KC Metro Power 15 Preseason Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm back! For newcomers, I cover Missouri, live in Kansas City, have a good understanding of the volleyball scene on both sides of the state line, and a few years ago started compiling the KC Metro [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15. I normally release it just before the volleyball slam, so let's get into it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Mill Valley (37-5) Defending Kansas 6A State Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Champ is here! A few teams were jockeying for this spot, but the defending state champion returns a strong nucleus in [player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='154038' first='Ella' last='Florez']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='808106' first='Sophia' last='Sturdy'] had a strong high school debut. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Blue Valley Southwest (33-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Timberwolves may return the deepest roster of teams in the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 15. [player_tooltip player_id='222097' first='Taylor' last='Stanley'], [player_tooltip player_id='472938' first='Hailie' last='Vaughn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='222092' first='Willow' last='Weninger'] all totaled over 270 kills. Adding the contributions of [player_tooltip player_id='809630' first='Evelyn' last='Igbenebor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809870' first='Sofia' last='Ricci'] scoring won't be an issue. [player_tooltip player_id='523631' first='Catlin' last='Shao'] had just shy of 1,000 assists last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Blue Valley West (37-5) Defending Kansas 6A Runner-Up</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6A runner-up will begin in the third position. They graduated some key positions but returned one of the top attackers in the country in [player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik']. Little sis, [player_tooltip player_id='807962' first='Jensen' last='Kubik'], had a strong club season and will look to build on that in her sophomore campaign. [player_tooltip player_id='223291' first='Alyssa' last='Young'] is an experienced defender going into her senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. St. Thomas Aquinas (34-6) Defending Kansas 5A State Champions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A state champs will start the year ranked fourth. [player_tooltip player_id='222089' first='Grace' last='Martin'] is the top attacker with over 300 kills. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth'] has been a staple in the lineup since year one and is among the top setters in the city. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='561986' first='Morgan' last='Hampton'] will be counted on even more after racking up 181 kills in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Olathe West (34-6) Kansas 6A 3rd Place</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Owls have made themselves a 6A program to keep an eye on over the last two years. They took home the third-place trophy last season and will look to build on that with the return of [player_tooltip player_id='807773' first='Ella' last='Stowell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='240984' first='Cami' last='Sher'] for their final run. The duo had just under 600 combined kills last year. Sending the ball their way will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='355651' first='Neely' last='Leathers'], who has been a steady and reliable setter over the years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Lee's Summit West (21-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West went through moments last year where they faced a gauntlet of a schedule, which prepared them for a quarterfinal run in Missouri's top class. They bring back enough key pieces to make them a threat as they develop their supporting cast. [player_tooltip player_id='446328' first='Tori' last='Massengill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='237013' first='Natalie' last='Hawthorne']. [player_tooltip player_id='729549' first='Jaelyn' last='Jordan'] split the setting duties in their offensive system and will be only a sophomore. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. St. James (32-7) Kansas 5A 3rd Place</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. James has grown into a state [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']house, and things won't change in 2025. They will replace some valuable pieces, which is why we have them down at 7. The silver lining is they had some young players play big last fall in [player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Mya' last='Lee'], [player_tooltip player_id='446320' first='Madeline' last='Etler'], and Ellen Dorsey. Keep an eye on who rises to anchor the back court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Belton (33-4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton returns many of the faces that started the year on a long winning streak. Over a thousand kills return in the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='261314' first='Phoenix' last='Fogel'], [player_tooltip player_id='809541' first='Bella' last='Scherfenberg'], and [player_tooltip player_id='831489' first='Dreya' last='Scherfenberg']. [player_tooltip player_id='774871' first='Lydia' last='Krabiel'] ran a 6-2 last year and will return to lead the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Lansing (22-14)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing is a team I'm excited to watch this year. I went back and forth with placing them higher, but decided to start them here and see what happens. They return 96% of their offensive production. Running the offense in her sophomore season will be [player_tooltip player_id='518358' first='Brooklyn' last='Andrews']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Park Hill (17-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans are another team returning a lot of their points. Another key for them is that they also return much of their back row defensive contributions with [player_tooltip player_id='222072' first='Brooke' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='357577' first='Addyson' last='Staples'], and [player_tooltip player_id='490206' first='Ava' last='Daneff'], who also takes care of business on the left pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. St. Michael the Archangel (22-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I won't be surprised if St. Michael charts up the rankings. They graduated a couple of key contributors, but the cupboard was not left bare. First off, four-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='232325' first='Addi' last='MacLean'] returns to lead the offense from the setter position. The three-headed monster of [player_tooltip player_id='732904' first='Jordan' last='Redd'], [player_tooltip player_id='396499' first='Kinley' last='Gillihan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='542207' first='Grace' last='Lowry'] all hovered around the 230 kill mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. Platte County (22-13-1) Missouri Class 4 4th Place</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One thing we've learned about Platte County is that they are going to schedule tough, possibly take a few lumps, but ultimately be prepared for the postseason. The 4th-place finisher in Class 4 will count on [player_tooltip player_id='828322' first='Miah' last='Omoike'] to lead the offense with the departure of Karlee Riggs. Other players who were solid last year, looking to pick up the load, will be [player_tooltip player_id='809625' first='Emma' last='Macaluso'] and [player_tooltip player_id='525837' first='Malin' last='Cole']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. Maranatha Christian (41-7) Kansas 2A State Champion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I know small schools don't play as heavy a schedule, but I'm known to show some love their way. Starting the year, we add Maranatha, the defending 2A state champions. They aren't afraid of competition early in the season, and Sam Soliday's crew returns junior [player_tooltip player_id='808029' first='Maggie' last='Brisk'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='809610' first='Elizabeth' last='Gilmore']. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='523628' first='Abby' last='Nash'] had over 1,100 assists in her junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. Park Hill South (29-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers graduated 400 kills in Peyton Liming. The good news is they return around 650 in [player_tooltip player_id='838860' first='Sydni' last='Lafasciano'] and [player_tooltip player_id='357573' first='Vada' last='Brattin']. [player_tooltip player_id='800323' first='Brynna' last='Fox'] was a vacuum with over 500 digs in the back row. They graduated two senior setters, so the question mark will be there to start the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. Gardner Edgerton (21-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This may be the first time the Trailblazers have made my rankings, so welcome! They had one senior contribute in the kill category with four last year. They return a lot of fire[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''], led by [player_tooltip player_id='731076' first='Hayden' last='Meats'] and her 445 kills. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='550572' first='Amelia' last='Wilhite'] wasn't too shabby with 326 of her own. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->