Mo-Kan Challenge Volleyball Invitational Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bragging right is on the line for teams in the KC Metro area as we head into the Missouri-Kansas (Mo-Kan) Challenge hosted by Lee's Summit West on September 17th. The pools contain State contenders, big-time playmakers, and must-watch matches. It does not matter what classification you fall under; this is the early-season tournament you want to be in this weekend. Which state will take the crown in the Mo-Kan Challenge?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Navy Pool </mark></em></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(Fieldhouse #1)</mark></em><strong> </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saint Thomas Aquinas - Pool Winner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit - 2^nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Miege - 3^rd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Springs - 4^th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'] and company will take care of business in pool play for a first-place finish. [player_tooltip player_id='99226' first='Ashlyn' last='Bellamy'] will keep Lee's Summit in the hunt with a second-place finish in pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Blue Pool </mark></em></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(AUX South Gym)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olathe Northwest - Pool Winner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee's Summit West - 3^rd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Teresa's Academy - 2^nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carthage - 4^th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119707' first='Skyler' last='Pierce'] reached triple-digit kills for the season (107 by the time this was published). The junior outside hitter will lead ONW on to the playoffs. St. Teresa's riding the high of beating the number one team in Missouri (Lafayette from Wildwood) last weekend in their pocket. [player_tooltip player_id='123468' first='Brynne' last='McGhie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='101697' first='Reagan' last='Fox'] will lead the Stars to take second in pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">Silver Pool </mark></em></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(Fieldhouse #2)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty - Pool Winner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley - 2^nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shawnee Mission Northwest - 3^rd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Park Hill South - 4^th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It seems like a battle for second place with Liberty in the pool. The Mullen sisters are on a tear this season for the Bluejays. [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'] is surgical running the offense and has the accolades to prove it (Mullen won KSA's tournament MVP in Florida earlier this season). Blue Valley will take second behind Kate Peterson's leadership. Side note, Park Hill South's [player_tooltip player_id='102555' first='Isabel' last='Day'] is out after an injury this week against Liberty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">White Pool </mark></em></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(AUX North Gym)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence Free State - 3^rd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty North - Pool Winner</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley West - 2^nd</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Springs South - 4^th</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'] will carry Liberty North on her shoulders as the team lead hitter. Blue Valley West's balanced offense will squeak by the morning pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"><strong>Quarterfinals</strong> (2:40 PM)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aquinas</strong> vs. Blue Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aquinas defeated Blue Valley in Tuesday's conference match and will repeat with a 2-0 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty North</strong> vs. St. Teresa's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagle's defense will be tough to score against with the Christian sisters ([player_tooltip player_id='153934' first='Emma' last='Christian'] and Abby Christian) in the lineup. Liberty North will have the upper hand in receiving and defensive end as they take the match 2-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Olathe Northwest </strong>vs. Blue Valley West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more experienced Olathe Northwest's squad will have a slight edge in the match. [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'] and Blue Valley West will keep it interesting to force a 3-setter. The Ravens win 2-1 to move on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty</strong> vs. Lee's Summit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bluejays will depend on [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen']'s arm to continue their run in the playoffs. Liberty takes the match 2-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"><em>Semifinals </em></mark></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(4:00 PM)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aquinas </strong>vs. Liberty North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] turns it up and will run intricate plays to change up the offense for Aquinas. [player_tooltip player_id='119226' first='Carlie' last='Cisneros'] will be tough to contain and keep Liberty North in the hunt. Aquinas wins 2-1 in a back-and-forth match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olathe Northwest vs. <strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rematch from St. James Slam will be worth the wait. Northwest's [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'] and Lauren Rodinger will try to slow the offensive power of The Bluejays. Liberty's options for Aisha Aiono and [player_tooltip player_id='152129' first='Jocelyn' last='Renfro'] will be too much. Liberty wins 2-1 in another classic matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color"><em>Championship </em></mark></strong><em><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-primary-color">(5:00 PM)</mark></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aquinas vs <strong>Liberty</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty Bluejays will continue its winning streak with another tournament championship. Hand-in-hand, both teams are similar in strengths. Aquinas's dependency on southpaw [player_tooltip player_id='150076' first='Betsy' last='Goodenow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] is not enough to dethrone the unbeaten Liberty squad. From the matches I watched, Aquinas switching DS position in [player_tooltip player_id='119692' first='Sophia' last='Bond'] and [player_tooltip player_id='214752' first='Allie' last='Puetz'] creates too many changes in game momentum. [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'] and Liberty have too much firepower in their offensive attacks on [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen'], Aisha Aiono, [player_tooltip player_id='152129' first='Jocelyn' last='Renfro'], and [player_tooltip player_id='99215' first='Brooklyn' last='Young']. Liberty wins in a sweep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Missouri takes the bragging right this season from the Mo-Kan Challenge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->