Kansas Heavy Hitters: Class Of 2026 Kill Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It feels like the season has been going on for over a month, but we are only a couple of weeks into it. Multiple tournaments were held over the weekend and I have hit the “heart button” on multiple team photos on X of tournament-winning group photos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With no games played on Sunday, I thought I would brighten our reader's day with a look at five class of 2026 attackers who are killing it early this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats and records were found on Max Preps and the KSHSAA website. I can't stress enough how key it is for coaches to update information on both sites. I did skip over a few players with incomplete stats or records. I did hear from a few coaches that they have had technical issues early this season, but coaches can email me stats at <a href="mailto:deckscoutks@gmail.com">deckscoutks@gmail.com</a> or DM numbers on X @KSScoutDeck.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='206380' first='Kalyn' last='Sampson']</strong>, 5'11”, S, Sedgwick, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sampson does it all for the Cardinals. She is currently ranked No. 35 in the Prep Dig Kansas rankings and is listed as a setter. She leads Sedgwick in both assists and kills. She has 103 kills in 24 sets played for the Cardinals. She is going to blow past her sophomore season total of 160 kills. She also has 114 assists through 24 sets. The Cardinals are off to a 12-2 start to their season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222106' first='Carlyle' last='Johnson']</strong>, 6'1”, MB, Collegiate, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is an intimidating middle for the Spartans. She has started her season with 100 kills through 20 sets played. Based on her other stats so far it looks like she has been playing six rotations for Collegiate. She has 58 digs, 56 serve receptions, and nine blocks for Collegiate. She played club ball last season with Shockwave. Collegiate has a record of 2-4 according to the KHSAA website.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357544' first='Suttyn' last='Harris']</strong>, 5'11”, MB, Inman, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Kansas currently has Harris ranked No. 4 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She has tallied 96 kills for Inman in 19 sets played. I am just guessing, but it appears Inman stats in Max Preps are not quite updated. She has 35 digs and is ranked No. 131 overall nationally by Prep Dig. The talented attacker can elevate like Thor and has verbally committed early to the Utah Utes program. Inman has a record of 11-1 with one match not reported.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357543' first='Hayden' last='Grimes']</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Andale, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grimes and the Andale Indians are off to a quick start. Andale owns a record of 11-2 and Grimes leads the team with 96 kills through 21 sets.  She is filling up her stat sheet early with 91 serve receptions, 51 digs, and 14 blocks. Grimes is currently ranked No. 19 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isabel Bowman</strong>, 5'6”, MH, Bucklin, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowman is an unranked talent in the class of 2026. The Red Ace middle has recorded 96 kills in 29 sets. She has also posted solid defensive numbers to this point with 103 digs and 120 serve receptions. I will continue to follow Bowman's season and am interested in if she plays club ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->