Deep Diggers: Best In The West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are far enough along in the season to really begin digesting the statistical leaders in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note not all teams make their stats public, also some teams who do make their stats public are sometimes 48 hours behind in reporting based on the app used.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here though is a look at five liberos or defensive specialists killing it in the Western part of Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abby Koontz</strong>, 5'5”, L, Newton, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Koontz is a player I have seen this season and she is highly skilled she has 250 digs for the Railers as of September 17. She is just a little over 300 digs away from the 2,000 career dig mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493503' first='Kailyn' last='Follis']</strong>, 5'4”, L, Beloit, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I scouted Follis during the Southeast of Saline Invitational this season. Through 45 sets played in 2023, she has accumulated 268 digs and 255 digs away from reaching the 1,000-career dig mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KcAnna Keiswetter</strong>, 5'2”, L, Norton Co., ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have not had the pleasure of seeing Norton Co.'s libero play in person, but if I get the chance one of the first things I would ask is how she pronounces her name. The junior setter has 177 digs in 35 sets played. She is way ahead of the pace she had as a sophomore when she finished with 260 digs in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlie Martin</strong>, 5'8”, OH/DS, Meade, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin is a solid six-rotation defensive player for Meade. She has 170 digs in 39 sets played to go along with 139 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119713' first='Mayce' last='Russell'], </strong>5'6”, OH/DS, Macksville, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Russell is another hitter out west to can play some defense for her squad. She has 148 digs and 110 kills in 37 sets played for the Macksville Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->