6A
1. Washburn Rural
2. Blue Valley West
3. Blue Valley North
4. Shawnee Mission East
5. Manhattan
Others: Olathe South, Goddard, Shawnee Mission Northwest

5A
1. Bishop Miege
2. St. Thomas Aquinas
3. Lansing
4. Shawnee Heights
5. Salina South
Others: Seaman, Valley Center

4A
1. St. James Academy
2. Hayden
3. Cheney
4. Clearwater
5. Bishop Ward
Others: Abilene, Ottawa

3A
1. Hillsboro
2. Hoisington
3. Rock Creek
4. Jefferson County North
5. Garden Plain
Others: Phillipsburg

2A
1. St. Marys
2. Moundridge
3. Valley Heights
4. Decatur Community
5. Nemaha Valley
Others: Berean Academy, Sublette

1A
1. St. John Hudson
2. Centralia
3. Hutch Central Christian
4. Hoxie
5. Weskan
Others: Pratt-Skyline, Goessel

4. Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kansas)
Last year's record: 38-5; 2008 final ranking: 73

The 2008 Kansas 5A state champions might be the best team in the country and will get the chance to prove it versus the likes of Sacred Heart and St. Louis St. Joseph’s at the St. Joseph’s Tournament of Champions on Sept. 19. The Stags graduated only one from last year’s squad, PrepVolleyball.com All American setter Kate Van Dyke, but has reloaded at the position with the transfer of junior setter Liz Powell. Powell, along with powerful middle Grace Whitley, left St. Teresa’s and crossed state lines to play for Miege. They join club teammate Shelby Workman, giving Miege three from the national champion KC Power 16-1 squad. Add senior middle Jessica Elley (Appalachian State), MB Adri Maurer (Nebraska for basketball), defenders Laura Skaggs and Leslie Starks and sophomore OH Anna Church and it’s easy to see why no one in Kansas City thinks they will be able to stay on the court with Gwenn Pike’s team in 2009.

17. St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kansas)
Last year's record: 33-8; 2008 final ranking: 139

If any team is going to challenge Bishop Miege in Kansas in 2009, it’s going to be St. Thomas Aquinas, which returns the core of the team that fell to Miege in the Kansas 5A final a year ago. Among the returnees are physical middle Kelsey Sullivan, the team’s emotional leader; setter Margaret Clark, who recently committed to Auburn; outsides Liz Gohde and Lauren Ford, who should form the best left-side duo in the state; and lefty RS Megan Spencer, a key player on the MAVS team that finished second nationally this summer in 15 Open. Aquinas is always known for its defense and coaches Brian Schenk and Kim Bogart have two exceptional back row players this year in libero Megan Baska and DS Jenna Lewis. How good will the Saints be in 2009? Circle Sept. 12 on your calendar. That’s when all the top teams in Kansas City will gather on the Missouri side for the Lee’s Summit West MO/KAN Invite.

56. St. James (Lenexa, Kansas)
Last year's record: 45-1; 2008 final ranking: 4

The defending Kansas 4A champs graduated a ton of talent, including PrepVolleyball All Americans Kelly Kolich and Rachel Gray, but coach Nancy Dorsey is in the midst of building a dynasty in Lenexa, a team that competes for state titles every year, just like her alma mater, Chicago’s Mother McAuley. It doesn’t hurt that the Kansas City area is experiencing a golden age in girls’ volleyball. For 2008, the Thunder return senior setter Lauren Brown, who runs a 5-1 in club for MAVS, but will probably set a 6-2 with talented sister Paige Brown so that she can contribute with her swing as well. Other big hitters for coach Dorsey include Hanna Forst, who was an important part of KC Power 16-1’s national championship team; hard hitting OH Morgan Voorhes and 6-1 sophomore Katie Dulek, who puts up a big block. Sophomore Dallas Gardner, who can hit or set, is another future star to keep an eye on for 2009. Defensively, the Thunder should be very strong, with sophomore Sheridan Zarda holding down the libero spot and Annie Reilly showing off her passing platform either from the left side or in the back row.

58. Lee's Summit West (Lee's Summit, Missouri)
Last year's record: 38-2-1; 2008 final ranking: 56

The Titans said “goodbye” to terrific middle Jessica Kopp, the team’s emotional leader, as well as three others who started for at least three years, but coach Mark Rice’s bunch could find its way back to the Missouri Class 4 title match for the third straight year, behind some seasoned veterans and a group of competitive newcomers that have been competing in practice the past two years. Leading the way will be senior OH Paige Vanderpool, a three-year starter and emerging terminal attacker who led the team in aces in 2008. The Titans also boast a very strong junior class, led by setters Kaitlyn Drawe and Kylie Rice, who may both also hit as part of a 6-2 offense. Tall middle Haylee Gregory could be a force in the middle for LSW along with 6-2 sophomore Megan McGehee, who was a key cog in MAVS’ run to the 15 Open championship match at JOs last summer.

79. Archbishop O’Hara (Kansas City, Missouri)
Last year's record: 33-4-5; 2008 final ranking: 249

It’s about time that the Celtics got some respect nationally and in the Kansas City area for that matter. Yes, Missouri Class 4 is more competitive, but O’Hara, which has won the past two Class 3 titles, can play and beat any team regardless of class. All seven starters return for Lori Hanaway’s team, including the fearsome middle tandem of Tori Hurtt and Michala Boehm, two of the most athletic players in the state. Junior Lindsey Hanaway, Second Team All State a year ago, is back to get the ball to her middles, as well as senior Jordyn Wyatt on the right and Janell Jordan and Emily Tyler on the left. Senior Katie Huber, one of the best liberos in the state, will hold down the back row.