KC Metro Power 15: Week 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have over a week under our belts and already have some shakeup in the early rankings. We say don't put too much stock in the early year matches as teams are still trying to find themselves. One thing we are confident about, that is our new number 1 team. Here are this week's [program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Liberty</strong> <strong>(9-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty has sprinted out the gate after taking down Olathe Northwest in three sets in our 2 versus 3 match-ups over a week ago. They then visited St. Teresa's in a match-up before heading to Florida and winning a tournament going 9-0. [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'] was named tournament MVP. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Blue Valley North (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs took care of business in the Slam taking down Lawrence Free State in a three-set slugfest. They then came out and handed Olathe Northwest their second loss of the year. Two what we call signature wins to open the season. [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'] is a star in the making. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. St. James (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Thunder is making noise early this season. They had a dominant showing in a beatdown of a rebuilt Lansing team. But what really opened our eyes is their win over Washburn Rural days later. This win helped them jump up to the third spot in our rankings behind the play of [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'] and company. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Olathe Northwest</strong> <strong>(1-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two losses would drop many teams out of the top 15. When those two losses are to the #1 and #2, teams, you get some grace as we feel they are still one of the top teams in the city. When [player_tooltip player_id='119707' first='Skyler' last='Pierce'] and [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'] are on, they are a tough out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. St. Thomas Aquinas</strong> <strong>(3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three straight wins after an opening season defeat at the hands of Washburn Rural. That loss had them drop from our top spot but they are easily a top 5 team behind the left arm of [player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Blue Valley West (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West is off to a 3-0 start after an impressive win over Lee's Summit West at the Slam. [player_tooltip player_id='227605' first='Alex' last='Myers'] is off to a hot start with just under 3 kills per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Blue Valley (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's welcome Blue Valley to the rankings at number 7 with a 4-0 start. They took down a scrappy Olathe East team in their opening match and beat a solid Topeka Seaman team. Coach Dave Johnson is getting a good start from pin [player_tooltip player_id='152172' first='Julia' last='Kinney'] with 29 kills on the young season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Blue Valley Northwest (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Huskies have entered the rankings after a 3-0 start to the season. They had a great performance against Shawnee Mission Northwest in their opening outing. [player_tooltip player_id='152171' first='Avery' last='Ahlers'] is off to a hot start with 4.1 kills per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. Bishop Miege (1-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Again, don't let the losses fool you. Their one win is over St. Teresa's, a quality opponent. Their two losses were Olathe Northwest and St. Thomas Aquinas. [player_tooltip player_id='119689' first='Ava' last='Martin'] has over 70 assists so far this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10. Shawnee Mission Northwest (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars dropped their opening match to #8 Blue Valley Northwest but have rolled off three straight including a win over a quality Spring Hill team. [player_tooltip player_id='152169' first='Vix' last='Vilott'] is averaging 3 kills per set in four matches. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11. Liberty North (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty North has gotten off to a 2-0 start, including a sweep of a good St. Pius team. They lost some fire[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='[program_tooltip program_id='428794' first='Power' last='']' last=''] but still return [player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'] who will always keep them in the mix. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12. Lee's Summit (3-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers are making their ranking debut after a strong start to the season. They get their first real test Tuesday against Liberty. Houston commit [player_tooltip player_id='99226' first='Ashlyn' last='Bellamy'] is off and going on the pin with over 4 kills per set. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13. Olathe West (8-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olathe West opened our eyes last weekend beating a very talented Maize South team a couple of times in tournament action. They do take on St. James today in a match-up that will test them. [player_tooltip player_id='120040' first='Ava' last='TeStrake'], a future Creighton Blue Jay is looking good early in the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14. St. Pius X (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win over a good Pembroke Hill team. A loss at the hands of #11 Liberty North. Pius stays in our rankings for another week and should roll off a winning streak that's pretty lengthy for the next couple of weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15. Spring Hill (2-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Hill is hanging in the top 15 after a 2-1 start. They have that one defeat at the dispense of Shawnee Mission Northwest. [player_tooltip player_id='119712' first='Shannon' last='Frakes'] is leading the offensive charge. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others: Lee's Summit West, Heritage Christian, St. Teresa's, Pleasant Hill, Grain Valley, Baldwin, Pembroke Hill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2></h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->