KC Metro Power 8: Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have some legit movement this week, but let me say this first: I love seeing teams willing to get in the gym and go to war with other top teams. That is how you find out where you really stand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And that's exactly why we have some movement this week. Several teams put themselves in position to make a statement, while a couple of others took some hits against quality competition. That makes these rankings a little more fun.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, with that said, here we go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Lee's Summit North (15-2) — LW: 2</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos have officially earned the top spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit North went into the loaded Mo-Kan Tournament at Lee's Summit West and came out on top, taking down both Lee's Summit West and St. Thomas Aquinas along the way. That's not simply a tournament championship—that's a pretty strong argument for moving to the top of the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North has now put together a 15-2 start and continues to show that it can play with some of the best teams in the area. The interesting part? They don't get much time to enjoy the top spot. The Broncos get a rematch with Lee's Summit West tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>How long can they hold onto No. 1? We may find out tonight.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Oak Grove (13-2) — LW: 3</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Grove took its first two losses of the season, but I'm not ready to hit the panic button on the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They probably would like to have the Blue Springs South match back, but there was plenty of good mixed in with the losses. Oak Grove knocked off a very good Blue Valley West team in three sets, while the other loss came against St. Thomas Aquinas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's two losses against quality competition, and Oak Grove has already shown it can beat teams sitting in that same conversation. The Panthers have become my clubhouse favorite in their class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Lee's Summit West (13-3) — LW: 1</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the first time this season, the Titans aren't sitting at No. 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit West drops two spots after falling to Lee's Summit North in the Mo-Kan Tournament. But before anyone starts writing the Titans off, remember they also picked up a quality win over a tough Eureka squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West has played the kind of schedule I want to see from a team sitting near the top of these rankings. They're not hiding from anybody, and that usually tells you something.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And now they get another shot at North tonight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Consider this one a rematch with a little extra spice.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Smithville (13-2-1) — LW: 7</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest jump of the week belongs to Smithville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors climb from No. 7 to No. 4 after winning a tournament championship and continuing to build some momentum. They split a match with Platte County but handled business overall, and the results are starting to match what we've expected from this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One player I'm watching closely is [player_tooltip player_id='568866' first='Jaycee' last='Tyrrell']. After what I would call a slower-than-usual start for her, she's starting to pick up steam—and that's a good sign for Smithville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Tyrrell continues trending in that direction, the Warriors could become an even tougher matchup as the season moves along.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. St. Pius (13-2) — LW: 4</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pius slides one spot after taking a loss to Smithville, but the Warriors have plenty of good on the résumé.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They also picked up a quality win over then-No. 6 Odessa, which is a big reason they remain firmly in the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8 conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm also really liking what Pius is getting from the setter position. [player_tooltip player_id='499154' first='Maddy' last='Collignon'] continues to run the offense well, and when you have a setter who can consistently put your attackers in good situations, this team can be a problem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The loss to Smithville hurts, but one match doesn't erase what Pius has done to this point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6. Belton (9-2) — LW: 5</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton took a loss this week, but the Tigers also picked up one of the better wins on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton went five with Odessa and came away with the victory in a match that had plenty of [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8 implications. That's the kind of win that keeps you in the mix even when you take a step backward elsewhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So yes, Belton drops one spot, but I'm not moving them very far. At 9-2, the Tigers have put together a strong start, and that five-set win over Odessa carries some weight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7. Odessa (9-2) — LW: 6</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers took losses to two teams ranked above them, so this feels like a pretty straightforward one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Odessa drops one spot but stays firmly inside the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the things I continue to like about this group is the young talent getting meaningful production. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1039500' first='Harper' last='Ray'] put down 13 kills in the loss to St. Pius and now has 120 kills on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's a pretty impressive number for a freshman this early in the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Odessa has taken some hits, but they're playing good teams, and I expect this group to have plenty more opportunities to make some noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8. Bishop LeBlond (11-4) — LW: NR</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8, Bishop LeBlond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The St. Joseph squad enters the rankings for the first time after winning seven straight. That's enough momentum to get my attention, especially when you're putting together a run like that in the middle of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='729553' first='Emily' last='Conz'] has been a big part of that success, leading the team with 361 assists. She's helping keep this offense moving, and LeBlond has done enough over the last several matches to earn a spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now comes the fun part: <strong>Can they stay here?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's what the [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last=''] 8 is supposed to be about. Win, keep climbing. Lose, somebody else is waiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->