Preseason KC Metro Power 15

We're baaaacccckkkkk! For those in Kansas City Metro, your favorite motivational tool returns with the KC Metro [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15. Just to fill in the new eyes, I previously covered Kansas and Missouri for Prep Dig. Last year during the high school season I made a pivot to focus only on Missouri but living in Kansas City, it makes sense for me to continue my [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15 poll. Each week during the season I will update the rankings. Wins matter—the strength of the schedule matters. Losses against tough teams don't penalize you. That's it. So with the volleyball slam days away, let's kick off my initial poll.   1. Blue Valley West (31-12)   Our first number-one team will be Blue Valley West. The Kansas 6A state semifinalists return everybody and are loaded. [player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik'] had a freshman season for the ages. [player_tooltip player_id='173371' first='Ella' last='Davidson'] is another pin who can fill up the stat sheet. [player_tooltip player_id='227605' first='Alex' last='Myers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='173397' first='Allison' last='Heck'] both have accomplished high school careers to date. [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'] seems like she has been there forever and will continue to dish the ball to her hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='173395' first='Brookelyn' last='Hatton'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='222087' first='Carlie' last='Pandjaris'] are back to anchor the defense.   2. Mill Valley (37-5)   The defending state champion will come in at the two spot to start the season. Three players are back from a year ago that totaled over 200 kills on the season. [player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs'] had 299 and was second on the team. [player_tooltip player_id='153938' first='Saida' last='Jacobs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='493515' first='Ashlyn' last='Blazer'] are part of that trio and bring ample experience to the floor. [player_tooltip player_id='154038' first='Ella' last='Florez'] is back to lead the show and continues to exhibit why she's one of the top setters in the city. Back to pace the defense is [player_tooltip player_id='489339' first='Corinne' last='Schwindt'] after being the digs leader in 2023.   3. St. Thomas Aquinas (31-9)   The class 5A state runner-up will start the year in the second position after a 31-win season. They took a couple of hits with graduation but return enough of a nucleus to be a top-five team in the city in our opinion. One of the main reasons is [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby']. The Iowa State commit returns for her senior season after a highly productive high school and club season. [player_tooltip player_id='222089' first='Grace' last='Martin'] is another name we should know by now and collected over 250 kills in her sophomore season. With the loss of offensive production, expect [player_tooltip player_id='483934' first='Presley' last='Kreter'] to be counted on more. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth'] returns after contributing to a two-setter system last fall.   4. St. James (33-6)   The Thunder are another team that took a hit with graduation. However, as long as [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'] is on the court, they are a team capable of going far. [player_tooltip player_id='355656' first='Leah' last='Robinson'] led the team in kills a season ago and returns for her junior season. [player_tooltip player_id='446320' first='Madeline' last='Etler'] and Ashley Chavez are a couple of players with limited varsity experience that could be counted on this fall. First contact and back row defense will be the big question mark starting the 2024 season as a large percentage of their digs are now playing at the next level.   5. Blue Valley North (38-4)   Blue Valley North made a deep run into the postseason and had a memorable season. They return just enough pieces from that team to enter the season as my 5th ranked team. The main reason is do-all [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks']. The Stanford commit led the team in kills and was part of a two-setter system a year ago. She will be needed to score, so the second setter is the question mark entering the season. [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure'] and her 250 kills return, along with youngster [player_tooltip player_id='445976' first='Reese' last='Maslowski'], who stepped up big last year. [player_tooltip player_id='261109' first='Jaden' last='Goldberg'] will be a factor in the back row with first contact and defensive plays.   6. Bishop Miege (23-18)   The Kansas 4A defending state champion will start the year at number six for my initial ranking. As a 4A school, they play in a primarily 6A conference but this year I don't see them racking up the losses they did a year ago. The main reason is they return a strong unit with their top four in the kills department back. [player_tooltip player_id='173376' first='Lauren' last='Lopez'], Georgia Lemay, [player_tooltip player_id='154040' first='Trinniti' last='Stevens'], and [player_tooltip player_id='493386' first='Kirston' last='Verhulst'] shouldn't have any problem scoring points. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='478871' first='Maryn' last='Dean'] shouldn't have any problems with options entering another season leading the offense.   7. Lee's Summit West (27-10)   The Kansas bias is broken with Lee's Summit West coming in at seven. They advanced to the Missouri Final Four last fall and are primed to make a return trip this season, the final in Southeast Missouri for some time. [player_tooltip player_id='493090' first='Kamryn' last='McDonald'] and [player_tooltip player_id='349614' first='Bella' last='Bishop'] are two players who can score points at high rates. Torri Massengill had a solid freshman season and will have an increased role in the offense. The two-setter system ran smoothly last year with [player_tooltip player_id='219779' first='Delaney' last='Rhoden'] and Taelyn Bowie trading off responsibilities.   8. Blue Valley Southwest (28-10)   Coming in at number eight and looking to build on the momentum of 2023 is your Blue Valley Southwest Timberwolves. They are a team that could make a deep run into the postseason as they return many key players from a 28-win team. Willow Weniger and Kaylee Tingley are a couple of household names we've come to know over the years. [player_tooltip player_id='173381' first='Hadley' last='Porter'] is a next-level defender who keeps the floor clean. [player_tooltip player_id='222097' first='Taylor' last='Stanley'], a 6'1" pin was instrumental in helping her club team to a national title this summer and could have a breakout season.   9. Blue Springs South (23-10)   The Jaguars of Blue Springs South enter the rankings in the top ten after a 23-win season. They will compete in the Suburban Gold conference this fall, which will test them with the likes of Lee's Summit West, Liberty North, and an up-and-coming Lee's Summit North team. Senior Jaelynn Turley will lead the team on the offensive end and will be on the receiving end of a lot of balls off of the hands of Abby Truong.   10. Liberty (20-9)   [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen'] and company will start the year at number ten. If it seems like Gail has been there for a while it's because she's been causing headaches since her freshman season. The USC pledge has developed her backrow play and they will need her to assist beside [player_tooltip player_id='261289' first='Ella' last='Anderson']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='219760' first='Megan' last='Bishton'] proved she can be Robin to Batman after a high-performing season. The good news is they return an experienced setter in [player_tooltip player_id='223105' first='Addison' last='Baker'].   11. Olathe West (27-7)   Olathe West had what one could call a breakthrough season a year ago as they entered our rankings last year and raced to 27 wins on the year. They graduated a couple of starters but return just enough to be a factor entering the 24 season. Recent commit [player_tooltip player_id='222099' first='Ella' last='Stowell'] showed this spring she is becoming one of the top six rotation pins in the city. She will be joined by [player_tooltip player_id='219740' first='Ashley' last='Barcus'] along the front line. [player_tooltip player_id='173387' first='Emma' last='Sales'] and [player_tooltip player_id='355651' first='Neely' last='Leathers'] are both upper-echelon setters and can affect the game in numerous ways.   12. Lansing (28-11)   Lansing is as dependable as they come in rolling out solid teams and that won't change in 2024. They took a minor hit with graduation but brought back a strong duo of [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands'] and [player_tooltip player_id='456247' first='Halle' last='Laincz'] to keep the pressure on opposing defenses. Both players are scorers who can get in a zone. They also get back good defense and first contact with [player_tooltip player_id='173385' first='Mikenna' last='Matzeder'] roaming the back row frustrating attackers.   13. Liberty North (24-7)   The Eagles lost all world Carlie Cisneros but will depend on a trio of players offensively who were productive in 2023. That trio of Mak Miller, [player_tooltip player_id='349622' first='Reagan' last='Herring'], and [player_tooltip player_id='219774' first='McKenna' last='Jacquin'] have enough experience to help this team stay among one of the top in Missouri. The team also has the luxury of having [player_tooltip player_id='153934' first='Emma' last='Christian'] back to lead the offense. She was a part of a two-setter system last year and has good ball placement.   14. St. Michael's the Archangel (27-7)   St. Michael's had a magical season in 2023 that ended with a top-four finish in the state. They did lose their top two attackers but return a name many will get to know in [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan']. She had a strong freshman season and will surely build on that this fall. [player_tooltip player_id='493102' first='Katie' last='Vargo'] is a top libero many may not have heard of before this article. She is a high-energy defender who keeps the floor clean and strong behind the service line. Junior setter Addi Maclean tallied over 1,000 assists last year and is also offensive-minded, so expect her kill total to increase.   15. St. Pius X (26-7)   Not that it has to be even but let me add another Missouri school and another private school. St. Pius earned 26 wins last fall and though they graduated their top attacker and libero, they don't have a bare cupboard. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='261308' first='Lauren' last='Fussell'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='485579' first='Mikayla' last='Fox'] will lead the team offensively this year. Fox also is one of the top blockers in the state, shattering the school record as a freshman. [player_tooltip player_id='493110' first='Riley' last='Reed'] made an impression in year one after transferring over from Park Hill and could slide into the libero role after being second on the team in digs last year.

We're baaaacccckkkkk! For those in Kansas City Metro, your favorite motivational tool returns with the KC Metro Power 15. Just to fill in the new eyes, I previously covered Kansas and Missouri for Prep Dig. Last year during the high school season I made a pivot to focus only on Missouri but living in Kansas City, it makes sense for me to continue my Power 15 poll. Each week during the season I will update the rankings. Wins matter—the strength of the schedule matters. Losses against tough teams don't penalize you. That's it. So with the volleyball slam days away, let's kick off my initial poll.