Class 5 Rankings: The Road to the State Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a select few teams eyeing the state championship and a host of others poised for a Cinderella run, Class 5 is anything but predictable. The Lafayette Lancers, Lee's Summit West Titans, Jackson Indians, Ozark Tigers, and Nixa Eagles are leading the charge, but don't count out the North Point Grizzlies, Grain Valley Eagles, Raymore-Peculiar Panthers, Marquette Mustangs, and Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights, who could easily shake things up in the postseason. Buckle up for what promises to be an exhilarating finish!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Lafayette Lancers 30-1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lancers are riding a remarkable 15-game winning streak and recently triumphed in the prestigious Ozark Tournament, defeating the previously unbeaten Ozark along the way. Their only loss came at the hands of Lee's Summit West. With stars like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='729577' first='Gigi' last='Foley']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272167' first='Hailey' last='Lowery']</strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id='774313' first='Alexa' last='Hastings'] leading the offense, the Lancers are clicking at the perfect time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Lee's Summit West Titans 23-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite losses to strong contenders like Ozark, Kickapoo, Blue Springs, and Olathe West (KS), the Titans remain a formidable force. Their victory over Lafayette showcases their potential. With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='800285' first='Andi' last='Gardner'] </strong>steering the defense, they're primed for a deep playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Jackson Indians 33-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians have been one of the hottest teams this season, suffering defeats only to Lee's Summit West and Incarnate Word Academy. With talented 2026s like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='794813' first='Jayde' last='Cowart']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='806736' first='Melaina' last='Haines'] at the helm, the Indians are looking strong as they head into the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4. <strong>Nixa Eagles 24-9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nixa recently made waves by defeating Ozark 3-2, thanks to standout performances from 2026 talents [player_tooltip player_id='839111' first='Taylor' last='Wood'] (19 kills, 28 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='805621' first='Gwen' last='Kubik'] (20 kills). With a potential rematch against Ozark on the horizon for the district championship, the Eagles are a team to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. <strong>Ozark Tigers 29-2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting the season at 28-0, Ozark faced a tough setback against Lafayette, followed by a close loss to district rival Nixa. When these two teams clash, records are tossed aside, making for an intense battle. Setter <strong>Lucy Roark</strong> has been stellar, racking up 739 assists this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. <strong>North Point Grizzlies 27-3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the Grizzlies boast an impressive record, a lack of tougher opponents has kept them lower in the rankings. With losses to Holt, Liberty keeps North Point from being ranked higher. Solid contributions from 2026 middles <strong>Jacie Thomas</strong> and <strong>Katelyn</strong> <strong>Anderson</strong>, who have combined for 143 total blocks, could propel them further.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. <strong>Grain Valley Eagles 22-7</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grain Valley clinched its spot in the rankings with a hard-fought win over Park Hill South (22-25, 15-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-8). The duo of [player_tooltip player_id='707417' first='Kyleigh' last='Casey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='831096' first='Chesnie' last='King'] combined for 37 kills, while 2027 talent [player_tooltip player_id='485631' first='Piper' last='Jackson'] added 10 kills. If they maintain this momentum, they could make a serious playoff push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. <strong>Raymore-Peculiar Panthers 21-8</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a recent 3-2 victory over Lee's Summit North, the Panthers are gaining momentum. 2026 player [player_tooltip player_id='807851' first='Ashlynn' last='Wilkowski'] leads the offense, while [player_tooltip player_id='809352' first='Amber' last='Fellhauer'] anchors the defense. To advance past districts, they'll need to overcome the challenge posed by the Lee's Summit West Titans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. <strong>Marquette Mustangs 17-16</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though their record isn't dazzling, the Mustangs are a dangerous team when they find their rhythm. Led by school record-holder [player_tooltip player_id='220349' first='Teagan' last='Pocius'] in blocks and a quartet of attackers combining for over 870 kills, they recently defeated Incarnate Word 3-0, proving their potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. <strong>Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights 20-12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Knights earned their ranking with impressive victories over teams such as Ursuline (3-2), Cor Jesu (3-2), and Jackson (3-0). Despite a recent loss to Marquette, their young stars, including [player_tooltip player_id='756809' first='Avery' last='Buckley'] and <strong>Abbi Koelling</strong>, have shown they can rise to the occasion, making them a team to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->