State Preview: Class 6A Loaded With Talent

Eight teams punched their tickets for the Class 6A State Tournament which will be played in Salina.   Pools of four teams were announced on October 22. The top two teams in each pool qualify for the semifinals on Saturday. Class 6A teams will play in the afternoon sessions at the Tony's Pizza Event Center.   I looked for one player on each team to highlight and will focus on writing about a player I did not feature in last week's sub-state previews.   Here is the first of multiple previews of the seven state tournaments being played October 27-28.   No. 1 Seed: Blue Valley North (34-3)   [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure'], 5'7”, OH/DS, Blue Valley North, ‘25   McClure is a solid hitting threat for the Mustangs. She is second on the team in kills with 216. She is a six-rotation player who has also collected 414 serve receptions and 178 digs. Blue Valley plays in Pool A and their first match is scheduled for a 4:30 start time against No. 8 seeded Maize.   No. 2 Seed: Mill Valley (32-5)   [player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs'], 6'0”, OH, Mill Valley, ‘27   Riggs can really jump. She is second on the Jaguars' roster with 266 kills. Riggs also has 25 total blocks and 38 aces for Mill Valley. Mill Valley will play in Pool B and its first match is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. against No. 7-seeded Manhattan.   No. 3 Seed: Olathe Northwest (31-5)   [player_tooltip player_id='119703' first='Emmy' last='Sher'], 5"8), DS/L, Olathe Northwest, ‘24   Sher is a solid defensive player for the Ravens. She has collected 393 serve receptions and 280 digs in 88 sets played. Olathe Northwest will compete in Pool B and begin its tournament with a match against No. 6 seed Garden City scheduled for 3:30 p.m.   No. 4 Seed: Blue Valley West (29-9)   [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'], 5'8”, S, Blue Valley West, ‘25   Wedman is just a junior, but she is already a member of the 2,000-assist club. She has started for the Jaguars since her freshman season. Wedman has 821 assists heading into the tournament. She also has a solid tip game and can put the ball down. She has 89 kills and 41 total blocks. Blue Valley West will play in Pool A and will open the tournament against defending 6A champion Washburn Rural at 3:30 p.m.   No. 5 Seed: Washburn Rural (28-10)   [player_tooltip player_id='223572' first='Stella' last='Kelly'], 5'10”, S/RH, Washburn Rural, ‘26   Washburn Rural is a team that does not submit team stats online. However, Kelly is a solid setter who I have seen play club ball and summer ball. Washburn Rural will play in Pool A and will open up against Blue Valley West   No. 6 Seed: Garden City (25-13)   [player_tooltip player_id='537182' first='Aleeya' last='Cruz'], 5'3”, S,  Garden City, ‘25   Cruz is a spunky setter for the Buffaloes. She has 362 assists in 81 sets played. She also has a powerful serve accounting for 52 aces. Garden City will play in Pool B and open the tournament against Olathe Northwest.   No. 7 Seed: Manhattan (23-14)   [player_tooltip player_id='483908' first='Bailey' last='Busch'], 5'17”, OH, Manhattan, ‘27   Another young hitter to watch in Salina is Manhattan's Busch. She has 212 kills in 82 sets played. She can play all over the court as she has also racked up 527 serve receptions and 281 digs playing defense for the Indians. Manhattan will compete in Pool B and play its first match against Mill Valley.   No. 8 Seed: Maize (19-18)   [player_tooltip player_id='219724' first='Lauren' last='Welch'], 5'6”, L,  Maize, ‘25   The Eagles have multiple hitters with more than 100 kills, but it is the passing of Welch that puts the ball in flight. Welch leads the team on digs with 335. Maize will play in Pool A and face Blue Valley North to open the tournament.

Eight teams punched their tickets for the Class 6A State Tournament which will be played in Salina.