Day 1 Final Four Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amber Samson – 2024 – Libero -Blair Oaks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blair Oaks is going for its third title in as many years and if anyone is going to have a say in it it's the Falcons libero. Each year they've won the title it's been the play of the libero's that I enjoy. Amber does a great job filling the gaps and taking the other team's best shot. In the win over Pleasant, Hill Amber finished with 11 digs and dug up some blasts from Pleasant Hills' big outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207581' first='Jillian' last='Raterman'] – 2026 – Outside – Ursuline Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is my first time catching her play in person and this kid going to be a dandy for the Bears. She's a six-rotation hard-hitting do-it player for Ursuline and finished with 15 kills and ten digs for a double-double sending the Bears to the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='169895' first='Tara' last='Greenberry'] – 2025 – Middle -Incarnate Word</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When in doubt just toss it up and have the dynamo put it down. Time and time again when the Red Knights need a point Tara's a part of it in some way or another. The 6'3” middle hit around, over, and through the block and played some nice defense ending with five digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sydney Otec, [player_tooltip player_id='207277' first='Karlie' last='Lane'], and [player_tooltip player_id='230660' first='Emma' last='Frazier'] – 2024 – Defense – St. Pius X</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers found themselves in a battle with Jefferson City and if not for the defensive effort by these three seniors St. Pius would have been playing for 3^rd. The passes and the diving saves were plenty as they made every effort to give their big guns the opportunity for the attacks. These three racked up 44 of the team's 73 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Madilyn Mitchell – 2025 – Opposite – Jefferson City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one was one of my favorites to watch. A tremendous setter who has all the makings of a fantastic next-level setter if she goes that route. She also is a lefty who can pound it and has the swagger to go along with it. An incredible athlete ended up with 40 kills, 36 assists, and 36 digs averaging a triple-double for the Class 4 3^rd place finishers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='170047' first='Danielle' last='Moore'] – 2025 – Opposite – Francis Howell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another big lefty opposite led her team to a championship match meeting with Lafayette. The 6'1” left came up big over and over for the Vikings in the sweep over Lee's Summit and finished with 17 kills on .316 hitting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153929' first='Maya' last='Witherspoon'] – 2025 – Outside – Lafayette</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ever since the Marquette match Maya has been playing incredibly well for the Lancers. The 6'0” outside does about everything for Lafayette and came up with some gut-punch hits to seal Kickapoo's hopes for a state title. It's just not her hitting that is impressive but she has come into her own defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->