Secret Sauce From Mo/Kan Challenge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a weekend it was out in Lee's Summit for the annual Mo/Kan Challenge hosted by Lee's Summit West. We mentioned on Twitter that 7 teams in our KC Metro Top 15 Power Rankings were in the building, plus some who were previously or are on the outside looking in. It's easy to get caught talking about the same players repeatedly because they perform at a high level. Today we highlight the "secret sauce"! These are players who were vital this weekend but don't get the fanfare as some others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152129' first='Jocelyn' last='Renfro'] - OH - Liberty - 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's easy to be overshadowed on a team with three future division 1 players and a host of others but Renfro plays her role well. She is so smart with her shot selection, which really impressed us. She is also solid defensively and we saw her set some nice out-of-system balls. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Makaya Clayton - OH/DS/L - Lee's Summit - 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We saw Clayton a couple of years ago as a dynamic setter. She didn't play last year but came back for her last run and we saw her in a libero jersey one match, taking swings from the outside in another. She can do many things to help her team and had a good weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='183944' first='Brooke' last='Boyer'] - OH - Lee's Summit - 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We know Bellamy on the pin but Boyer caught our eye with her play as well. She is a good one-two punch on the outside and was able to put some balls down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tori Gelles - L/DS - Blue Valley - 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gelles had to wear the libero jersey and fill big shoes this weekend and she represented well for the Tigers of Blue Valley. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='216385' first='Katrina' last='Whitehouse'] - OH - Blue Valley West - 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitehouse made some timely kills over and over again for the Jaguars this weekend and was a key in reaching the championship brackets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493386' first='Kirston' last='Verhulst'] - OH - Bishop Miege - 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Verhulst is undersized for a pin but don't anybody tell her that way. She is as aggressive as they come on her swings and she is a fiery player on the court. That is the Verhulst competitiveness on display. She played very well beside Lopez on the left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='152133' first='Maya' last='Ferguson'] - MB/S - Blue Springs - 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were confused when we saw the player taking swings in the middle and going up for blocks also setting in the same set. It was Ferguson and she shined in both roles as Blue Springs had some solid wins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marykate Roder - DS - St. Teresa's - 2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roder was very impressive in the back row for the Stars this weekend. She made some very crucial plays in the win over Olathe Northwest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->