What Is The Toughest Conference In The State?

Which conference will you need to bring your game each time out? The Show-Me state each year displays they can hold their own.  Some teams, for example, St. Teresa’s Academy doesn’t play in a league, and are allowed to build a very competitive schedule to prepare them for a post-season run. There are some very strong districts across the state as well. We know in Class 4 District 3 you will see the likes of Lafayette, Marquette, and Eureka battling out and only one team can exit. However, when we look at the toughest conference, we lean towards the Gold Division in the KC Suburban Conference. The conference was already competitive before this upcoming season, but we feel with the addition of two more schools it is now loaded. Liberty and Liberty North move up to the top division based on school enrollment this fall. The two teams fought it out in the Class 4 District 16 championship match last year that Liberty would eventually win. The addition of these two teams along with Blue Springs, Blue Springs, South, Park Hill, and Lee’s Summit West allows you to understand why you can’t take any matches off in conference play. Each team plays each other twice throughout the season. We preview below who should be the six teams fighting for the top spot. Liberty Blue Jays - 2019: 30-9-1 record, 3rd in Missouri Class 4 The Blue Jays return a squad! Last year they started their season in Colorado. It appears this may have helped the young team gel and prepare for what would be a memorable season. Liberty graduated some important pieces to their roster. Gone are defenders Elizabeth Stepp and Emily Glaeser, both recorded over 400 digs a season ago. They also lose three-year starting setter Meghan SchneiderMeghanSchneiderOHLiberty | 2020StateMO, who will play her college ball at near-by William Jewell. The only true question mark is who will fill the void left by Stepp and Glaeser. Rising sophomore Ashley Mullen should take over the setting duties after playing in 70 sets in the 6-2 as a freshman. She will have many weapons to find while on offense. Liberty returns a whopping 92% of their kills in 2020! They will be led by outsides Madison CorfMadisonCorfOHLiberty | 2022MO and Ole Miss pledge, Bailee MiddletonBaileeMiddleton5'10" | DSLiberty | 2021StateMO. Middleton earned all-state honors in her junior season, tallying over 400 kills while just missing the 400 digs mark. Corf wasn’t too shabby herself, how about over 300 kills for good measure. While the Blue Jays return a large percentage of their kills, defensively they bring back 87% of their total blocks from a year ago. Two underclassmen return to anchor the middle for this team and look to cause havoc in their first season in the gold division. Brooklyn Young and Grace Toney look to continue where they left off in their freshmen seasons. The two combined for almost 200 blocks and should also contribute more offensively this fall. If Liberty can have solid back row play, they should contend for the gold division title.  Liberty North Eagles - 2019: 23-10 Gone is Liberty North star Taylor Gates, who is heading down to the bayou for her collegiate start. Besides Gates, also graduated is Allie Hinkley, who led the team in digs last fall. After a 23 win season, the Eagles will look to make noise in their first in the gold division. A fairly young team in 2019, they return many key pieces to make a run to the top of the conference. The charge will be anchored by junior setter Addison BeagleAddisonBeagleSLiberty North | 2022StateMO. As a sophomore, she racked up 743 assists. If she is the setter in her third season, she will have some hitters to feed. They will lose their kill leader but return number two in the category in Isabel ZimmermanIsabelZimmerman6'2" | RSLiberty North | 2022MO. She showed her ability to become the go-to player boasting 228 kills last campaign. In the middle, Rachel Spainhour returns for her senior season. She has been a steady contributor since her first year at North. With the loss of Hinkley, the Eagles will be looking for someone to step up in the back row. Look for Grace Reineke, Grace Lyndes, and Abby Christian to be in the mix. With balanced back row play and a number two scorer, Liberty North will fight and walk away with a title in 2020.  Park Hill Trojans - 2019: 22-1-2 The Trojans are in a similar position as Liberty. They return a lot of offensive firepower in 2020. How about 95% of their kills from a season ago? Their big question mark, unlike the Blue Jays, will be; who will set the ball this year? Park Hill played a 6-2 a year ago and graduated assists leader Aliyah Lyons. They return a senior and two sophomores who should compete for the role. Whoever emerges from that battle will have weapons. The whole front-line returns led by Oklahoma commit Kristen BirminghamKristenBirmingham6'1" | OHPark Hill | 2021StateMO and sophomore Shaye Koski on the outside. Both played six-rotations, which contributes to the 71% of digs returning from a season ago. Southpaw Aile Aiona is back on the right side for her senior season. She has been a steady fixture in the lineup since her freshman year. Park Hill returns much of their defense also. Megan HooverMeganHooverOHPark Hill | 2021MO should be back in the libero position after earning the jersey near the end of the season. She finished second on the team in digs. 82% of the Trojans blocks return this fall led by middles, senior Hannah Graves and sophomore Aisha Aiona. If they can figure out the setting puzzle, Park Hill should be near the top of the standings at years end.  Blue Springs Wildcats - 2019: 22-11 In 2019, Blue Springs showed they have the talent to compete in the division by finishing 2nd behind Lee’s Summit West. They claimed a district title and advanced to sectionals, where they dropped a 3 set classic with St. Teresa’s Academy. The good news is they return most of the roster from a year ago. They did graduate Aliyah Bello and Cherray Wilson, who combined for almost 400 kills. However, they return two players who had over 400 kills together. The 2020 Wildcats will feature junior all-state outside hitter Chloe KaminskiChloeKaminski5'9" | DSBlue Springs | 2022MO. She will be depended on to carry the offense and could have phenomenal numbers this fall. Junior Ella DuchaneEllaDuchaneLBlue Springs | 2022MO returns in the middle. She provides a true offensive threat in the middle to open things up on the outside for Kaminski. Any team returning a solid setter in this conference puts them in the hunt. One of the top setters in the city returns in Lily LetchworthLilyLetchworth5'10" | SBlue Springs | 2021StateMO for the Wildcats. Last fall she had over 700 kills and looks to repeat those numbers this season. Senior libero Anna Christenson will return to lead the defense behind the front line. She put up over 300 digs and 500 receptions. Blue Springs will be in contention to get to the top spot this fall. The number one question is who will replace the numbers from last year. Blue Springs South Jaguars - 2019: 14-19 Blue Springs South had an uncharacteristic fall in 2019. The Jaguars found great success in the previous few years. They were entering the season replacing seven seniors that played quality minutes but were hit with the injury bug. They returned Marquette pledge Carsen MurrayCarsenMurrayMBBlue Springs South | 2020StateMO but played without Long Beach State commit Meauna BoothMeaunaBoothMBBlue Springs North | 2020StateMO all year. The common theme among most of the teams competing for the championship is they all return an all-state player. For the Jaguars it will be senior Aubrey LaPourAubreyLaPour5'11" | OHBlue Springs South | 2021StateMO. The Bryant University commit missed most of the conference season but will look to make noise in her final one. Kylie Gregory also returns on the outside with LaPour to give a good 1-2 punch. Senior Tamia McCluine is back this fall after missing last year with a knee injury. She will be looked upon to fill the void in the middle through graduation. There are a couple of uncertainties heading into the season for the Jaguars. They will return junior setter Marti Strickert, who teamed with Mandy Main in the setting duties. Will Strickert run a 5-1 or will someone else join to complete the 6-2 offense for South? Also, who will replace standouts Grace Smedley and Ryleigh McBurneyRyleighMcBurneySBlue Springs South | 2020StateMO defensively? It may be an uphill climb, but with a few key performances the Jaguars may fight their way back to the top of the division. Lee’s Summit West Titans - 2019: 25-5 The champ is here! The defending gold division champions will get everyone’s best shot in 2020. Evelyn Gates finalist (an award given to top area player) Odyssey WarrenOdysseyWarrenMBLee's Summit West | 2020StateMO is gone for the Titans. If the conference issued a player of the year honor, the recent University of Kansas City - Missouri signee would have won it hands down. The positive news is she wasn’t the only all-state honoree on the team. Senior Aly GurtizaAlyGurtiza5'8" | LLee's Summit West | 2021StateMO will return to lead West this fall. The standout libero earned all-state honors the previous two seasons and will again anchor the defense. Lee’s Summit West will also return some offense, so the cupboard was not left entirely bare. Outside hitter Sydney HandelSydneyHandelMBLee's Summit West | 2022MO returns for her junior season. She will be looked upon for more leadership and offense this fall. In the middle, look for Abby Massengill to see her contributions increase in her senior season. Junior Lacy Higgins will again lead the offense. Last fall, she utilized her hitters and would finish with 725 assists on the season. Alongside Gurtiza, Madison Staples may be looked upon to help carry the back row responsibilities. If the Titans can replace the kill numbers of Warren they should be in the conversation to repeat in 2020.