Athletes With State Tourney Experience: Class 5A Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have been looking back on the 2024 season this week while previewing what could happen in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the fourth report featuring athletes who played in state tournaments last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This report features six athletes who competed in the Class 5A State Tournament all of who hope to lift a state championship trophy above their heads in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Mya' last='Lee']</strong>, 6'1”, OH, St. James Academy, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is ranked No. 16 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She finished her freshman season with 226 kills and 100 kills. St. James finished third in the Class 5A State Tournament. They will lose their top attacker to graduation, so Lee should get even more attack opportunities this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489751' first='Mason' last='Palace'],</strong> 6'1”, MB, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders finished fourth in the 5A tournament. Their top attacker, Palace, will be returning for her senior season. She recorded a team-high 358 kills in 97 sets for Kapaun. She as also among the top blockers in the state racking up 105 blocks during her junior campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480405' first='Brooke' last='Parham']</strong>, 5'9”, MH, Andover, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parham is a big-tine prospect ranked No. 7 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. Andover qualified for the 5A tournament but exited after the first day with a 1-2 record. Parham finished second on the team in kills with 273 in 86 sets. She also collected 49 blocks and 69 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623131' first='Mikala' last='Minton']</strong>, 5'7”, OH, Great Bend, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers will be a squad hungry to return to the state tournament. Minton finished with 153 kills and 296 digs during her sophomore season. She plays with one of the top setters in Kansas and will finish with thousands of kills before her playing days are done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='472938' first='Hailie' last='Vaughn']</strong>, 6'0”, OH/DS, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vaughn is verbally committed to play for Princeton, but she and the Timberwolves will be looking to win a state title before heading off to college. Vaughn recorded 270 kills in 88 sets. She is one of three elite junior attackers returning to make another run at a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222094' first='Kylie' last='Groves']</strong>, 5'4”, DS/L, De Soto, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Groves is the floor general for De Soto. She finished her junior season with 415 assists in 83 sets. She will have a talented group of seniors returning including five of their six top attackers from a state tournament squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->