Joining the Prep Dig Kansas Beat: An Introduction

We're branching out.

I've been covering my Nebraska homeland for Prep Network over the past five years. The Midwest volleyball scene has brought me to some incredible venues to see countless can't-miss players and teams. Even as I've honed in on Nebraska talent, neighboring states have always loomed in the background.

So, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to expand my geographical reach. That brings me to the Prep Dig Kansas site, where I'm excited to announce that I'll be contributing to written and multimedia coverage.

This move deserves a bit of an "introductory" feature. My role in Nebraska won't change, but here's what to expect in the Sunflower State.

Getting Acquainted

Of course, this transition won't happen overnight. We have some homework to do.

Prep Network seeks experts in their particular state or region, and it's easy to see why. Every state's prep volleyball scene has a unique set of intricacies, major clubs, regional designations, and more. I'll be adding to my repertoire by expanding from Nebraska to Kansas, but it'll take some behind-the-scenes preparation to make it happen.

In the early stages of this new "alliance," expect a few articles to trickle in every couple of weeks. The upcoming high school season serves as a great launching point for learning the ropes and scouting some of Kansas's best junior athletes. Then, as we get more comfortable, we'll ramp up the coverage.

Our next section delves into what that coverage might look like.

Events and Showcases

Though I've primarily been on the Nebraska beat during my tenure at Prep Dig, I've had some forays into the Kansas coverage market.

My biggest bridge into the Kansas scene has been the series of showcases in the Kansas City area. I've been tabbed to join our Kansas City showcases on several occasions, so I've had a sort of semi-annual look at some of the area's stars. These events have also helped expand our network of coaches in the area, providing the foundation for my crossover into Kansas.

The other important pathway to Kansas has been through qualifiers and other major events. It should be no surprise that the Show Me Qualifier is as important to Nebraska teams as it is to the nearby Kansas ones. I've already made Show Me an annual pilgrimage, so why not add some Kansas coverage while I'm there? Live videos and coverage have been an important part of my qualifier trips, and I'm ready to add some Kansas clubs to that equation.

This will also be extra motivation to add the Mideast Qualifier to my schedule. Several Kansas clubs cross the Show Me State to compete in St. Louis, so we'll have another strong pull factor for that weekend.

Of course, we also have a full slate of high school events we could cover, too. The most obvious example would be Kansas's state championships, which would allow us to cover some of the state's top talent in one venue. This is a strategy that has paid off for several years on the Nebraska side, and I'm excited to apply it to a new market.

Next Steps

Once we get the ball rolling, what will the endgame look like?

Rankings are always a major consideration for the site. I've grown accustomed to the rankings process in Nebraska and can work up toward having some input in Kansas. However, our first priority is to build up the day-to-day coverage to offer a consistent presence on the Prep Dig Kansas site.

We hope to have you along for that journey. I'll see you in the gym, at showcases, or anywhere else that Prep Dig can be found.

And I'll see you in Kansas soon.