Q’s 5A State Preview: The St. schools vs. the field?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A will be a treat to watch this weekend in Salina. I know in all classes, all eight teams are extremely good but listen...this field convening at the Pizza Center is loaded. Today I take a look at the eight teams looking to bring home the big plaque this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool 1: Andover Central, Topeka Seaman, Spring Hill, Andover</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pool 2: Maize South, St. James, Lansing, St. Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Pool 1</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andover Central (38-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='152835' first='Hayden' last='Snodgrass'], [player_tooltip player_id='261107' first='Gretta' last='Stover'], [player_tooltip player_id='221517' first='Jordyn' last='Washington'], [player_tooltip player_id='221542' first='Willow' last='Deckinger'], [player_tooltip player_id='493581' first='Bella' last='Holcomb']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top overall seed comes in riding a 28-match winning streak, with their lone loss coming September 9th to Clearwater in three sets. Along the way they have defeated three state qualifiers, McPherson in 4A and Andover, who they will face to open the tournament. They also avenged the earlier defeat to Clearwater on the same day. Central is a balanced team offensively with three players averaging at or close to three kills per set. [player_tooltip player_id='152835' first='Hayden' last='Snodgrass'] has 260 kills on the year, while Stover is right behind her with 248. The team operates a 6-2 with both Holcomb and Snodgrass owning over 400 assists on the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Topeka Seaman (33-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='219715' first='Campbell' last='Chabot'], Maegan Mills, [player_tooltip player_id='219738' first='Kinley' last='Wilhelm'], Ally Steiner, [player_tooltip player_id='119804' first='Brooklyn' last='Gormley'], [player_tooltip player_id='119719' first='Taylin' last='Stallbaumer'], [player_tooltip player_id='173373' first='Reagan' last='McGivern']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We don't have much to operate from in regards to stats, as Seaman doesn't upload to MaxPreps. But we are lucky we see some of these players during the club season and know their skill set a little. The Vikings own wins over eight state-bound teams on both sides of the state line, so their competition has been strong this year. They split with Spring Hill, who they will play in pool play. Chabot is a talented setter who eclipsed the 1,000 assists mark this year. Mills also went over 1,000 kills. Stallbaumer has shown her defense is outstanding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Hill (31-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: Keliah Rivers, [player_tooltip player_id='119712' first='Shannon' last='Frakes'], [player_tooltip player_id='493461' first='Sydney' last='Buscher'], [player_tooltip player_id='216383' first='Gracie' last='Klecan']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Hill will enter the state tournament with wins over two teams in the 5A field, Seaman and Lansing. They also hold losses to those teams as well. The team operates with a two-setter offense with Frakes and Buscher both setting and swinging. Both players have over 200 kills and 400 assists, kind of with Frakes sitting at 394. Rivers on the pin is electric and can score in bunches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andover (29-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: Gabrielle Reynolds, [player_tooltip player_id='493419' first='Aliyah' last='Green'], Camille Avila, [player_tooltip player_id='220101' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gordon'], [player_tooltip player_id='493422' first='Lauren' last='Heinz']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover enters the tournament with 29 wins and 9 losses. Most of those losses come to teams who qualified for the state tournament across different classes. Reynolds has shown she can fill up the stat sheet with 22 double-digit kill performances this season. [player_tooltip player_id='493422' first='Lauren' last='Heinz'] has run the shown from the setter position and been efficient with 861 assists to only 20 ball handling errors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Advancing to Seminfals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover Central and Topeka Seaman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Pool 2</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maize South (35-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='153936' first='Jillian' last='Gregory'], [player_tooltip player_id='119709' first='Gracie' last='Morrow'], [player_tooltip player_id='150065' first='Camdyn' last='Stucky'], [player_tooltip player_id='493412' first='Alyvia' last='Herbig'], [player_tooltip player_id='515957' first='Carly' last='Koster']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season started with a 16-match winning streak, taking down St. Thomas Aquinas, Lansing, Washburn Rural, and Heritage Christian along the way. They were then stopped by state qualifier Spring Hill. Their other two losses were to qualifier Bishop Miege in class 4A and then Washburn avenged their earlier loss. [player_tooltip player_id='515957' first='Carly' last='Koster'] has put up a big block in the middle and Herbig has been steady in the back row. We know the team goes as does the pins, Gregory and Morrow. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='150065' first='Camdyn' last='Stucky'] will try to find the match-ups and get them the ball in good situations to be effective. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. James (32-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], [player_tooltip player_id='119723' first='Julia' last='Headley'], [player_tooltip player_id='355656' first='Leah' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='119718' first='Ava' last='Spachek'], [player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'], [player_tooltip player_id='150067' first='Heidi' last='Devers'], [player_tooltip player_id='216373' first='Katelynn' last='Blaesing']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are no questionable defeats on the Thunder's schedule and a lot of quality wins to choose from. [player_tooltip player_id='355656' first='Leah' last='Robinson'] made a big jump this season and has been a major reason for St. James's success in 2023. [player_tooltip player_id='119694' first='Mya' last='Bolton'] is among one of the top liberos in the state and Messer does a good job of spreading the ball around to her hitters. When the team is passing and defending, they are tough to beat. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lansing (28-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='119810' first='Anna' last='Laincz'], [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands'], [player_tooltip player_id='456247' first='Halle' last='Laincz'], [player_tooltip player_id='173385' first='Mikenna' last='Matzeder'], Tabor Scanlon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing captured a league title in 2023 and followed that up with a sub-state title. Their next goal is a state title and the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='119810' first='Anna' last='Laincz'] and Tabor Scanlon will lead the way. Scanlon should go over the 1,000 assists in a season mark this weekend. Laincz has been electric on the pin for Lansing, averaging four kills per set. They aren't the biggest team but smart in shot selection and plays solid defense with Matzeder leading the back row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Thomas Aquinas (27-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'], [player_tooltip player_id='119725' first='Tatum' last='Grimes'], [player_tooltip player_id='222089' first='Grace' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='119691' first='Kelsey' last='Schenck'], [player_tooltip player_id='119692' first='Sophia' last='Bond'], [player_tooltip player_id='483934' first='Presley' last='Kreter'], [player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending state champions enter in as the seventh seed but at this point it doesn't matter. Win three matches you are on to the semi-final, win two, you have a good chance. Regardless of seed, this is a team that will be a tough out. [player_tooltip player_id='483934' first='Presley' last='Kreter'] has been a pleasant surprise in the middle for the Saints this year with 73 blocks. Goolsby, Grimes, and Martin all have over two-hundred kills on the year and this setting combo of Schenck and Vaeth are two of the better in the city in regards to two-setter offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Advancing to Semifinals</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. James and St. Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Semifinals</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Topeka Seaman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We like Aquinas and their experience to get the win here and advance to state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Andover Central vs. St. James</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. James schedule and wins gives us the confidence they will advance. We could went either direction with who places first or second in that pool but the Thunder advance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Finals</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>St. Thomas Aquinas vs. St. James</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two times played the toughest schedules in my eyes in this tournament. Both teams are familiar with each other. For me, the offense of St. Thomas versus the defense of St. James in the storyline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">3rd Place</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Topeka Seaman vs. Andover Central</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andover Central will finish their strong season with a plaque. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->