Beloit Drops Home Opener To Ellinwood

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a 5-0 start to the 2025 season, the Beloit Trojans lost their home opener to Class 2A Powerhouse Ellinwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Serving and receiving errors cost the Trojans during the three-set loss, but don't be fooled - Beloit is once again a talented program that will continue to produce college-level prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at players who posted solid performances in the loss to the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809595' first='Dakota' last='Gray']</strong>, 5'11”, MB, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray had a productive evening at the net. She recorded nine kills and two blocks in the loss. She is ranked No. 157 overall by Prep Dig Kansas in the Class of 2026 rankings. Her blocking timing was off at times, but she makes a dangerous blocking combination with Beloit's younger hitters. She is an athlete that Beloit can lean on when things are not going their way. Gray's current plan is to compete in track and field at the collegiate level rather than volleyball. The track program at Wichita State University has been recruiting her, but she is still uncommitted. If I were a JUCO coach in Kansas, I would reach out to see if there's a chance to make her a dual-sport athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518977' first='Landry' last='Litton']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, ‘28</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am running out of ways to describe Litton's game. She is ranked No. 5 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She is the daughter of a coach and is just one member of an athletic family. She has intangibles on the court that you just can't coach. She somehow comes up with the difficult dig that looks sure to find a hole in the defense. She registered 12 digs, 17 serve receptions, and two kills in the loss. A good comp for her is Lansing's [player_tooltip player_id='222091' first='Avery' last='Sands'], who has verbally committed to Missouri State. She is a versatile athlete who can hit and play solid defense. When all is said and done, Litton will be a four-year letterwinner at Beloit and have a ton of experience winning matches when her prep career concludes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809843' first='Reagan' last='Cheney']</strong>, 6'2”, MB, '27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cheney led the Trojans with 10 kills and three blocks. She is a physical middle with a big reach. I liked her aggressiveness, and she plays with more grit than you would expect a freshman to show. She is currently ranked No. 148 in the Kansas Class of 2027 rankings. She and Gray make a solid blocking duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='750130' first='Vivian' last='Thompson']</strong>, 5'11”, MB/OH, '29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson is a young hitter with a big reach. She is ranked No. 11 overall in the Kansas Class of 2029. She recorded six kills and two blocks in the win. I like the way she moves, and she will have ample playing time as Beloit lost its top two attackers last season, and is currently missing [player_tooltip player_id='553835' first='Brecken' last='Boudreaux'], who is recovering from a lower-body injury suffered on the first day of practice. Thompson is he younger sister of Sophia Thompson played with Beloit last season and is now red-shirting at Wichita State University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='785347' first='Lundyn' last='Knight']</strong>, 5'7”, DS/L, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knight had the best match I have seen from her. She is ranked No. 303 in the Kansas Class of 2026. She missed last season with a knee injury. She played libero during the first two sets and then as a defensive specialist during the third set. She was getting peppered all night by the Eagles and stood her ground. The Beloit senior finished with 21 serve receptions and 16 digs. She would be a solid depth addition for an NAIA program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->