The Week Ahead: Staying Close To Home The Last Week In September

Let me begin, by stating that I appreciate all of the support for Prep Dig Kansas and the love shown on social media. Please keep it up.   I have been getting tagged on many film posts from athletes and getting invites to come to games. Please understand I can't be everywhere at once, but please keep sending me invites. I have already visited eleven towns and traveled over 1,500 miles to scout volleyball matches and football games this season. Please don't take it personally if I struggle to find a date to visit your community.   Our graphics design team has once outdone itself and created a graphic for a new series of reports. I have been wanting to break it out for a while now.   Here is the first edition of “The Week Ahead.” My schedule is still liquid and flexible in what games I plan to attend, but I like to let school administrators and coaches know when I plan on making it to an event at least a week out. I also want to be more transparent with our Prep Dig subscribers where I plan on being.   I plan on staying in the Topeka area this week as I was on the road for two nights last week. Here are a few prospects I hope to see and some highlights from last week. Athletes, please do not be shy about coming up to me at an event and saying hi. I might keep my eyes on the court, but my ears will listen to you.   [player_tooltip player_id='446317' first='Clara' last='Morgan'], 5'6”, S, Shawnee Heights, ‘27   I will be in Shawnee Heights for matches on September 24. The Thunderbirds will be hosting Basehor-Linwood and Leavenworth in a United Kansas League Triangle. Morgan is a setter I have seen plenty of, but I constantly notice some type of improvement in her game. She is currently ranked No. 26 overall in the class of 2027. The Thunderbirds own a record of 8-6 through their first 14 matches. I look forward to seeing if Morgan and [player_tooltip player_id='493380' first='Kaydence' last='Torrez'] are in synch. Torrez is currently ranked No. 8 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025 and has verbally committed to play for Wichita State after graduation.   [player_tooltip player_id='173373' first='Reagan' last='McGivern'], 6'3”, MB, Hayden, ‘25   September 26, is senior night at Hayden High School. So I have to watch Wildcat senior McGivern closely.  McGivern is second on the team in kills with 114 in 29 sets. She is ranked No. 5 overall in the class of 2025 and has committed to play for Villanova University. She will be recognized along with the only other Hayden senior [player_tooltip player_id='219737' first='Bella' last='Reid'].  Reid is ranked No. 83 overall and still uncommitted. Her stat line for the season to date includes 80 serve receptions, 71 digs, and 45 kills. Hayden is collecting wins like I collect gray hairs. The Wildcats have 14 notches carved into their belt. The only loss of the season came against Class 6A power Washburn Rural. Hayden will be hosting Emporia and Manhattan in Topeka.   [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands'], 5'7”, OH/DS, Lansing, ‘26   On Saturday, September 28 I will scout a couple of early matches of tournament play at Seaman. Lansing's Sands is a player I missed watching at the Lansing Tournament early this month, so I plan to make sure that I scout the Lions' first match against Seaman. Sands is ranked No. 9 overall in the class of 2026 and one of the top uncommitted players in her class. She is focusing on her defense game this season, but still leads the Lions in kills with 129 in 34 sets. Sands has also tallied 97 digs and 151 serve reception for Lansing. Other programs participating in the Seaman event are Spring Hill, Bishop Miege, Maize South, Hayden, and Bishop Carroll. Play begins at 8:30 at Seaman High School with two other early matches pitting Miege against Hayden, and the Broncos against the Mavericks. I plan on scouring two or three early matches as I will be attending a wedding later that afternoon.   The Week Behind   Here are some quick hits from last week's action.   Beloit's [player_tooltip player_id='173375' first='Addison' last='Budke'] reached the 2,000 career kill threshold in the Trojan's Championship run in the Republic County Tournament. Budke is ranked No. 10 overall in the class of 2025 and has verbally committed to play for Nebraska-Kearney. Budke has collected 190 kills in 32 sets completed for the Trojans.   Blue Valley West's [player_tooltip player_id='173372' first='Lily' last='Wedman'] reached the 3,000-assist threshold. She is ranked No. 12 in the Kansas Class of 2025 and has verbally committed to play for Tulane.   I recently learned that Ingall's [player_tooltip player_id='523687' first='Olivia' last='Stein'] has verbally committed to Wichita State University. Stein is ranked No. 13 overall in the class of 2026. She currently unofficially leads the state of Kansas with 250 kills in 31 sets.   Congrats to Kapaun Mt. Carmel for winning the tournament in Maize this past weekend. I did not scout the Crusaders as I watched two other matches. Kapaun finished second in Pool A play with a three-set loss to Valley Center. The Crusaders defeated Eisenhower in the semifinals and knocked off Wichita Northwest in the final to avenge an earlier loss in the season to the Grizzlies.   I am currently working on adding players to the Kansas Class of 2028 rankings. Hayden's [player_tooltip player_id='503124' first='Blakely' last='Walter'] and Lansing's [player_tooltip player_id='518358' first='Brooklyn' last='Andrews'] are battling atop the assist leaderboard for assists. Walter has tallied 304 assists in 29 sets to start her high school career. Andrews has recorded 284 assists in 31 sets for the Lions.

Let me begin, by stating that I appreciate all of the support for Prep Dig Kansas and the love shown on social media. Please keep it up.