Tournament Preview: Prospect Search In Council Grove

On October 12, I will be heading southwest to Council Grove to catch my last regular season matches.   Seven teams will meet in the Flint Hills for what should be some exciting volleyball matches on what should be a beautiful fall day. I almost hit a deer on the way to Concordia last weekend, so I am also hoping for deer-free roads on Saturday!   I have only seen two teams in the field compete, and while I know I won't see each team play, I am looking forward to hunting down new prospects to add to the Prep Dig rankings.   Here is a preview of a few players I hope to see this weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='557056' first='Renatta' last='Heintz'], 5'7”, MB, Abilene, '26   I watched Abilene compete in team summer league action, but have not seen them play during the regular season. Heintz is leading Abilene with 142 kills through 49 sets. She is a six-rotation prospect who has also recorded 148 digs. Abilene has a record of 6-17 and will open Blue Pool play with a match against Hesston. Heintz is currenlty ranked No. 51 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='489672' first='Callie' last='Yoder'], 5'3”, DS/L, Hesston, ‘26   As much as I love watching a dangerous attacker, I still enjoy keeping libero stats. Yoder is currently ranked No. 167 in the class of 2026. She earned that position with impressive stats as I have yet to see her play in person. She has collected 185 digs and 322 serve receptions for the No. 2 seed in the Blue Pool. The Swathers currently own a record of 18-6.   [player_tooltip player_id='483890' first='Lily' last='Edwards'], 5'10”, OH, Clay Center, ‘27   I saw Clay Center play last week in a tournament at Concordia, a tournament in which they won. It's doubtful I see them play at this event, but they have a ton of young talent worth watching, and you never know how a day's schedule will turn out. Edwards ranked No. 5 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027, was impressive last weekend. She is second on the team with 193 kills in 61 sets. Clay Center (24-3) is the No. 1 Seed in the Blue Pool and opens play against Jefferson West.   [player_tooltip player_id='503697' first='Emmie' last='Dean'], 5'6”, OH/DS, Jefferson West, ‘28   The other team I have seen play already this season is the Jeff West Tigers. They are a dynamic and athletic team that is young. Dean is currently ranked No. 23 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She is all over the Tigers leaderboard on Max Preps. Through 27 matches she has registered 112 kills, 217 digs, and 367 serve receptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='219719' first='Kaylee' last='Hampton'], 5'9”, S/RS, Clearwater, ‘25   It's been way too long since I have seen the Clearwater Indians compete. I believe the last time I scouted a Clearwater event was girls' basketball game in 2023. Hampton is currently ranked No. 101 overall in the class of 2025. She has competed at Prep Dig live events, but I am looking forward to seeing her play with her high school teammates for the first time. Her senior season stat line to date includes 396 assists, 74 digs, and 52 kills. Clearwater (19-3) is the No. 1 Seed in the Gold Pool and will begin the tournament against Wamego.   [player_tooltip player_id='554328' first='Ryann' last='Langvardt'], 6'0”, MB, Wamego, ‘26   A second team that I saw compete this summer in Abilene is Wamego. The Indians have a middle with a high ceiling. Langvardt is currently ranked No. 30 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She leads the Indians in kills with a total of 155 in 40 sets. She can also hit from the outside. Based on her stat line, 160 serve receptions, 122 digs, and 28 blocks, she has either been playing a six full rotations or just playing a lot. She has a big reach and I hope I get to see her play against Clearwater. Although that game is the first to be played in the second time slot, so it depends on how long the first match I scout goes. Wamego currently has a record of 10-18.   [player_tooltip player_id='516246' first='Quincy' last='Cook'], 5'11”, MB, Santa Fe Trail, ‘27   So it's hard for me not to notice athletes when I see them, but I do have a hard time remembering names. I ran into Cook at a Topeka pizza joint recently. I noticed the "TALL” prospect come into the restaurant, but did not recognize her face or name until she told me what it was! I saw Cook play this summer and she is a talented prospect in volleyball and basketball. She is currently is ranked No. 81 overall by Prep Dig but looks to get a boost in November. She leads the Chargers in kills with 227 in 59 sets. Santa Fe Trail (22-4) is the No. 2 seed in the Gold Bracket and opens play against host Council Grove. Oh, and yes when I spoke at the Kansas Scholastic Press Association Regional Conference at Fort Hays State earlier this week, I was correctly guessing student-athletes' heights and positions when they attended my breakout sessions. Maybe just a little creepy, but the football, basketball, and volleyball players in Western Kansas were impressed.   [player_tooltip player_id='731807' first='Lilliana' last='Blackledge'], 6'0”, MH'OH, Council Grove, ‘26   Council Grove's football team has been making headlines this fall, but their volleyball squad has a 6-footer I will want to try to see play. Blackledge leads the Braves in kills with 96 in 27 sets. She also has 29 blocks, just a click above an average of one per set. The Braves have a record of 7-15 and are the fourth-seeded team in the Gold Pool.

On October 12, I will be heading southwest to Council Grove to catch my last regular season matches.