Thankful For Volleyball and Class of 2024 Blockers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First off, I am not a holiday guy, so the fact that this scouting report is starting this way is awkward but has been inspired by lounging in a hotel room with my BFF, eating home-made Chex-Mix that my wife made special for me, and getting antsy for an NHL game tonight and the Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day game tomorrow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So I just wanted to take a hot minute to let some folks know what I am thankful for on Thanksgiving Eve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am thankful for the opportunity to make a living scouting volleyball in Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am thankful for the high school coaches who have shown support of my work this past season especially Kayla Weidert (Andover Central), Julie Slater (Lansing), Danielle Langley (Pleasant Ridge), Barry Lenth (Tonganoxie), and Brandy Paul (Beloit).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am thankful for coaches and directors in the club volleyball scene who have been supportive of Prep Dig Carrie Schmidt (Topeka Saints), Corey Quandt ([program_tooltip program_id='432164' first='Fight' last='Club']), and Kevin Bittner (KS Networks).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am thankful for the respect that players showed me when I offered them advice especially the following group [player_tooltip player_id='119730' first='Ashlynn' last='Jaccard'] (Lansing), [player_tooltip player_id='152836' first='Hope' last='Duncan'] (Smoky Valley), Tabor Scanlon (Lansing), [player_tooltip player_id='357548' first='Reese' last='Huscher'] (Hayden), and [player_tooltip player_id='446319' first='Izzy' last='Bryan'] (Pleasant Ridge).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am thankful that the number of subscribers to Prep Dig Kansas has increased in 2023, and I look forward to continuing to make it a site that volleyball supporters and fans want to visit in order to keep up with the sport in Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heading into the club season my goals are to see as many teams as I can and increase the number of followers on my social media account especially high school coaches and their program's social media accounts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, I am thankful for a talented group of blockers in the Class of 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a list of athletes who finished among the leaders in blocks in Kansas who I did not see play in person in this high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304025' first='Ella' last='Burnett'], </strong>6'2”, MH/OH, Erie, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw Burnett play during the last club season but missed seeing Erie during the high school season. She unofficially was tied for the lead Kansas in blocks with 164 in 92 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexandra Pasquarelli, </strong>5'11”, MH/OH, Erie, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burnett's Erie teammate also finished with 164 blocks in 92 sets played. She also collected 242 kills in her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342348' first='Aubrey' last='Olander'], </strong>6'2”, OH/MH, Little River, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olander is a two-sport prospect from Little River. I watched her play club basketball over the summer but did not make it to a Redskins' volleyball match this fall. Olander recorded 144 total blocks in 94 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119720' first='Taylor' last='Damme']</strong>, 5'11”, OH/MH, Perry-Lecompton, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Damme finished her senior season with 131 blocks in 85 sets played. She wrapped up her high school career with a total of 479 total blocks finishing just shy of the 500-career mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kelsey Selensky, </strong>5'7”, MB/OH, Quinter, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Selensky is a jumper with a solid blocking technique. She led Quinter in blocks with 111 in 78 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='515454' first='Kylee' last='Hahn'], </strong>5'10”, MH, Hoisington, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hahn finished with 90 total blocks for the Cardinals. That was an increase of 26 total blocks from her junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Coughlin, </strong>5'11”, MH, Olpe, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coughlin was a key cog in the Eagles' success. She racked up 85 total blocks in 92 sets played and also recorded 306 kills during her senior campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashley Stephenson</strong>, 5'8”, MH/OH, Little River, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephenson gave the Redskins a solid blocking combo. She registered 84 total blocks finishing second on the team behind Olander. She also collected 209 kills during the senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->