Class 5 Districts 14 & 16 Preview
It is the most wonderful time of the year! Not Christmas…Postseason Volleyball! We are overjoyed the regular season was able to be completed with minimal hiccups across the state! However, we are at this point; Win or Go Home! Let’s…
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Continue ReadingIt is the most wonderful time of the year! Not Christmas…Postseason Volleyball! We are overjoyed the regular season was able to be completed with minimal hiccups across the state! However, we are at this point; Win or Go Home! Let’s take a look at two districts and do our best to predict who will move on in each round and become district champions. The winner of these two districts will face off in sectional play this weekend.
District 14: (1) Blue Springs (2) Truman (3) Blue Springs South (4) Fort Osage – October 26th and October 28th @ Blue Springs
Blue Springs (12-8) has had a good year in the strong gold division of the Greater Suburban Conference. They have three key components needed to win a district championship. A scorer, which they have in junior Chloe Kaminski Chloe Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Blue Springs | 2022 State #115 Nation MO . They have someone who can feed the ball in senior setter Lily Letchworth Lily Letchworth 5'10" | S Blue Springs | 2021 State MO . Then they have possibly the most important piece, a steady back row passer in Anna Christenson. Truman has been a surprise this season. They don’t post stats but have a 12-8-4 record on the season as the second seed. Blue Springs South (6-12) historically has been a strong program. They are down but with Aubrey LaPour Aubrey LaPour 5'11" | OH Blue Springs South | 2021 State MO on the pin, their team always has a chance. Fort Osage rounds out the district. They are 7-13-2 led by senior Kendra Siefker.
Blue Springs will handle Fort Osage in the opening match-up. The 2 vs. 3 match-up is an intriguing one. While record points to Truman, we believe Blue Springs South playing in a tougher conference and against better competition gives them the advantage. We will go with Blue Springs South over Truman. In the championship game, we have Blue Springs taking out their rival for the hardware.
District 16: (1) Park Hill (2) Staley (3) Central (St. Joe) (4) Oak Park – October 27th and October 28th @ Staley
Park Hill is your top seed entering with a 15-7 record. Kristen Birmingham Kristen Birmingham 6'1" | OH Park Hill | 2021 State MO , who recently eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark leads the Trojans into a balanced district. Megan Hoover Megan Hoover OH Park Hill | 2021 State MO has been steady for the team in the libero position and the first pass will be crucial to the team’s success. Staley (14-10) is a dangerous team, especially in postseason play. If senior outside hitter Helena Eubanks is on, that’s a good sign. If not, it will be important for a second scorer to elevate their play. Senior Ainslee Stepp has shown the ability to be a second point scorer for the Falcons. The third seed is Central out of St. Joseph. They will enter the postseason with a 9-13-4 record. They have shown flashes this season of being a capable team to advance. Consistency is key. Offensively they are led by Sydney Sample. Oak Park will round out the pool as the fourth seed. They have young talent that will get better with more experience. Kira Cherry is their top player. The more swings she gets, the better position they will be in to have success.
Park Hill will take out Oak Park in the opening match of the evening. The 2 vs. 3 game is a pick-em. In their first matchup, Staley won in 5. In the rematch, Central won in 5. In the Truman tournament last weekend, they split. Which team will pass the ball well and make less mistakes? We think it will be Central, so Central in 4 in our prediction. In the finals, these two teams faced off earlier in the Winnetonka Tournament. We like Park Hill to win the battle and take home the district championship and play Blue Springs in sectionals.