4A State Coverage: Hayden Dominates Pool Two

I scouted four matches today at the Class 4A State Tournament in Hutchinson.   I scouted the third and fourth matches of Pool Two play.   I watched No. 3 Seed McPherson defeat No. 7 Seed Buhler in a three-set match. That match was followed by No. 6 Seed Hayden sweeping No. 2 Seed Clay Center.   Hayden and Clay Center advanced to the semifinal round on Saturday November 1.    Hayden finished 3-0 in pool play and will meet No. 5 Seed Paola (1-2) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.   Clay Center finished 2-1 and will face the No. 1 Seed Andale (3-0) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.   Here is a look at 12 athletes who had noteworthy performances from the two Pool 2 matches I scouted.   [player_tooltip player_id='460352' first='Ella' last='Foster'], 5'4”, DS/L, Hayden, '26   I wore my new favorite T-shirt under my Prep Dig Pullover on Saturday. It's an Obvious Shirts T-shirt that reads “Dunston to Sandberg to Grace.” My favorite MLB double-play turning infield of the Chicago Cubs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Hayden's parent clubs should print off “Foster to Walter to Schmidtlein” tees. During tournament play, that trio was as dominant as I have seen them play to date. Foster gobbled up digs, like kids will be gobbling up Halloween Candy tonight. In the Wildcats' victory over Clay Center, she collected 23 digs and 17 serve receptions. She is ranked No. 36 overall by Prep Dig Kansas and has received an offer from Washburn University; however, she remains uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='503124' first='Blakely' last='Walter'], 5'9”, S, Hayden, '28   Hayden's athletic setter continues to impress scouts and coaches. She tallied 32 assists in the win over Clay Center. She also padded her stat line with seven digs and two kills. Walter is ranked No. 9 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. Walter dished out 914 assists for the Wildcats prior to the tournament. She surpassed the 1,000-assist total for this season and 2,000 assists for her career during tournament play on Friday.   [player_tooltip player_id='513606' first='Hailey' last='Schmidtlein'], 6'0”, OH, Hayden, '28   Schmidtlein played with grace on Friday and hosted a hitting clinic. The multi-sport athlete finished with 17 kills in the win over the Tigers. She also recorded nine digs, seven serve receptions, one block, and one ace. She has all the tools to be a Division I prospect. Schmidtlein is ranked No. 3 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She is also ranked No. 2 overall by Prep Girls Hoops Kansas. Prior to the tournament, she had registered 405 kills in 87 sets played.   [player_tooltip player_id='570438' first='Sophia' last='Wichman'], 5'8”, OH, Hayden, '28   Another outstanding athlete from the Class of 2028 is Hayden's Wichman. She stepped up in a secondary role as an attacker against Clay Center. She recorded seven kills for the Wildcats. She continues to gain experience and improve her confidence. She is peaking at the right time of the season for Hayden. She is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2028 rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='837012' first='Raimee' last='Lipker'], 5'10”, OH, Clay Center, '27   Lipker played one of the best all-around matches I saw on Friday. She played six rotations and finished her match against Hayden with six kills, nine digs, and seven serve receptions in the loss to Hayden. Lipker is ranked No. 35 overall. Lipker entered the tournament as the Tigers' leader in kills with 385 in 85 sets played.   [player_tooltip player_id='483890' first='Lily' last='Edwards'], 5'10”, OH, Clay Center, '27   Edward picked up her play in the second set and put her teammates on her back. The Tigers look lifeless in a 25-14 first set loss, but bounced back like Tigger to close the gap 26-24 in the second set. She recorded a team-high 11 kills. She also added four digs and one block. Edwards is ranked No. 37 overall. Edwards entered the tournament with 308 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='524703' first='Addy' last='Pladson'], 5'7”, OH, Clay Center, '27   I really enjoyed Pladson's versatility. She recorded a double-double in the loss to Hayden with 14 digs and 19 serve receptions. She also chipped in five kills. Pladson's stat line prior to the tournament included 316 digs, 451 serve receptions, and 236 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='523960' first='Raicee' last='Lipker'], 5'5”, SH, Clay Center, '28   Lipker played Friday like she was on a mission to prove that Hayden's Walter wasn't the only 2028 setter to watch. She finished with 20 assists in Clay Center's second match of the day. She also made five digs, including two amazing gets in a long second-set rally. Those two plays she was spinning all over the court like a rogue hamster on a wheel. She is ranked No. 33 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028.   [player_tooltip player_id='830042' first='Ava' last='Romero'], 5'8”, OH/DS, McPherson, '26   Romer was a beast in the Bullpup win over Buhler. She finished with a double-double, collecting 12 kills and 10 digs. She is the emotional leader and floor leader for McPherson. She is a multi-sport prospect who also excels on the softball diamond. Romero is ranked No. 169 overall and is an uncommitted prospect. She will be on my short list of “uncommitted steals” I send to college coaches in November.   [player_tooltip player_id='809555' first='Brooke' last='Doile'], 5'9”, MB, McPherson, '26   Dolie played like a senior who did not want her season to end on Friday. She recorded a triple-double in the win over the Crusaders. She tallied 12 kills, 10 digs, and 15 serve receptions. She plays will the poise of a coach's daughter. She is physical and plays solid backrow defense for her size. Doile is ranked No. 163 overall and has verbally committed to Johnson County Community College.   [player_tooltip player_id='807925' first='Emerson' last='Waldren'], 5'10”, OH, Buhler, '26   The Waldren sisters posted impressive numbers for the Buhler Crusaders in a three-set loss to McPherson. The older sister finished with 10 kills, 10 digs, four serve receptions, and shared some of the setting duties with her younger sister. Emerson is ranked No. 61 overall by Prep Dig Kansas and is uncommitted.   [player_tooltip player_id='807184' first='Rorey' last='Waldren'], 5'9”, OH, Buhler, '28   Rorey is not quite as tall and as physical as Emerson, but she has the competitive streak often found in an athletic family. She finished the match against McPherson with 15 kills, 11 digs, one block, and two aces. Rorey is ranked No. 157 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028.

I scouted four matches today at the Class 4A State Tournament in Hutchinson.