State Weekend Recap: Top Performers In Kansas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another outstanding prep volleyball season is in the books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I spent time in Salina and Hutchinson this week and watched portions of four state tournaments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the past, I have compiled All-Deck teams for the State Tournaments. Despite watching parts of 16 matches this year I don't feel like I watched enough games to create teams that completely represent each tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will save my All-Deck logos to make teams from across the state for all four graduating classes currently playing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I would like to spotlight six prospects and teams who impressed me over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2027 rankings will be updated and released this Tuesday, and I will feature All-Deck teams this week and maybe next. I will also feature some of the stat leaders from Kansas before turning my attention to the club season and Prep Girls' Basketball season in December.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In case you missed it here is a list of this year's state champions. Class 6A: Mill Valley, Class 5A: St. Thomas Aquinas, 4A: Bishop Miege, 3A: Halstead, 2A: Maranatha Academy, 1A DI: Little River, and IA DII: Hanover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219715"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727d8b56b18d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seaman fell short of winning back-to-back titles in Class 5A finishing second in the tournament. Chabot runs that offense like an experienced military officer and does a great job of distributing the ball to multiple Viking attackers. Playing on a team with highly-ranked hitters the past two seasons, she often sometimes got overlooked. Chanot has verbally committed to play for Johnson County Community College. Since I don't plan on watching much 18U Club Ball this season, I might have seen Chabot play for the last time this weekend. It was a treat watching her evolve as an athlete. Seaman finished second in the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["503124"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727d9e39b045"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hayden is a team with more freshmen than I have fingers! Walter and the Wildcats almost chased down a state title surviving a difficult Pool on Friday and then dropping a three-set semifinal to Rock Creek in the 3A Tournament. Walter played an excellent game in the semifinals, but not her best of the season. It was refreshing to see her get frustrated, but not hang her head and climb into a rabbit hole. That is tough for a youngster. She is super athletic and is a three-sport prospect. I got a feeling that Walter will make it to more state tournaments before her high school career is complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["493491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727dc2d143a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">So I won't lie, North was a team that tugged at me some. I first saw Buss and RedHawks play over the summer at the Butler Community College Tournament. A team of scrappy public school kids won my heart and admiration. North dropped their first two matches of the day at the Class 6A Tournament but beat Manhattan to force a three-way tie-breaker to establish who would play on Saturday. Buss is a grinder who if she played at a private school would have way more college offers. With private schools having so much success this postseason it was refreshing to see Buss and her teammates have success on the big stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355651"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727de56f304c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Olathe West Owls are a disciplined and athletic team. Leathers is another one of many setters who can get overlooked on a team loaded with hitting options. Setters never get enough attention during state tournaments. There is just too much action with multiple courts having games and no official stat teams working for KSHSAA during the tournament. Leathers is a prospect I have seen play multiple times during the club and prep seasons. She is one of those old-school, unselfish players, looking to do what is best for her team while not searching for headlines or credit. The Owls finished third in the Class 6A Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["446331"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727e04433c60"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Henry is a prospect I have loved seeing evolve. I have seen her in club ball, summer ball, during the prep season, and at Prep Dig Showcases. She won't turn coaches' heads right away, because she is not a flashy player. She is a head-down, tough-as-nails, lunchbox-style athlete. The bottom line is she is a winner. She does not need to be the number one option on the offense or the need to wear the libero jersey. She can play any position on the court and will fill in at any spot when someone in the rotation is missing. The Thunder sophomore had a steady tournament for runner-up Nemaha Central in the Class 3A Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["483894"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6727e25e02c37"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simic posted eye-popping numbers in the tournament. I still feel that teams and prospects outside of the Kansas City Metro don't get quite the attention they deserve. Simic and the Hoisington Cardinals are one example. Even I slighted Hoisington heading into the tournament as they played on paper what was a soft schedule. The Cardinals were a gritty team and Simic finished with 30 kills in the match I scouted. They played Nemaha Central in the best match of the entire weekend that I watched, with the Rock Creek and Hayden match being a close second. I do feel like every time I see Simic play she carries herself like the weight of the world is on her shoulders. I would like to see her ball out once with pure joy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->