Kansas Deep Diggers: 2026 Ranked Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week's newly released Class of 2026 Kansas player rankings featured 22 defensive specialists and liberos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This report includes a quick look at seven of those top defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357593' first='Emma' last='Hager']</strong>, 5'6”, DS/L, Blue Valley Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hager is currently ranked No. 49 overall.  She finished her sophomore season with 196 digs and 343 serve receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='460352' first='Ella' last='Foster']</strong>, 5'4”, DS/L, Hayden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foster is the top defender for the Hayden Wildcats. She finished her sophomore campaign with 477 digs and 557 serve receptions in 90 sets played. She is currently ranked No. 50 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489339' first='Corinne' last='Schwindt'], </strong>5'8”, DS/L, Mill Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig currently has Schwindt ranked No. 53 overall. She recorded 297 digs and 354 serve receptions in 90 sets plays as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349234' first='Ava' last='Deutsch']</strong>, 5'7”, DS/L, Trinity Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deutsch is one of the top serving liberos in this group. She finished with 57 aces last season to which made her stat line of 244 digs, 569 serve receptions, and 70 kills all the more impressive. The Knights defender is currently ranked No. 54 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489763' first='Reese' last='Johnson']</strong>, 5'6”, DS/L, Wichita Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is currently ranked No. 55 overall by Prep Dig. She racked up 348 digs for the Grizzlies last season in 75 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223291' first='Alyssa' last='Young']</strong>, 5'8”, DS/L, Blue Valley West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Young has had two solid seasons of high school ball. She finished her sophomore season with 169 digs and had 120 during her freshman season. She is currently ranked No. 57 in the class of 2026 and has a total of 339 serve receptions in two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='523702' first='Baylen' last='Arnold']</strong>, 5'4”, DS/L, Concordia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arnold posted eye-popping totals of 470 digs and 740 serve receptions during her sophomore season. She played 88 sets for the Panthers last fall and is ranked No. 59 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->