Class 1A Kansas Blocking Leaders: Part One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next featured group of Kansas volleyball athletes from schools in both Class 1A divisions are blocking leaders from the class of 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are six athletes who were among the Kansas leaders in total blocks during their junior seasons. All of them finished with at least 30 blocks. There was such an impressive group of blockers from Class 1A schools that I will have a second report forthcoming on members of the Class of 2024 who can dominate matches at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Coughlin</strong>, 5'11”, MH, Olpe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coughlin is a blocking machine. She finished with a total of 157 blocks during her junior season. That was an increase of 34 blocks from her sophomore season.  She also has 271 career kills. The Olpe prospect is a very physical athlete and plays power forward and center for the basketball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shea Wurtz</strong>, 5'9”, MH, Clifton-Clyde</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wurtz cracked the century mark with 109 total blocks as a junior. She also added 155 kills, 150 digs, and 299 serve receptions to her stat sheet proving that she is a solid all-around player. She hits the ball with authority and owns a solid passing technique.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342348' first='Aubrey' last='Olander']</strong>, 6'2”, OH/MH, Little River</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olander is a two-sport athlete who helped lead the Indians to a state championship in volleyball. She finished her junior season with 102 total blocks and 305 kills. She is also a scoring and rebounding machine on the basketball court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Addy Ogle</strong>, 5'7”, OH/L, Central Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ogle is another solid all-around player. Her junior stat sheet reads as so; 48 total blocks, 144 kills, 168 digs, and 245 serve receptions. She could fill a number of different roles as a utility player for an NAIA or JUCO program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordyn Fleckenstein</strong>, 5'10”, MH, Golden Plains</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fleckenstein finished the 2022 season with 44 total blocks. She has solid blocking technique and good upper body strength. She also racked up 154 kills during her junior campaign. She has seen varsity action since her freshmen year and her stats have seen a solid increase across the board each year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ava Swanson</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Central Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swanson finished her junior season with 30 total blocks. She also added 99 kills. She projects as a front-row-only player. Swanson can jump and has a big reach. She is also a power forward on the Central Christian basketball team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->