Previewing the best potential sub-state volleyball matchups
It is postseason time in Kansas high school volleyball. Some of the Wichita area’s best will be looking for a sub-state championship and a trip to state. Here are the matchups.
Wichita East has shown quality at times this season. The Aces beat the likes of Wichita Northwest and Derby and took Newton and Kapaun to three sets.
Gardner-Edgerton is the heavy favorite to come out of the sub-state, but if East can put together a special day as it has from time to time in 2018, the Aces will have a shot.
Bishop Carroll has one loss, but Goddard might be the most dangerous No. 8 seed in Kansas.
The Lions have state tournament experience, finishing fourth in Class 5A last year. Goddard isn’t that same team, but Carroll isn’t flawless. Goddard doesn’t have a signature win this season. This would be it.
But first the Lions must get through a much-improved Northwest team. The Grizzlies want another crack at Bishop Carroll like a state championship.
It could be a rematch of the Maize Invitational final.
Kapaun beat Maize South in three sets in the regular season tournament, and it was one of the Crusaders’ most emotional days in recent history. The Mavericks have some of the most raw talent in Kansas with four girls standing 5-foot-10 or taller but have hit blips in the schedule.
If both teams get through the first round, it could be the match of the 5A sub-states.
Andale hasn’t had many mistakes in 2018.
The Indians are riding a 15-match winning streak into their sub-state tournament, including a pair of wins over Rose Hill. But Circle has real talent to compete. Andale took a win over the Thunderbirds in straight sets earlier in the season, but this appears to be the 4A sub-state matchup to watch in the Wichita area.
Rose Hill’s road to a three-peat is in real danger.
The Rockets haven’t had the seasons they had in each of their title-winning years, but they have the potential and talent to turn it on at any moment. They’ll need to Saturday. Every team in their sub-state has a chance at the upset, including No. 15 Buhler in the opening round.