Recruiting News: Verbally Committed Athletes Compete At Open Gym

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am constantly surprised by the depth of volleyball talent in the Sunflower State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I also get super jacked when I see players I have never seen before and get frustrated when I find players I should have already known about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several athletes from all over the Wichita area participated in an open gym on August 7, I was able to get new recruiting news on four of the athletes in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at four athletes who have made verbal college commitments including three who are unranked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Profiles have been created for the three unranked athletes, and they will be included in the next round of rankings updates later this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809972' first='Sydney' last='Nance']</strong>, 5'9”, MB/OH, Eisenhower, '26 (Rocky Mountain College)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nance is ranked No. 139 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She has vernally committed to Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. The Battlin' Bears are a NAIA program. I was impressed with her physicality and the ability to hit down the line during the open gym. &nbsp;She finished with 149 kills and an eye-popping 73 blocks for the Eisenhower Tigers as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='859688' first='Skylar' last='Johnson']</strong>, 5'1”, DS/L, Maize, '26 (Southwest Baptist)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is a gritty unranked libero. She has verbally committed to play at Southwest Baptist after graduation. She played in just 11 varsity sets last season, but Maize lost its top two leaders in digs to graduation. I liked Johnson's platform and her ability to move laterally. She will have big shoes to fill on defense for the Eagles. The Bolivar, Missouri, university was one of my old stomping ground when I worked as a sports writer for the <em>Pittsburg Morning Sun</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='859689' first='Breckyn' last='Cawood']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Bishop Carrol '26 (Kansas Wesleyan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cawood is an unranked tough attacker at Bishop Carrol. She has verbally committed to play for Kansas Wesleyan after high school. She finished her junior season with 111 kills and 30 blocks for the Golden Eagles as a junior. She looked solid during the open gym and got several touches at the net. She will try to lead Bishop Carroll back to the state tournament in her upcoming senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='859685' first='Dalaney' last='Ratcliffe']</strong>, 5'10”, OH/RS, Augusta, '26 (Friends)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ratcliffe is currently unranked and will be staying close to home to play for the Friends Falcons after graduation. I was impressed with the approach of the Oriole prospect. She hit the ball hard and will add depth to the NAIA program's roster after high school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->