Kansas 5A State Championship Standouts

The Kansas 5A Volleyball State Championship brought together some of the top high school talent in the state, showcasing emerging prospects and athletes looking to make their mark on the court. From experienced upperclassmen to underclassmen beginning to attract attention, the tournament provided a great opportunity to evaluate the talent across Kansas 5A volleyball. Volleyball Adrenaline was on site capturing the action, highlighting top performers and giving these athletes another platform to showcase their abilities.

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The Maize South Mavericks went on an undefeated run the first day, knocking down Lansing, Great Bend, and Blue Valley Southwest. Junior outside hitter and Texas beach volleyball commit Sage Illian was a powerful force at the net, attacking every weak spot of her opponents defense. Senior setter and Wichita State commit Autumn Popps showed her high volleyball IQ when setting up her team, and proved she could run an effective offense. The Mavericks ended up falling short to St. James in the semi-finals, but defeated Lansing shortly after to give themselves a third-place finish. 

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Blue Valley Southwest started off the tournament strong with a first game win against Great Bend, but lost their momentum and were bested by Lansing and Maize South, ending their run early. The Timberwolves had standout performances by a number of players, showing the hard work it took to make it to this level. Sophomore Orange level setter Sophia Morris helped create scoring opportunities and kept the Timberwolves a competitive force. Junior middle blocker and Georgia Southern commit Kate Hohman used her size and attacking ability to give the Timberwolves a reliable option. 

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Lansing played three very close games in this competition, bringing every matchup to a third set. The first day, the Lions were defeated by Maize South, prevailed over Blue Valley Southwest, then were bested by Great Bend. Several Lions made their mark throughout the tournament, contributing key performances and helping keep Lansing competitive in each game. Sophomore libero/DS Avery Dessert provided steady defensive plays and anchored the back row. Senior RS/DS and South Dakota commit Halle Laincz brought versatility to the lineup, contributing on both sides of the ball and giving the Lions another dependable option throughout the tournament. The Lions made it to the second day of this competition, but fell to St. Thomas Aquinas and Maize South, giving themselves a fourth-place finish. 

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Great Bend showed their ability to compete throughout the tournament, finishing the first day with one win against Lansing and two losses against Blue Valley Southwest and Lansing. Although the Panthers fell short of advancing, they put together a competitive effort and had several players deliver notable performances along the way. Senior Elite Orange level setter and Washburn commit Kya Behr helped lead the Panthers’ offense, using her experience and playmaking ability to create opportunities for her teammates. Sophomore pin hitter Jaya Stroup provided an offensive spark for the Panthers, using her versatility at the net to give Great Bend another scoring option. 

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Bishop Carroll opened the tournament with a rivalry matchup against Kapaun Mt. Carmel, coming away with a win to start the day. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to carry that momentum into their next two matches, falling to St. James Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas to end their tournament run after the first day. Despite the early exit, several Golden Eagles delivered standout performances throughout the tournament. Senior setter Ella Avey consistently set her hitters up for success, helping lead Bishop Carroll in several key moments. Junior libero/DS and Wichita State commit Regan Daugherty played an important role in the back row, providing defensive support and helping the Golden Eagles stay organized through challenging stretches.

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Kapaun Mt. Carmel faced a challenging first day of competition, showing stretches of strong play against a competitive field. Despite their efforts, the Crusaders came up short in all three matchups, bringing their tournament run to an end after the opening day. Kapaun Mt. Carmel had several players take on important roles throughout the day, with efforts helping shape their performance against a tough group of opponents. Sophomore Silver level setter Collyns Livermore showed leadership in directing the Crusaders’ offense, distributing the ball and creating opportunities for her teammates to find success at the net. Freshman Orange level libero/DS Charlotte Muich brought energy and consistency to the back row, helping keep rallies alive and providing defensive support. 

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St. James Academy put together a strong tournament run, winning two of their three matches on the opening day against Bishop Carroll and Kapaun Mt. Carmel, with their only loss coming against St. Thomas Aquinas. Junior Elite Red level outside hitter and Kansas State commit Mya Lee provided a consistent offensive presence for the Thunder, using her attacking ability and leadership skills to help fuel their run in the tournament. Senior OH/RS Libby Hotze brought plenty of energy to the court, helping set the tone for the Thunder with her enthusiasm and competitive presence throughout the tournament. The Thunder carried that momentum into the second day, defeating Maize South to earn a spot in the championship match. St. James ultimately fell to St. Thomas Aquinas in the title matchup, finishing as the tournament runner-up. 

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St. Thomas Aquinas established themselves as the team to beat throughout the tournament, finishing undefeated and claiming the Kansas 5A State Championship. The Saints opened with wins over Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Bishop Carroll and St. James Academy before taking down Lansing and earning a championship rematch against St. James. St. Thomas handled every opponent in straight sets except for the title match, where they needed three sets to secure the championship. Sophomore Elite Orange level libero/DS Maggie Nash and senior libero/DS and Angelo State commit Grace Nelson anchored the Saints’ defense, providing steady serve receive and strong back-row coverage throughout their undefeated championship run. Senior OPP/MB and Bucknell commit Nora Goodenow and junior outside hitter and Santa Clara commit Vivian Goode gave the Saints a strong offensive presence, combining their attacking ability to keep opposing defenses under pressure.