Kansas City Privates Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't leave the private schools out! I went through a large majority of the Kansas City schools due to their participation in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference. Like most metropolitan cities, there are numerous private schools with good volleyball. Today we preview those teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Pius X</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Pius has put together some good volleyball teams this decade. They were 26-7 a season ago and graduated some key seniors. However, they return enough of a nucleus that they should still be a strong team. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='261308' first='Lauren' last='Fussell'] is back and was a point-getter along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='485579' first='Mikayla' last='Fox']. These two should be the anchors offensively. [player_tooltip player_id='493110' first='Riley' last='Reed'] is the leader amongst returners in the digs category and could slide into the vacant libero role. Hayley Tischinski was part of a two-setter system and delivered around 600 assists last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pembroke Hill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pembroke finished their season with a record of 17-13-3. They will rely on junior [player_tooltip player_id='222065' first='Katherine' last='O'Shaughnessy'] to pace the offense as she is an experienced player on the roster. The first contact should be solid with Danica O'Toole also back for another year. She is as solid as they come defensively in Kansas City. Pembroke will need to fill a void in the setting position in 2024 but has a couple of candidates fighting for playing time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Teresa's Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Teresa's will look to get back to the days of continued success they had late last decade into this one. They should be able to improve on their 12-15 season from 2023 with ample pieces back on what was a young but talented roster. The tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='219742' first='Isabel' last='Glover'] and [player_tooltip player_id='222060' first='Elizabeth' last='Scanlon'] bring back close to 350 kills from last fall. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='222061' first='Lily' last='Stuart'] was efficient in ball distribution, collecting over 600 assists. Look for new faces to step in defensively and along the front line to help this team to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Michael the Archangel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Michael took a big hit offensively graduating two of their most prolific scorers in school history. They are not emptied handed with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan'] back for year two. She had a breakout freshman season and will be counted on to carry a bigger load this year. Dynamic defender [player_tooltip player_id='493102' first='Katie' last='Vargo'] will do what she does best in the back row in what will be her final dance. Junior setter Addi Maclean had another strong club season and tallied over 1,000 assists last year. They finished the year 27-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame De Sion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 10-16 record makes Sion hungry entering the 2024 campaign. They have a couple of experienced players back to make a run this fall led by libero [player_tooltip player_id='292716' first='Addison' last='Mcneive']. She continued to improve her stock with a productive spring of club ball. [player_tooltip player_id='737547' first='Ava' last='Lynn'], a senior attacker had 237 kills as a junior and will look to get over the 300 mark in her final season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northland Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northland Christian is a team to watch this year. They went 16-14-2 last year but are excited to enter the 24-season. They return all but 51 of their kills from last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='261299' first='Grace' last='Blacklock'] has been a staple in the lineup for years and didn't disappoint with 289 kills. She will get help from [player_tooltip player_id='735254' first='Molly' last='Day'], who added 195 of her own. Assist leader Caitlyn Coon will do her part to keep the hitters happy with quality sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Summit Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 23-9-2 record is enough to have Summit looking forward to fall volleyball. [player_tooltip player_id='485603' first='Charlee' last='Pollard'] showed she's capable of being a top attacker with her 177 kills as a freshman. They will look for offensive support from others. Abigail Shanahan is their top defensive player returning with 268 digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->