Team Preview: Beloit Trojans Are State Contenders

All across Kansas today, high school volleyball coaches will be rolling out baskets of Moltens and Tachikaras.   I can almost hear the thud of the balls echoing in the gym while sitting in my basement writing this report.   Do I miss coaching? On days like this, yes!   The season is upon us, and athletes will begin today to make that long march to what they hope will be a state tournament appearance to conclude their seasons.   Today, I will feature my first team preview of the season, and I intend to have at least one preview each day up until August 29.   I know the first four teams that will be featured, and I will reach out to more coaches this week via email to get more information for later reports.   My schedule of matches to scout this season is about 80 percent locked in, but coaches can reach out to me with schedules and season previews at <a href="mailto:deckscoutks@gmail.com">deckscoutks@gmail.com</a>.   This first report features the Beloit Trojans, a team that will be looking to make its fourth straight appearance in a state tournament. It's the Western Kansas program that I have seen the most of, and the coaching staff has been a long supporter of Prep Dig.   It's a team that lost a handful of college players to graduation and to college programs. They also lost a ton of tall players.   I scouted the Trojans this summer and expect them to be a quicker team and perhaps a better defensive team. They will need some younger hitters to step up into leading attack roles.   Right now, I have two Beloit dates penciled in as possible matches to scout: a September 4 home match against Ellinwood and a road match on September 25 in Clay Center.   It's a team with a real chance of playing in Hutchinson at the end of October.   [player_tooltip player_id='553835' first='Brecken' last='Boudreaux'], 5'9”, OH/RS,'26 (Pictured Above: Right)   Beloit's top-returning hitter is Boudreaux. She is an explosive jumper and one of my favorite uncommitted athletes in the class of 2026. She is ranked No. 33 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She finished third on the team with 273 kills. She has a sneaky and accurate serve that she used to set a school record for aces (81) in 2023. She has been honored as a first-team all-league member for three straight seasons. Boudreaux, with her jumping skills is also a formidable blocker, recording 97 blocks during her junior campaign.   [player_tooltip player_id='809595' first='Dakota' last='Gray'], 5'11”, MB, '26   Gray is one of the hitters who will be looking to fill big shoes and take on more of a leadership role this season. She is ranked No. 157 overall by Prep Dig Kansas in the Class of 2026 rankings. She recorded 99 kills and 69 blocks last season. She was named to the first team all-league squad last season. I still don't feel like I have seen one of her best matches, but I do expect her to have a solid senior season. She would be a great addition to an in-state JUCO or NAIA program still looking to add players from this senior class.   [player_tooltip player_id='518977' first='Landry' last='Litton'], 5'10”, OH, ‘28 (Pictured Above: Left)   Litton is a little rock star who plays multiple sports. She is ranked No. 5 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She was the unheralded glue on last year's state team. She can do it all on the court and is a six-rotation talent. Her freshman season stat line included 97 kills, 110 digs, and 112 serve receptions. The key question mark with her right now is how she evolves as a hitter. Will she become an attacker who can take over a match or the rock that teammates can lean on all around the court? Litton could be both. She is a player I would like to see develop more of a mean streak on the court and continue to improve her upper-body strength.   [player_tooltip player_id='828944' first='Addyson' last='Channell'], 5'7”, S/OH, ‘29   Beloit lost its top setter to graduation. There appear to be two athletes who could fight to become the top setter or who could share setting responsibility in a two-setter system. Channell is one of those two options. She is ranked No. 41 overall in the Kansas Class of 2029. I saw her play this summer, and she has a bright future ahead of her.   [player_tooltip player_id='785346' first='Colbi' last='Stroede'], 5'5”, S, '26   Stroede is ranked No. 301 by Prep Dig Kansas. She is the veteran option, but she has not had many setting reps at the varsity level, as she was blocked by the team's college-committed setter last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='830306' first='Bently' last='Pruitt'], 5'6”, OH, '27   Pruitt is ranked No. 171 by Prep Dig Kansas in the Class of 2027. She appeared in just 59 varsity sets as a sophomore and will be looking to have a more productive role as a junior.   [player_tooltip player_id='809843' first='Reagan' last='Cheney'], 6'2”, MB, '27   Cheney is currently ranked No. 148 in the Kansas Class of 2027 rankings. She is a middle looking to step up into a more significant role as a junior. She played in just 23 varsity sets as a sophomore.   [player_tooltip player_id='785347' first='Lundyn' last='Knight'], 5'7”, DS/L, '26   Knight is ranked No. 303 in the Kansas Class of 2026. She missed last season with a knee injury and will be looking to grab hold of the libero jersey.   McKenna Channell, 5'5”, DS/L, '26   Channell is currently an unranked prospect who is expected to share time on the back row for the Trojans. She will compete for the libero position or fill in as a defensive specialist.

All across Kansas today, high school volleyball coaches will be rolling out baskets of Moltens and Tachikaras.