State Champion Athletes Looking To Repeat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I highlighted five prospects who highlighted my 2024 scouting year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That report inspired today's report which focuses on one athlete on each of the Kansas State Champion teams, expected to be leaned on to help their teams' defend their titles in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs']</strong>, 6'0”, OH, Mill Valley, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riggs will be a key factor in the Jaguars looking to repeat as Class 6A Champions. She is ranked No. 3 overall by Prep Dig in the Kansas Class of 2027 rankings. Riggs finished her sophomore season with 403 kills in 98 sets. She already has recorded 702 kills and will look to reach the 1,000-kill threshold as a junior. She is a six-rotation athlete and I expect big things from her moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='222090' first='Alayna' last='Vaeth'],</strong> 5'9”, S, St. Thomas Aquinas, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I could have picked a handful of athletes on the Class 5A Champions' roster. I picked the junior setter this time around because she is their floor general. She is ranked No. 25 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 rankings. She finished her junior season with 1,026 assists in 95 sets for the Saints. She can also play solid defense with 169 digs last fall and owns 416 career digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='733192' first='Liv' last='Stevens']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Bishop Miege, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stags will lose six key athletes to graduation, making a big season from Stevens all the more important. Stevens recorded 275 kills in 108 sets as a sophomore. She also finished with an impressive 55 blocks for Bishop Miege. Stevens is set to be added to the 2027 rankings during the next round of updates. The Class 4A Champions will be challenged to repeat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483955' first='Bailey' last='Bernal']</strong>, 5'9”, MB, Halstead, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bernal led the Dragons in kills with 479 in 94 sets for the Class 3A Champions. She is a six-rotation prospect who filled up her sophomore season stat line. She finished with 271 digs, 32 blocks, and 40 aces. Bernal is ranked No. 17 overall in the Prep Dig Kansas Class of 2027 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483901' first='Maggie' last='Brisk']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Maranatha Christian, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brisk is currently ranked No. 60 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She led the Eagles in kills as a sophomore with 388 kills in 117 sets played. She is a dangerous server who collected 91 aces last fall. She also registered 274 digs and 30 blocks for the Class 2A Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='516229' first='Havana' last='Olander']</strong>, 5'7”, RS, Little River, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class IA-DI State Champions are loaded for bear for years to come. Olander is one of several returning athletes for the Redskins next fall. She finished her junior season with 393 kills in 103 sets for Little River. She is a six-rotation athlete who also recorded 309 digs, 52 blocks, and 81 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480402' first='Drew' last='Bruna']</strong>, 5'11”, MB, Hanover, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanover's top hitter will be returning in 2025. Bruna finished with 347 kills in 88 sets for the Class 1A-DII Champion Wildcats. &nbsp;Bruna has recorded back-to-back seasons of 300-plus kills and with 339 more as a senior will enable her to reach 1,000 kills for her career. She also registered 78 kills as a junior. Bruna is ranked No. 61 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->