1”, OH, St. James Academy, ‘26   Robinson is the top hitter on the No. 1-seeded St. James Academy. Robinson can really get off the floor and her game is only going to improve with experience.  Through 70 sets played, she has 241 kills. The Thunder own a record of 30-4 and will face Turner (7-24) in the first round. The other two teams in the sub-state played in Lenexa are No. 8 KC-Piper (15-14) and No. 9 De Soto (13-17).   [player_tooltip player_id='119810' first='Anna' last='Laincz'], 5'10”, OH, Lansing, ‘24   Laincz is the leading hitter on a talented Lions squad. She has 342 kills in 85 sets played. She also reached the 1,000-career kill mark this season. Lansing is the No. 2 seed in the eastern side of the state and will face the Pittsburg Purple Dragons (8-25) in the first round. Seventh-seeded KC- Schlagle (17-11) and No. 10 Leavenworth (15-20) face each other in the other match.   [player_tooltip player_id='119712' first='Shannon' last='Frakes'], 5'10”, OH, Spring Hill, ‘24 (Pictured Above)   Spring Hill is a deep squad and will be a tough out. Frakes has 229 kills in 69 sets played. The Broncos are the No. 3 seed in the east with a 29-8 record. Spring Hill will face Highland Park (8-20) in the first round. Sixth-seeded Sumner Academy (19-7) meets KC-Washington (8-11) in the other sub-state match.   [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'], 5'10”, OH, St. Thomas Aquinas, ‘25   Goolsby is a young hitter who leads a strong offensive Saints team. She leads the squad with 304 kills in 72 sets played. The Saints (25-7) are the No. 4 seed in the east and will face the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats who have a record of 10-24. In the other first-round match-up No. 5 Blue Valley Southwest (27-8) squares off against No. 12 Shawnee Heights with a record of 11-19.   [player_tooltip player_id='152835' first='Hayden' last='Snodgrass'], 5'9”, S/RS, Andover Central, ‘24   The Andover Central Jaguars are the No. 1-seeded team in the western bracket. The Jags are a talented squad led by Snodgrass. She leads the team in kills with 234. She also has collected 369 assists for Andover Central. The Jags will face No. 16 Arkansas City (11-20) in the first round. The eight and nine-seed match-up of Bishop Carroll (25-10) and Emporia (25-11) is arguably the toughest first-round match-up in Class 5A.   [player_tooltip player_id='119709' first='Gracie' last='Morrow'], 6'0”, OH/DS, Maize South, ‘24   Morrow is a six-rotation stud for the Mavericks. She is second on the club with 246 kills in 65 sets played. She also reached the 1,000-career mark in kills in 2023. Morrow has also registered 167 digs and 203 serve receptions. Maize South (33-2) is the No. 2 seed in the western side of the state. The Mavericks' first-round opponent is No. 15 Salina South (14-22). The seventh-seeded Topeka West Chargers (27-9) will meet No. 10 Valley Center (22-10) in the other first-round match.   [player_tooltip player_id='519098' first='Kara' last='Fiest'], 5'10”, RS/MB, Great Bend, ‘25   Fiest is a feisty junior who brings multiple skills to the table for the Panthers. She leads the team with 205 kills and has added 78 total blocks in 77 sets played. Great Bend (30-4) is the No. 3 seed out west and will face Salina Central (13-19) in the first round.  Number six seed Andover (26-8) will meet the Hays Indians (21-13) in the first round sub-state played in Great Bend.   [player_tooltip player_id='237255' first='Langley' last='Barger'], 5'10”, OH, Eisenhower (Goddard), ‘24   Barger and the No. 13-seeded Eisenhower Tiger will look to upset the No. 4-seeded Seaman Vikings (31-6) in what I believe is the toughest four-team field in Class 5A. Barger leads the team in kills with 196. The Seaman squad is loaded with talent. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (30-6) is the No. 5 seed in the west and faces the No. 12-seed Newton. The Railers are a gritty team that will be a tough out.

Class 5A is loaded with hitting talent. Of the three substate brackets for the 6A-4A divisions, this one appears to be the most competitive.