The 2025 All-Deck Squad: Loaded With Monster Middles

I have been making All-Star teams since I was a little whippersnapper.   I played wiffle ball as a kid in the yard and would shoot hoops in front of the house pretending I was different players that I had put together on an all-start team.   It is in that same spirit that I decided to create an all-star team for each Kansas high school class 2024-2027.   I only made three rules for myself: 1) I limited the roster to 10 players (per class). 2) For a player to be eligible I had to have seen them play at some point during the season. 3) Only one player (per class) from a high school could make the team.   Even those basic parameters made it difficult to make choices between some gifted and talented players.   If you already read the Class 6A edition of the All-Deck team reports, then the biggest difference you will notice with this team is that I loaded it up with hitters. I only have one setter and no libero. It could cause some rotation issues, but each one of the hitters I selected can flat-out crush, and several of them are quality serve receivers.   Here is the Class 5A All-Deck squad.   [player_tooltip player_id='173374' first='Maegan' last='Mills'], 6'1, MH, Seaman   Mills is a player I saw multiple times and she is a flat-out game-changer. She moves really well for a middle and won't be a defensive liability in college. Her hitting is what makes her special. Mills helped lead the Vikings to a Class 5A State title and earned her way onto the KVA All-State 5A squad. It was a tough call between her and [player_tooltip player_id='173373' first='Reagan' last='McGivern'] for a spot on the squad. In fact, it was the toughest choice I had to make for this squad.   [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'], 6'0”, MH, Blue Valley North   This was a close second in as a tough decision. Parks can dominate the net and still dig. Parks is very physical but really glides for an athlete her size. Parks earned her second KVA All-State tournament team. She will look to pull off that feat a third time during her senior season. I really wanted to add [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure'] who I was really impressed with during the state tournament in Salina.   [player_tooltip player_id='221517' first='Jordyn' last='Washington'], 5'10”, MH, Andover Central   The Jaguars have an outstanding class. Washington is a middle hitter who will try to guide Andover Central to the state tournament again in 2024. She was not the primary hitting option for the Jags, but she well could be next year. She has a long reach and big vert. I would like to see her add some upper-body strength.   [player_tooltip player_id='219726' first='Ella' last='Bolan'], 5'11”, OH/MH,  Silver Lake   Bolan is one of the best hitters in Kansas from the Class of 2025. She can play six rotations and she helped the Eagles qualify for the final four in the Class 3A state tournament. I saw Silver Lake early in the season against Rossville and I understand she only got better as the season progressed. Bolan was named to the KVA All-State team from the tournament in Hutchinson.   [player_tooltip player_id='173375' first='Addison' last='Budke'], 6'0”, OH, Beloit   By the time next season is over Budke will be one of the more experienced hitters in the state. Budke was named to the KVA 3A All-State team despite her team not advancing to the final four. It was the second year in a row that Budke was named to that team. The Trojans will return a bulk of their key players and should be poised for another state title run in 2024. Budke is grossly under-ranked in the Class of 2025 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='219951' first='Katja' last='Blanchat'], 6'0”, MH, Smoky Valley   Smoky Valley was a deep team this year and a big part of the Viking offense was Blanchet in the middle. I watched Smoky Valley play in the Southeast of Saline tournament during the regular season. The SVHS junior will be leaned on more in 2024. She finished with 377 kills in 104 sets played and was named to the KVA All-State team in Class 3A.   [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'], 5'8”, S/OH, St. James Academy   Messer is an extremely athletic setter and is ranked No. 1 in the class of 2025 by Prep Dig. St. James was bounced from the Class 5A state tournament on the first day, and you bet it will be a highly motivated club next season. For the second season in a row, Messer was named to KVA all-tournament team in the 5A tourney. Messer has verbally committed to play for USC.   [player_tooltip player_id='153936' first='Jillian' last='Gregory'], 6'0”, OH, Maize South   Gregory is a hitting machine. She has an awesome swing and was just one cog on a well-oiled Maverick squad. She helped lead Maize South to a third-place finish in the Class 5A state tournament. Gregory has verbally committed to play for Oregon State. The state tournament was the first time I had seen Gregory play and she did not disappoint.   [player_tooltip player_id='219740' first='Ashley' last='Barcus'], 5'9”, OH, Olathe West   Barcus is a gritty hitter that I really enjoy watching. She is very quick and has a compact swing. Barcus is one of two players to make the All-Deck team whose high school squad did not qualify for their state tournaments. She plays really solid defense and can be an impact or role player for a college team.   [player_tooltip player_id='465558' first='Cali' last='Honeyman'], 5'11”, OH, Nemaha Central   College coaches looking for a diamond in a small school need to head to Seneca. I watched Nemaha Central play two matches during the regular season and I was really impressed with Honeyman's poise and power. Honeyman unofficially finished among the Top 10 kill leaders in the Class of 2025 with 396 kills.   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='220101' first='Kaitlyn' last='Gordon'] (L), Andover; [player_tooltip player_id='493422' first='Lauren' last='Heinz'], Andover; [player_tooltip player_id='493581' first='Bella' last='Holcomb'] (S/OH), Andover Central; Grett Stover (OH), Andover Central; Jayden Follis (S/DS), Beloit; [player_tooltip player_id='173384' first='Jenna' last='McClure'], (OH/DS), [player_tooltip player_id='173376' first='Lauren' last='Lopez'] (OH), Bishop Miege; Blue Valley North; [player_tooltip player_id='227605' first='Alex' last='Myers'] (RS), Blue Valey West; [player_tooltip player_id='219737' first='Bella' last='Reid'] (OH), Hayden, [player_tooltip player_id='173385' first='Mikenna' last='Matzeder'] (L), Lansing; [player_tooltip player_id='493515' first='Ashlyn' last='Blazer'] (MH), Mill Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='153938' first='Saida' last='Jacobs'] (MB), Mill Valley;  [player_tooltip player_id='185632' first='Alex' last='Klukvin'] (L), Olathe Northwest, [player_tooltip player_id='219715' first='Campbell' last='Chabot'] (S), Seaman; [player_tooltip player_id='173373' first='Reagan' last='McGivern'] (MH), Seaman; [player_tooltip player_id='349383' first='Maggie' last='Moulden'] (MB), Seaman; [player_tooltip player_id='219727' first='Alana' last='Brewster'] (OH), Silver Lake; [player_tooltip player_id='493461' first='Sydney' last='Buscher'] (S), St. James Academy;  [player_tooltip player_id='173382' first='Ashlee' last='Chavez'] (OH), St. James Academy, [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] (OH), St. Thomas Aquinas; [player_tooltip player_id='188115' first='Elle' last='Davis'] (MH), Trinity Academy.

I have been making All-Star teams since I was a little whippersnapper.