The All-Deck 18-Club Team: Class of 2023 Top Performers

I am old enough to remember when being named to the All-Madden team still meant something. All-everything teams have become watered down. We have all-league teams, all-county teams, all-city teams, all-state teams, and all-insert your local newspaper (if you still have one) teams.   Therefore, why not add another to the list? When Prep Dig Kansas was first launched in 2020, I compiled a couple of All-Deck teams after the 2020 High School season. Even with a two-year absence why let tradition die so early on the vine?   I am bringing the all-star team back, besides, who does not like to see their name on the internet one more time for their athletic excellence?   I will feature an All-Deck team covering the 18-15 age groups from HOA events that I scouted in January-April. Keep in mind, I could not see every club team, even if I tried, and this list is far from being all-inclusive. If I did NOT see a player in the “real-real,” they were NOT eligible for this honor.   I did not see a multitude of 18 matches this season, but when I did, I really looked for unsigned talent so I could provide exposure for them.   So,  without further eloquence, here is the first All-Deck 18-Club Team. The All-Deck 17-Club team will be released tomorrow.   Camryn Penny, 5'5”, MH, Blue Valley West, Dynasty 18-2   Take every metaphor or analogy about how high one can jump, and all of them apply to Camryn Penny. The Blue Valley West middle hitter is a jumper. She finished with seven kills and four blocks in a match that I scouted in March.   Lillie Gorges, 5'10”, S, Bishop Carroll, Shockwave 18-2   Gorges filled up the stat sheet with 14 assists, four digs, four kills, and one block. She has a sweet set for only having done it for one season. Last I heard, she was still uncommitted, but there is little doubt she can play at the next level.   Bella Lott, 5'11”, MH, Marysville, Topeka Elite 18-1   Marysville's Bella Lott was a stat monster for the Topeka Elite when I saw them play at the Keeper of the Plains Tournament in Wichita. She had nine kills and five blocks in the match I scouted. She has committed to play at Johnson County Community College.   Mika Schultz, 5'8”, MH/RS, Ulysses, Southwest Pursuit 18-1   Schultz is a gifted athlete who could play six rotations. She had six kills, seven serve receptions, and three digs in the match at the Kingdom Classic in Lawrence. She communicates well and her passion for the game shows on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='214641' first='Alexandra' last='Workman'], 5'9”, OH, Northwest (Wichita), Kansas Rise 18-1   Workman is a workhorse and can play six rotations. She finished with seven serve receptions, three kills, three digs, one block, and one ace in a region bid match in March. Workman has signed to play with Colby Community College.   [player_tooltip player_id='122215' first='Kaylee' last='Lively'], 5'6”, S, Maize, Kansas Rise 18-1   Lively is athletic and enjoys playing the game. Lively with three serve receptions, one dig, and one kill in a region bid match. She was Maize's primary setter in 2022.   Honorable Mention: Here are some other talented athletes in the class of 2023 who just missed being included in the list above: [player_tooltip player_id='120023' first='Jordan' last='Bruckner'], East (Wichita), Shockwave 18-1; Tawney Krominga, Spearville, Southern Plains Thunder 18-1; [player_tooltip player_id='220371' first='Allie' last='Paulsen'], Andover Central; Shockwave 18-1; and Kaitlin Stout, Blue Valley, Mavs KC 18-2.

I am old enough to remember when being named to the All-Madden team still meant something. All-everything teams have become watered down. We have all-league teams, all-county teams, all-city teams, all-state teams, and all-insert your local newspaper (if you still have one) teams.