MIAA Programs Load Up On Kansas Talent

It is a pleasure to now be the scout in Kansas in charge of the Prep Dig player rankings for the first time since the Spring of 2021. Over the past week, I have been conducting a deep dive into Kansas talent to get our rankings updated.   During that dive, I found more than 50 committed players who were not marked as being committed in the Prep Dig rankings or were not ranked.   Expect the publication of the updated 2024 rankings to come in a couple of weeks. That list will feature 200 athletes and close to 100 college-committed athletes. Updated rankings for the Class of 2025 will follow after that.   To preview the new rankings here is a report on members from the class of 2024 who have signed with Division II programs in the MIAA.   This is not an all-inclusive list, as not all programs have announced official signees, and not all coaches and players have responded to inquiries. As Prep Dig moves forward in updating rankings coaches and players should feel free to reach out to me either by email or direct messages at <a href="mailto:deckscoutks@gmail.com">deckscoutks@gmail.com</a> or @KSScoutDeck on X to suggest players for the rankings or to update me on college commitments.   [player_tooltip player_id='119712' first='Shannon' last='Frakes'], 6'0”, OH, Spring Hill (Washburn)   Frakes has long been committed to Chris Herron's Ichabod program. She finished with 282 kills during her senior season and finished her high school career with 897 total kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='119817' first='Alexis' last='Bittner'], 5'7”, RS/DS, Cheney (Pittsburg State)   Bittner finished in the 1,000 career dig club. She finished with 598 digs during her senior season and had a career total of 1,343 digs for the Cardinals. He can also hit as she finished with 521 kills last fall. She is heading east to play for Jen Gomez's Pittsburg State Gorillas.   [player_tooltip player_id='119714' first='Mylie' last='Brown'], 5'9”, OH, Beloit (Fort Hays State)   I will go on record as saying the Fort Hays State Tigers have put together the top recruiting class of Kansas athletes on paper. Brown finished her high school career with 1,337 kills including 364 in her senior campaign with the Beloit Trojans.   [player_tooltip player_id='221542' first='Willow' last='Deckinger'], 5'3”, DS/L, Andover Central (Emporia State)   I saw Andover Central play multiple times in 2022. Deckinger is a spark plug player who brings a ton of energy to the court. She finished with 368 digs last season for the Jaguars and with a two-year total of 682 in her last two seasons of high school ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='152836' first='Hope' last='Duncan'], 5'8”, DS/OH, Smoky Valley (Fort Hays State)   Duncan committed to the Tigers last spring. She is a member of the 1,000-career kill club and also had more than 1,000 digs and 1,000 serve receptions. She can do it all on the court but is expected to play defensive specialist for Jessica Wood-Atkins at Fort Hays State.   [player_tooltip player_id='514549' first='Avery' last='Eshleman'], 6'1”, MB, Sacred Heart (Fort Hays State)   Eshleman is an under-the-radar signing who is coming off a shortened senior season. According to stats posted on Max Preps, she played in just 17 sets as a senior. However, she has a solid junior season with 338 kills and 52 total blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='119804' first='Brooklyn' last='Gormley'], 5'11”, MB, Seaman (Missouri Western)   Gormley is a proven winner and has a strong net-front presence. She finished her senior season with 251 kills and 84 total blocks for the Class 5A State Champion Vikings. Gormley is headed to St. Joseph, Missouri to play for the Missouri Western Griffons.   [player_tooltip player_id='172455' first='Emery' last='Keebaugh'], 5'10”, OH, Ottawa (Washburn)   This is a signing that I really like. Keebaugh has a ton of bounce in her game and finished with over 1,600 career kills. She could be a six-rotation player for Washburn. She also finished her high school career at Ottawa with more than 1,000 digs and serve receptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='216378' first='Taryn' last='Marcum'], 5'5”, DS/L, Paola (Washburn)   Marcum is a spunky libero who should add depth to Washburn's roster. She has nice footwork and a solid defensive platform.   [player_tooltip player_id='216384' first='Keilah' last='Rivers'], 5'10”, OH, Spring Hill (Washburn)   Rivers is joining her teammate Frakes at Washburn. She led the Broncos last season with 356 kills. Rivers also plays solid defense with 268 digs and 446 serve receptions during her senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='261106' first='Grace' last='Schmedding'], 6'0”, OH, Heritage Christian Academy (Fort Hays State)   Another freshman hitter who will be competing for playing time at Fort Hays State is Schmedding. She recorded 316 kills as a senior and finished with a career-high total of 765 kills, 646 serve receptions, and 457 digs. She is also accustomed to winning as the Chargers have won three straight state championships in Class 3A.   [player_tooltip player_id='495678' first='Aubrey' last='Scott'], 5'3”, DS/L, De Soto (Newman)   The Newman Jets are adding a talented libero from De Soto. Scott collected 234 digs and 318 serve receptions during her senior season. She makes consistent first passes and communicates well with her teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='342346' first='Brenna' last='Smith'], 5'10”, OH, St. Marys (Emporia State)   Smith is a three-sport star who ultimately picked volleyball as her college sport. She headed to Emporia State to play volleyball after a senior season with 409 kills and 250 digs.   [player_tooltip player_id='152835' first='Hayden' last='Snodgrass'], 5'9”, S/RS, Andover Central (Pittsburg State)   Snodgrass finished her career with over 1,000 assists. Not only is she a setter who can run an offense with extreme efficiency, but she can also hit.  She recorded 278 kills for Andover Central last fall and could end up being a six-rotation athlete at Pittsburg State.   [player_tooltip player_id='216375' first='Brynn' last='Stowell'], 6'3”, RS, Olathe West (Nebraska-Kearney)   Stowell is a blocking machine who racked up 88 total blocks last season for the Owls. She also collected 373 kills over her past two high school seasons. She should compete for a starting role with the Lopers right off the bat.

It is a pleasure to now be the scout in Kansas in charge of the Prep Dig player rankings for the first time since the Spring of 2021. Over the past week, I have been conducting a deep dive into Kansas talent to get our rankings updated.