Beasts In The East: 2026 Rankings Update

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Kansas published the new Class of 2026 rankings yesterday morning and this is the fourth scouting report featuring players from that ranked group of 125 athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This report includes five players from Eastern Kansas schools, who are ranked among the top 30 players in their class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='154038' first='Ella' last='Florez']</strong>, 5'9”, S, Mill Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mill Valley's Florez is the top-ranked setter in her class and is ranked No. 13 overall. She has a soft touch and sets with accuracy. In two high school seasons, she has already surpassed the 1,000-assist threshold. In 97 sets played as a sophomore, she recorded 943 assists. She is a six-rotation player who owns back-to-back seasons of 200-plus digs and a two-season total of 125 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489645' first='Sofia' last='Ricci']</strong>, 6'1”, MB, Blue Valley Southwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ricci is currently ranked No. 18 overall. She is a physical middle blocker who collected 69 total blocks in 78 sets played last season for the Timberwolves. She also added 128 kills to her stat line and projects as a front-row-only player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222086' first='Morgan' last='Sears'], </strong>5'11”, MB, Blue Valley Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sears is high on my list of players to try to catch this summer or next fall. She has posted impressive kill totals in her first two high school seasons. She finished with 225 in 91 sets as a freshman and collected 283 kills during her sophomore campaign. Sears has a total of 79 blocks in two high school seasons and holds her own on the back row with 398 serve receptions and 142 digs last fall. The Blue Valley Northwest prospect is ranked No. 19 overall in the latest rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth']</strong>, 5'9”, S, St. Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vaeth is the third-ranked setter in her class and is ranked No. 26 overall. She projects as a four-year starter for the Saints and has recorded a total of 618 assists in two seasons. Her season high is 334 assists during her freshman season. She has an accurate serve and has recorded 93 aces in two high school seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355651' first='Neely' last='Leathers']</strong>, 5'10”, S, Olathe West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Olathe West has two hitters ranked in the top ten in this class and their setter is Leathers. She has a talented group of attackers to keep fed. She racked up 436 total assists last season in 82 sets played. Leathers has a sneaky tip-game and collected 72 kills for the Owls during her sophomore campaign. Leathers is currently ranked No. 28 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->