Five things to watch: Kansas state volleyball

1 St. Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Miege on collision course?

Aquinas won the 5A championship in 2006 and 2007 but lost to East Kansas League rival Miege in the 2009 state title game. But earlier this month, the Saints topped the Stags — who own an astounding 18 state titles since 1977 — in four games, 19-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-21. The prohibitive favorites in their pools are once more on a championship collision course this weekend at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.

2 St. James Academy seeks to defend 4A state title

St. James may be the No. 4 seed when the Kansas 4A state tournament begins today at the Salina Bicentennial Center, but the Thunder may well be the team to beat. Coming off a breakthrough season last year, when it won the young program’s first state championship, St. James takes a 35-4 record into the weekend. Its only losses have been to 5A state powers Aquinas and Miege. A challenging regular-season schedule has the Thunder primed for its state title defense.

3 Olathe South’s Clark tries to add to family’s state legacy

When Olathe South won the 6A state title in 2005, setter Leslie Clark, now a senior and honorable mention All-American at Middle Tennessee State, led the way. Her younger sister, Emilee Clark, is the setter this season for the 30-4 Falcons, who are among the 6A favorites today and tomorrow at the Kansas Expocentre. They also boast one of the state’s top hitters in middle blocker Kaitlynn Pelger, a Kansas State commit.

4 Blue Valley West back for another try

The Jaguars have been remarkably consistent over the years — especially recently. BV West, 29-10, will be making its fifth consecutive state tournament appearance when it begins 6A play today at the Kansas Expocentre. After winning the 5A state title in 2005, the Jaguars have been 6A state runner-ups each of the last three seasons. Seniors Liz Buck, Sarah Buschmann and Alex Fitzmorris, who has committed to Arkansas, lead the 29-10 squad.

5 Can anybody knock off Topeka Washburn Rural?

Only one team in the last six years from the Sunflower League or East Kansas League has managed to win the 6A state championship. Washburn Rural, meanwhile, has won the last three state titles and four of the last five and enters play today as the top seed in the tournament with a 36-4 record. In addition to Olathe South and BV West, Lawrence (22-16) and BV North (25-14) will also try to bring a 6A title back to the eastern part of the state.

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