Kansas Sub-State Preview: Class 4A

Jeremy Deckard October 16, 2023 @ 02:39 PM

Now that sub-state brackets have been set I will spend the next couple of days diving into the Class 6A-4A sub-state pairings.   Here is a list of eight players from Class 4A who hope to help their teams advance to the state tournament in Hutchinson on October 27-28.   [player_tooltip player_id='219714' first='Ayla' last='Klingenberg'], 6'0”, MH, Rock Creek, ‘25   Rock Creek is the No. 1 seed in the eastern side of the state. Klingenberg a tall and rangy middle leads the Mustangs in kills with 238. She is an enforcer at the net as she also has racked up 60 total blocks. Rock Creek (27-6) will face the winner of Wamego (9-25) and Field Kindley (8-28) to open sub-state.   Hannah Gantz, 5'4”, S/DS, El Dorado, ‘25   Gantz is a solid defensive player for El Dorado. She leads El Dorado in digs with 130 and with 125 assists. The Wildcats will look to knock off Atchison in the play-in game with the winner earning a chance to upset No. 2-seeded Independence (27-7).   [player_tooltip player_id='495650' first='Kasia' last='Baldock'], 5'8”, Tonganoxie, ‘24   Baldock will need a big match for the Chieftains to knock off Bishop Miege. Baldolck is a sneaky good setter who can also hit and play defense. She is a six-rotation player who has 608 assists, 101 kills, and 232 digs for Tonganoxie. The Chieftains (24-12) are the No. 6 seed in the East. They open against Bishop Miege (17-17), a program way better than its record would indicate. The winner will face No. 3 seed Chanute or No. 14 Labette County.   [player_tooltip player_id='495639' first='Rayah' last='Foltz'], 5'6”, OH/DS, Eudora, ‘24   Folz is an all-around player for the Cardinals. She leads Eudora in kills with 289. She also has 331 serve receptions and 269 digs. Eudora is the No. 3 seed in the east with a record 21-8. The Cardinals will play Fort Scott (13-21) in the first round and face the winner of Baldwin (25-10) and Ottawa (14-19).   [player_tooltip player_id='219719' first='Kaylee' last='Hampton'], 5'9”, S, Clearwater ‘25 (Pictured Above)   Clearwater is the No. 1 seed in the western sub-state. Hampton runs the offense for the Indians. She has 458 total assists in 51 sets played. Clearwater (31-3) will face the winner of the play-in match between Augusta and Hugoton. The No. 8 seed in the Clearwater sub-state is Abilene led by Kansas Wesleyan committed hitter [player_tooltip player_id='216391' first='Callie' last='Powell'].   [player_tooltip player_id='342342' first='Reagan' last='Smith'], 5'2”, S, Circle, ‘24   The Circle Thunderbirds are the No. 2 seed out west and will host a sub-state tournament. Circle's senior setter is quite talented. She is among the Class 4A leaders in assists with 770. She has a career total in assists of 2,706. With a deep-state run, she might just make it to 3,000. Circle (31-3) will face the winner of Chapman and Winfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='495580' first='Grace' last='Rowland'], 5'8”, OH, Andale, ‘24   Andale, the No. 3 seed out west, has multiple star hitters. Rowland leads the team with 296 kills, but not far behind her is [player_tooltip player_id='357543' first='Hayden' last='Grimes'] with 229 kills. Rowland can play six rotations and has also collected 406 serve receptions, and 149 digs in 80 sets played for the Indians. Andale (25-8) will face Buhler (10-22) in the first round. Looming in that sub-state is No. 6 seeded Clay Center with a 23-11 record.   Kandance Huemann, 5'5”, S, Rose Hill, ‘25   One of the teams looking to create a couple of upsets is No. 12-seeded Rose Hill. The Rockets junior setter leads the team in assists with 531. Huemann is already a member of the 1,000-assist club for her young career. The Rockets (15-15) will look to upset No. 5 McPherson (25-9) and then await the winner of the No. 4 seeded Ulysses (27-9) and No. 13 Wellington.

Now that sub-state brackets have been set I will spend the next couple of days diving into the Class 6A-4A sub-state pairings.