Class of 2027: Kansas Kill Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have two goals before the club season starts in December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I want to provide some exposure for athletes in Kansas whom I did not get to see play in person during the high school season. I also want to shine some extra light on members of the Class of 2024 who are not yet committed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of these reports will focus on leaders in kills among members of the class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches and players feel free to reach out to me on social media if you have names and player stats that fit into these two categories. It is also important to realize that I have to be able to find stats on players. Max Preps and Hudl are the two most used research sites for volleyball research. If I can't find stats or an athlete's height, those players won't be featured.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaches and players follow my X account @KSScoutDeck, I have now reached over 1,000 followers in less than one year at this account, but there are way more teams and players out there. I follow some club teams on social media, but if you have a club account please follow me and I encourage coaches to open accounts on social media if you don't have one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig subscriptions in Kansas have rapidly grown in the past six months and that could not be achieved without the support of players and coaches across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483890' first='Lily' last='Edwards'], </strong>5'9”, OH, Clay Center, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I did not get a chance to watch the Tigers play in 2023. She led Clay Center in kills with 382. Edwards has a big reach and a nice vertical. She also plays basketball and should be considered an elite prospect in both sports.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maggie Brisk, </strong>5'10”, OH, Maranatha Christian Academy, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brisk has the tools to be a future college prospect. She moves well and has a compact swing. She finished the 2023 season with 282 kills in 103 sets played. Brisk does have a Hudl account.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483902' first='Weslynn' last='Russell'], </strong>5'9”, MH/OH, Galena, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My first coaching job was as an assistant volleyball coach at Galena in 1997, so I will always have a soft spot for that program. Russell had an excellent freshman season for the Bulldogs collecting 270 kills in 76 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483905' first='Raimee' last='Lipker']</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Clay Center, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers have two solid freshman attackers, which makes this a program to watch moving forward. Lipker had 248 kills in 89 sets played for Clay Center.&nbsp; She could end up being a six-rotation played to build around as she also finished with 277 digs and 343 serve receptions,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483912' first='Gretchen' last='Bott'], </strong>5'7”, OH, Linn, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bott is a spunky player for the Bulldogs. She can set and hit. She had 224 kills as a freshman and added 284 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483908' first='Bailey' last='Busch'], </strong>5'7”, OH, Manhattan, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Busch matched Bott's total of 223 kills as a freshman. Bott and Busch also happen to be teammates on the Manhattan Mayhem club team. She has nice ups and plays with lots of poise or a young player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483915' first='Bella' last='Cook'], </strong>6'0”, MH, Campus, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haysville is the home of a young and tall middle hitter. Cooks racked up 208 kills in 80 sets played for the Colts.  She already has the ability to take over matches and that should only continue as she gains more experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446314' first='Bo' last='Bronson']</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Shawnee Mission Northwest, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars have a young talent who also plays club with the [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power']. She finished her freshman season with 199 kills and 60 total blocks. She has nice reach and can really jump.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483918' first='Jill' last='Schmeeckle']</strong>, 5'8”, MH/S, Ingalls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schmeeckle finished with 179 kills in 77 sets played for the Ingalls Bulldogs. She also added 197 digs and 36 total blocks to her stat line. Schmeeckle has a nice highlight package on Hudl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->