Season Preview: Greater KC Suburban Gold Division
The champ is here! The champ is here! We still feel this is arguably the toughest conference in the state. Two years ago, Liberty High School journeyed its way to a final four finish. Last season, Liberty North went undefeated…
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Continue ReadingThe champ is here! The champ is here! We still feel this is arguably the toughest conference in the state. Two years ago, Liberty High School journeyed its way to a final four finish. Last season, Liberty North went undefeated and won the first state championship in school history. This season expects to be another dog fight in the gold division.
Blue Springs Wildcats – 2020: 15-9 record (District Champions)
The 2021 Wildcats has a roster capable of knocking off some favorites this fall. The leader of this team will be the do it all senior outside hitter Chloe Kaminski Chloe Kaminski 5'9" | DS/L Blue Springs | 2022 State #115 Nation MO . She will again be the go-to player on offense after collecting just shy of 300 kills a year ago. Senior Ella Duchane Ella Duchane 6'0" | MB Blue Springs | 2022 State MO was very good in 2020 and hopes to build on her 157 kills. Another senior hoping to have a memorable final year is Jalyn Walruff Jalyn Walruff 6'0" | OH Blue Springs | 2022 State MO . She jumped on the scene last year and provided another front-line threat offensively. Nikole Schnell came on late in the year to help out defensively. We will look to see her have an extended role after the departure of some defensive leaders. The thing to watch for the Wildcats in the setter position.
Blue Springs South Jaguars – 2020: 7-13 record
Blue Springs South had what we would describe as a down year for their program going 7-13. They will look to rebound in 2021 with some solid youth in their lineup. They lost a bulk of their scoring from last fall but look for junior Tori Valentine Tori Valentine 5'11" | OH Blue Springs South | 2023 State MO to increase her output in 2021 after a strong club season. Sophomore Alexis Alexander clocked some minutes in her first year and should see more playing time this fall. Senior setter Marti Strickert handled the duties a year ago and found success with her hitters 588 times. Charlee Huttinger is the lone defender returning to earn over 100 digs last year. We look to see her numbers increase in her junior year.
Lee’s Summit North Broncos – 2020: 6-21 record
The Broncos took some lumps in 2020 but are hopeful as they enter the 2021 season. They return enough solid pieces to improve on their six wins. Senior Taylor Bailey Taylor Bailey 5'10" | OH Lee's Summit North | 2022 State MO was their statistical leader offensively and will look to build on her numbers this final year. Also, look for junior Maddie Sibbing to be a scoring threat after 116 kills last year. Katie Spacil ran an effective offense a year ago and returns for her last year.
Lee’s Summit West Titans – 2020: 19-7 record (District Champions)
Lee’s Summit West will return some offense in 2021 to make a run for a league title. Senior hitter Sydney Handel Sydney Handel 5'10" | OH Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO is back for her final ride with the Titans. She will look to lead the team offensively again after collecting 317 kills last fall. She has help returning in Kaelyn McDonald Kaelyn McDonald 6'0" | RS Lee's Summit West | 2022 State MO . She contributed at the net with 220 kills of her own. Senior Lacy Higgins will again lead the offense in her last go-around. Last fall, she utilized her hitters and would finish with over 900 assists on the season. We will watch to see who fills the void along the back row for the Titans to get the offense in motion.
Liberty Blue Jays – 2020: 19-7 record
The Blue Jays return enough valuable pieces and a welcomed new face to be in the mix this fall. Junior Ashley Mullen Ashley Mullen 5'10" | S Liberty | 2023 State #9 Nation MO is back to lead the offense from the setter position in 2021. She was instrumental in the team’s success dishing out 943 assists in her sophomore season. She looks to make it a family affair by finding her sister freshman Abigail Mullen Abigail Mullen 6'3" | RS Liberty | 2025 State #3 Nation MO as often as she can. The 6’1″ RS is amongst the top players in her class in the country and will make her presence known immediately in the gold division. Madi Corf has been a staple in the lineup since her freshman year and looks to finish her career with a bang. The outside hitter had 321 kills and has the chance to reach 1000 with 248 kills. Two juniors return to navigate the net in middles Brooklyn Young Brooklyn Young 6'0" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO and Grace Toney Grace Toney 5'11" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO . Toney did suffer an injury early in club season so unsure where she stands. Young is an athletic player who affects the game on both offense and defense. Junior Jocelyn Renfro Jocelyn Renfro 5'9" | OH Liberty | 2023 State MO came on late in the season to provide some offense for the Blue Jays. Behind the hitters, look for senior Rebecca Wright Rebecca Wright 5'7" | DS/L Liberty | 2022 State MO to be a factor. She played in 80 sets and alternated between libero and DS in 2020.
Liberty North Eagles – 2020: 24-0 record (District Champions, Sectional Champions, State Champions)
Back to back? That is the goal for Liberty North and they return the weapons to make it happen. In their first year in the gold division, they put the conference on alert running the table. The team will be led by senior setter and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year Addison Beagle Addison Beagle 5'9" | S Liberty North | 2022 State MO . As a junior, she handed out 912 assists. She has the hitters back to eclipse the 1000 assists mark this season. Senior and Auburn commit Isabel Zimmerman Isabel Zimmerman 6'2" | RS Liberty North | 2022 State #30 Nation MO returns to lead the hitters. She had a team-best 336 kills in 2020. Carlie Cisneros Carlie Cisneros 6'0" | OH Liberty North | 2024 State #7 Nation MO returns for her sophomore season after a successful summer campaign in which she was named MVP of the 15 Open Division at Junior Nationals. In the middle, uncommitted Caitlyn Burns Caitlyn Burns 5'10" | MB Liberty North | 2022 State MO returns for her senior season. She has been a steady contributor and brings many intangibles to the team. Look for her offensive output to increase in 2021. Abby Christian is back to anchor the back row after a solid sophomore season. She had 340 digs to lead the squad. We will see which new faces fill contributor roles to help the Eagles back to the promise land.
Park Hill Trojans – 2020: 17-8 record (District Champions)
The Trojans will be a young but experienced team in 2021. They have a roster of juniors who have contributed extensively in their first two years. Shaye Koski Shaye Koski 5'10" | OH Park Hill | 2023 State MO returns on the outside and will be depended upon for scoring and defense. In the middle, Aisha Aiono Aisha Aiono 6'3" | MB Liberty | 2023 State MO is back for her junior season. The 6’3″ Aiona has always been dominant in the blocking category but look for her offensive numbers to increase in the team stays in system. Setter Emily Pella Emily Pella 5'9" | S Park Hill | 2023 State MO was one of the featured setters in 2020 and look for her to lead the team this fall. She is much improved and looks to make that next step going into this year. Junior Devin Hoover looks to play a role along the defensive back row after some action late in the year.
Raymore-Peculiar Panthers – 2020: 12-20 record
Ray-Pec struggled in conference play only picking up one win but was able to earn much more during the regular season. They return a couple of seniors in Kylee Harris Kylee Harris 6'1" | RS Raymore Peculiar | 2022 State MO and Avery Lowe. The duo combined for just under 300 kills on the season. Senior Sierra Jett had close to 100 kills and looks for her numbers to increase with more action.