St. James Volleyball Slam

It's that time of the year! The Annual St. James Volleyball Slam in cooperation with Spectrum Sports. This event takes place the last Saturday of the month and normally is high intensity and great volleyball. What has also become a tradition is picking the matches with my friends at Spectrum Sports. I haven't done too good the last couple of years so it's time for redemption. Also with the dropping of my preseason rankings, we have some top-ten matchups on display.   Blue Valley vs. Washburn Rural   Washburn Rural has had a good run over the last few years and the players who weren't major contributors are now older and ready for time to make a name for themselves. Blue Valley also has tasted postseason success recently and features good players on their roster every fall. This match is a good opener as we get to know some new faces.   SS: Washburn Rural   JohnQ: Washburn Rural   Blue Valley Northwest vs. (14) St. Michael the Archangel   St. Michael is playing in the slam! I don't know if it's their first year or not as I don't recall them being in the mix since I started following the event but they are bringing a few players you will want to get to know. Addi Maclean is a high-performing setter and libero [player_tooltip player_id='493102' first='Katie' last='Vargo'] is lights out. On the other side of the net look for the two M's, [player_tooltip player_id='222086' first='Morgan' last='Sears'] and Marley Burbach to be difference makers.   SS: Blue Valley Northwest   JohnQ: St. Michael's   (5) Blue Valley North vs. Topeka Seaman   This could end up being the match of the day. Topeka Seaman is the defending state champion in 5A. Blue Valley North was a semifinalist in 6A. [player_tooltip player_id='173374' first='Maegan' last='Mills'] and [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'] are the two biggest names in this contest but it will be the supporting cast who will determine the outcome.   SS: Blue Valley North   JohnQ: Topeka Seaman   (8) Blue Valley Southwest vs. Olathe Northwest   There may not be a team that took as big a hit from graduation as Olathe Northwest. They had a roster of players who had been contributing since their freshman seasons so new faces will enter the line-up, but many with club experience. On the other hand, Blue Valley Southwest will be a team with familiar faces. Willow Weniger, Kaylee Tingley, and [player_tooltip player_id='173381' first='Hadley' last='Porter'] all made all-conference last season.   SS: Olathe Northwest   JohnQ: Blue Valley Southwest   St. Teresa's vs. (6) Bishop Miege   The annual Stateline battle between the Stars and the Stags. St. Teresa's returns a few players with varsity experience and they should have an improved season in 2024. Miege, the defending state champion returns a lot more players with varsity experience and will capture more wins in 2024.   SS: Bishop Miege   JohnQ: Bishop Miege   (1) Blue Valley West vs. (7) Lee's Summit West   This is another intriguing matchup and an early test for my preseason number-one team. In my power rankings poll, I shared how Blue Valley West possibly returns the most players who contributed on the varsity level a year ago. There are too many to name but [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'] is a dynamic setter. Lee's Summit West was a state final four team in Missouri's largest class and has [player_tooltip player_id='493090' first='Kamryn' last='McDonald'] back to lead the way.   SS: Blue Valley West   JohnQ: Blue Valley West   (2) Mill Valley vs. (3) St. Thomas Aquinas   The event schedulers decided to give us our first match featuring two of our top three-ranked teams. There are a host of players on each side of the net and it should be a fun match to watch. Goolsby for Aquinas and Riggs of Mill Valley are the two arms to watch on the pins as they go back and forth.   SS: St. Thomas Aquinas   JohnQ: Mill Valley   (12) Lansing vs. (4) St. James Academy   This match could be a good one as well. St. James graduated some important pieces but return [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], the USC bound setter. Lansing also saw important players walk out the door but have [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands'] and [player_tooltip player_id='456247' first='Halle' last='Laincz'] back. The eyes will be on some of the new faces for St. James and see how they respond under the bright lights of Spectrum TV   SS: St. James Academy   JohnQ: St. James Academy

It's that time of the year! The Annual St. James Volleyball Slam in cooperation with Spectrum Sports. This event takes place the last Saturday of the month and normally is high intensity and great volleyball. What has also become a tradition is picking the matches with my friends at Spectrum Sports. I haven't done too good the last couple of years so it's time for redemption. Also with the dropping of my preseason rankings, we have some top-ten matchups on display.