’25 Prospect Blanchat Has Solid Hitting Day In Wichita

Prep Dig Scouts feature club athletes.

Jeremy Deckard December 17, 2023 @ 04:01 PM

On December 17, I scouted three interesting matches in the KNVBC Winter Warm-Up in Wichita.   All three matches took place in the 18U Combined seven-team tournament. Two of the teams were the Southwest Smoke 18-1 and Kansas Networks 18-1 squads.   The Kansas Networks squad features multiple seniors who have already committed to college programs including; [player_tooltip player_id='152836' first='Hope' last='Duncan'] (Fort Hay State), Alex Bittner (Pittsburg State), [player_tooltip player_id='261107' first='Gretta' last='Stover'] (Butler CC), and Priscilla Rachsen (Hutchinson CC).   Here is the first of two reports on prospects who impressed me during Saturday's action.   [player_tooltip player_id='219951' first='Katja' last='Blanchat'], 6'0”, OH, Smoky Valley, ‘25   Blanchat is one of three players on the Kansas Networks 18-1 who are playing up. Blanchat is a beast had six kills in the match I scouted. She is also a solid basketball prospect, but it appears that she feels like volleyball is where she wants to continue her athletic career. The Smoky Valley prospect had six kills and two blocks against the DC Extreme 18-1 team. During her junior season, she racked up 107 total blocks and 385 kills. She projects as a mid-major Division I player, but look for the in-state Division II programs to attempt to keep her in Kansas. Blanchat could improve her stock by hitting the weight room and working on upper and lower body strength.   [player_tooltip player_id='520294' first='Kenzy' last='McArtor'], 5'9”, MH, Clearwater, ‘25   McArtor is a springy prospect who can hit and block. She had a Division II coach watching her closely on Saturday. She has a big reach and benefits from playing on this talented club team. McArtor finished her junior season at Clearwater with 417 kills and 34 total blocks in 95 sets played.   [player_tooltip player_id='493402' first='Lily' last='Waters'], 5'7”, RS, Derby, ‘25   It would be easy for Waters to get overlooked on such a talented club roster, but the junior's athletic ability can not be ignored. The Derby product finished her junior season with 166 kills and 150 digs. She had three kills in the two-set win over the DC Extreme. She projects as an NAIA volleyball player.   [player_tooltip player_id='515457' first='Viv' last='Nguyen'], 5'8”, OH, Dodge City, ‘24   Nguyen is a physical athlete who is still uncommitted. She has a nice approach and hits the ball with authority. She finished with five kills in a two-set loss to the Manhattan Mamba 16-1 team. Coaches at NAIA and JUCO schools still looking for a hitter to add to their '24 recruiting class should check in on Nguyen.   [player_tooltip player_id='514474' first='Marley' last='Little'], 5'8”, OH/DS, Kiowa County, ‘24   Little is a member of the Class of 204 who has committed to play for Bethel. She is a talented athlete and has great court awareness. She filled up her stat line in the second match of the day for her team. She finished with six serve receptions, five kills, and five digs.   Emma Ball, 5'6”, OH/MH, Dodge City, ‘26   Ball was playing up in this tournament. She is a member of the Class of 2026, so she was literally playing up two levels. She was all over the court in the match I scouted. She finished with two serve receptions, two digs, and two kills. Ball has a nice vertical and helped keep the Southwest Smoke in the contest I watched.

On December 17, I scouted three interesting matches in the KNVBC Winter Warm-Up in Wichita.