Kansas 6A Preview and Predictions
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This will be a state tournament for the ages. I so want to be in the building but duty calls. An undefeated team. A one-loss team. A two-loss team. The reigning state champion. Some of the top young talent in…
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Continue ReadingThis will be a state tournament for the ages. I so want to be in the building but duty calls. An undefeated team. A one-loss team. A two-loss team. The reigning state champion. Some of the top young talent in the state. It’s going to be crazy! Let’s take a look at the teams and somehow time to predict a winner.
Top seed and undefeated Washburn-Rural enters 38-0. They have only gone three sets twice this year both early in the season in two of the first three matches. In fact, their opening win was over Liberty North who won state with a perfect record a season ago, and they will try to match that feat. We know all about junior Brooklyn DeLeye Brooklyn DeLeye 6'2" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State #30 Nation KS , the dynamic pin who will take her talents to Kentucky in a couple of years. The supporting cast has been the main reason why this team has found great success. Taylor Russell Taylor Russell 6'0" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State KS has been strong from the middle. Jada Ingram Jada Ingram 5'11" | MB Washburn Rural | 2024 State #61 Nation KS has had a big impact in her second season. Zoe Canfield Zoe Canfield 5'9" | S Washburn Rural | 2024 State KS was a setter we knew would be impactful but senior Katelynn Brogan Katelynn Brogan 5'10" | RS Washburn Rural | 2022 State KS has made them a dynamic duo. They had zero problems getting through the substate.
Out of Wichita. Northwest High School (39-1) is your number two seed. The one blemish on their record? Washburn-Rural. They rolled through their substate action with little fight and will be on the opposite side of pool play with Washburn as they hope to seek revenge. In our substate preview, we mentioned stats have not been made available however still look for the Stucky’s, senior Caiya, and sophomore Camdyn to make an impact. They will have a difficult pool to navigate, which includes the third seed.
Speaking of third seed, Blue Valley North (35-2) had a tremendous year after going 15-13 a season ago. Their two defeats came against teams in the 5A state tournament. One of the keys to the turnaround was the arrival of freshman Logan Parks Logan Parks 5'11" | S Blue Valley North | 2025 State #8 Nation KS . She leads the team in kills (274) and second in assists (317) playing in a 6-2. Four-year starter Jasmine Dulan Jasmine Dulan 5'7" | OH Blue Valley North | 2022 State KS has been the leader the young squad needed and she adds 205 kills of her own. Nora Carlsen Nora Carlsen 5'7" | DS/L Blue Valley North | 2023 State KS leads the defensive efforts with 248 digs.
Fourth seed Hutchinson (33-5) enters the state tournament making quick work of Wichita Heights and Wichita North. The Salthawks have a five-game winning steak. We talked about the play of the law firm of Johnson and Thompson last week. Junior Maliyah Johnson Maliyah Johnson 5'8" | OH Hutchinson | 2023 State KS has been a force on the pin with 302 kills. Classmate Mya Thompson has delivered 216 of her own. Senior Kaitlin Yoder Kaitlin Yoder 5'5" | S Hutchinson | 2022 State KS has been efficient with her hands, dishing over 700 assists on the season.
Shawnee Mission Northwest (31-8) will be your fifth seed in the 2021 championship. They didn’t surrender more than 15 points in both substate matches. Juniors Vix Vilott Vix Vilott 5'10" | OH Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2023 State KS and Elinor Engel have had busy arms this fall, both totaling over 300 kills. One of the top defenders in the state, Vivian Kieffer Vivian Kieffer 5'6" | DS/L Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2022 State KS has 503 digs on the year. Setter Tori Creason Tori Creason 5'9" | S Shawnee Mission NW | 2023 State KS has had a breakout junior season with 950 assists after 400 a year ago.
Your returning state champions, Blue Valley West (28-9) are the sixth seed. They knocked out one of their local rivals, Blue Valley in the substate championship match. Taylor Stockman Taylor Stockman 5'11" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS dropped 12 kills to help bring home the title. In the year, Stockman has 269 kills which are second to fellow senior Brooke Leiker Brooke Leiker 6'0" | OH Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS ’s 362. Senior Morgan Colangelo Morgan Colangelo 5'5" | DS/L Blue Valley West | 2022 State KS sits just under 400 digs. One of the highlights of the year has been the emergence of freshman Lily Wedman from the setting position.
Seventh seed Lawrence Free State (24-9) is one of those lower seeds that could cause chaos in pool play. They have scrapped it out with a few of the teams in this tournament. They hold a win over Shawnee Mission Northwest but setbacks to Washburn Rural, Wichita Northwest, and Blue Valley West. They held home court to sweep their substate matches. Sawyer Thomsen Sawyer Thomsen 6'2" | MB Free State | 2023 State #145 Nation KS is one of the players. you can’t miss on the court with her length and playmaking ability. Aubrey Duncan Aubrey Duncan 6'0" | MB Free State | 2023 State KS has been strong and leads the team with 193 kills. Junior setter Rylee Unruh Rylee Unruh 5'11" | S Free State | 2023 State KS is averaging around 8 assists per set.
Rounding out the seeds is probably one of the strongest 8 seeds in history. We know this is a dangerous team and which team shows up will determine how dangerous they are. After the success a year ago, we have to remind ourselves this team is so young! Olathe Northwest (24-11) has played a tough schedule, evidenced by their 11 losses but don’t be surprised if they find a way into the final four. Sophomore sensations Skyler Pierce Skyler Pierce 6'3" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2024 State #4 Nation KS and Jillian Huckabey Jillian Huckabey 6'0" | OH Olathe Northwest | 2024 State #74 Nation KS will try to lead the team to the promised land. Pierce (211) and Huckabey (150) will rely on the great passing of Emmy Sher Emmy Sher 5'8" | DS/L Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS and Emily Slighton to allow sophomore setter Addisen Horn to put them in a position to score often.
Predictions
Pool 1: Washburn Rural, Hutchinson, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Olathe Northwest
Pool 2: Wichita Northwest, Blue Valley North, Blue Valley West, Lawrence Free State
Washburn Rural and Olathe Northwest
Wichita Northwest and Blue Valley North
Washburn Rural over Wichita Northwest
Blue Valley North over Olathe Northwest
State Champion: Washburn Rural