State Preview: 6A’s Mill Valley Looks To Three-Peat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eight Class 6A teams will meet in Salina, Kansas, on October 31, each looking to win a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, on any map, it is clear that all title paths will have to go through No. 1 Seed Mill Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mill Valley has won the Class 6A Title in back-to-back years and will face some serious challengers to the throne. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Free State, Olathe West, and Washburn Rural will meet the Jaguars in Pool A Play and have the first chances to dethrone the defending champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Valley West, Wichita Northwest, Manhattan, and Olathe Northwest will battle for Pool B dominance and a shot to meet the two advancing teams from Pool A on November 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a preview of 12 talented athletes who will be chasing State Gold at Tony's Pizza Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["154038"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd166"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To win this tournament, some team is going to have to knock off the defending champion Jaguars. Not an easy task. Florez directs the Jaguar offense. She has dished out 853 assists in 89 sets played this season. She surpassed the 3,000-career assist mark this season. She enters the tournament sitting on 3,212 career assists. It's not out of the realm of possibility that she could reach 3,500 assists for her career with a deep run this weekend. Florez is ranked No. 1 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and has verbally committed to Iowa State University. Mill Valley owns a record of 31-4 and will be the No. 1 Seed in the tournament that begins on October 31.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["436201"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd48c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mill Valley also has the No. 1-ranked athlete in the Kansas Class of 2027. Riggs leads the Jaguars in kills and has verbally committed to South Carolina. Her junior season stat line to date includes 425 kills, 171 digs, 426 serve receptions, and 17 kills. Mill Valley has a record of 5-3 against state tournament-qualified teams. The Jaguars' tournament begins with an 11:00 a.m. match on Court A against the No. 8 Seed Free State. The two teams split two regular-season matches against each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["240984"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd588"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Owls have a balanced scoring attack, and Sher is one of three attackers with 200-plus kills heading into the tournament. She is ranked No. 6 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and has verbally committed to Xavier University. She has recorded 222 kills and 71 blocks in 86 sets played. Olathe West owns a record of 26-7 and is the No. 5 Seed. The Owls will open tournament play against No. 4 Seed Washburn Rural at 10:00 a.m. on Court A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222099"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd676"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stowell leads the Owls in kills this season. She has registered 350 kills and 60 blocks in 85 sets played. She is ranked No. 10 overall and has verbally committed to Colorado State University. Olathe West went 5-5 against state-bound programs during the regular season. They also have regular-season wins over pool play opponents, Washburn Rural and Lawrence Free State. The Owls lost to Mill Valley early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["223291"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd757"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blue Valley West will be the No. 2 Seed in the tournament and have an easier path to the finals. The Jaguars feature two top defenders and two pairs of ranked sisters. Young is ranked No. 16 overall and has verbally committed to North Texas. She has registered 162 digs and 207 serve receptions in 67 sets played. West owns a record of 30-4 heading into the state tournament. The Jaguars have a record of 9-2 against teams playing in state tournaments this week. They have three combined wins against Olathe West and Washburn Rural, and one loss to Mill Valley on their resume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222087"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd840"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pandjaris has turned herself into a defensive wizard over the years. When I first saw her play club ball, she was being used as an outside hitter. She leads the Jaguars in digs with 258 in 77 sets played. She has also recorded a team-high 363 serve receptions. West will play on Court B and open its tournament with an 11:00 a.m. match against No. 7 Seed Olathe Northwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["445556"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdd92c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nover-Estes runs the offense for the Thunderbirds. She has registered 687 assists during her junior season. She can also be dangerous at the net, based on her totals of 78 kills and 43 blocks in 82 sets played. She is currently ranked No. 22 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. Free State qualified for the tournament coming out of the West Region by defeating Garden City in a sub-state final. Free State is the No. 8 Seed with a record of 20-12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569823"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fdda1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Corbin is a back-row defender for Free State. She is third on the team in digs with 149. The Thunderbirds have six athletes with more than 100 digs during the season. Free State has a 1-6 record against state tournament-qualifying wins. The Thunderbirds' most impressive win came against Mill Valley on September 13. Free State went 1-1 against the Jaguars and will open up the tournament against the No. 1 Seed at 11:00 a.m. on Court A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355660"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fddab7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Olathe Northwest enters the tournament as the No. 7 Seed. They have a balanced hitting attack that includes Gray and her 322 kills on the season. That total is the second-highest on the team behind [player_tooltip player_id='644733' first='Rosalee' last='Johnson']'s 367 kill total. Gray can play six rotations and has also recorded 276 digs and 203 serve receptions in 101 sets played. The Ravens have an overall record of 28-9. Gray is ranked No. 74 overall, and to my knowledge, is still uncommitted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["698056"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fddb98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Apsey is a net enforcer. She leads the team with 91 blocks. She has also recorded 148 kills on the season, giving Northwest four hitters with 100-plus kill seasons. The Ravens have a record of 5-6 against state tournament-bound teams. They have a win over Mill Valley and losses to Olathe West, Blue Valley West, and Washburn Rural during the regular season. Olathe Northwest will begin its tournament against No. 2 Seed Blue Valley West at 11:00 a.m. on Court B.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222564"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fddc11"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Future Washburn Ichadod, Benoit leads the Grizzlies into the tournament. She is a six-rotation talent for Northwest. Her senior season stat line includes 335 kills, 252 digs, 168 serve receptions, and 29 blocks. She is ranked No. 22 overall. Northwest will be the No. 3 Seed and have a record of 30-6 heading into Friday's Pool Play. The Grizzlies will start the tournament against No. 6 Manhattan at 10:00 a.m. on Court B. Northwest has a 3-3 record against state-bound teams and will be an underdog in this tournament despite its high seed. Manhattan is the No. 6 Seed and has a 27-8 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["223572"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fe1d1fddcfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Once again, Kevin Bordewick has led a team from Washburn Rural to the state tournament. Kelly runs the offense for the Junior Blues. She is ranked No. 49 overall and, like teammate Karsyn Hornya, has verbally committed to Baker University. Rural has a record of 30-7 headed into the tournament and will be the No. 4 Seed. The Junior Blues have a 9-6 record against state tournament-qualified teams. Including four wins over Manhattan and losses to Olathe West and Blue Valley West. Rural will be looking for its first state title since 2022 and its ninth title of the century.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->