Great Expectations: Four Athletes Heading Into Senior Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another school year is in the books, and it is time to celebrate summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in the day, one of the highlights of my summer was reading a bunch of books so that I could earn a free pizza from Pizza Hut through their "Book It" reading program. We are all motivated by different things, and personal pan pizzas motivated me.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't expect any current high school student athlete to run out and grab a copy of Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," and I don't have any free pizza to hand out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can, however, provide some exposure on athletes who will use their summer to hone their volleyball skills in the gym. I can also hold onto a little faith that someone will pick up a book to read this summer. I just started reading Owen Wister's Western classic "The Virginian," and a guy can dream.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a report on four ranked athletes with their high expectations heading into their senior campaigns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["489662"],"_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-6839a30d365a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rockley will be looking for a big senior season for the Rockets. The Rose Hill prospect will enter her senior season after recording 349 kills during her junior campaign. She has posted back-to-back 40-plus block seasons after finishing with 55 last fall. Rockley is currently ranked No. 48 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355659"],"_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-6839a30d3664b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Echols is a physical net front athlete ranked No. 68 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She finished her junior season with 82 kills and 38 blocks in 75 sets played for the Broncos. Spring Hill expects to have a successful 2025 season, and a standout senior season from Echols would go a long way toward achieving a winning season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["355655"],"_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-6839a30d366ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitfield is a high-energy athlete with the versatility to play multiple positions. He she heads into her senior season looking for wins and big numbers. She filled up her junior season stat line with 154 kills, 107 digs, and 23 blocks. She is currently ranked No. 82 overall and would be a great addition to a NAIA or JUCO program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["720620"],"_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-6839a30d36748"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dye has strung together back-to-back seasons with 200-plus kills. She can compete with the best athletes in her class. During her junior season, she recorded 211 kills in 93 sets played. She is also coming off the best blocking season in her career, collecting 22 blocks as a junior. Dye is currently ranked No. 90 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->