Five Key Wichita Area Ranked Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick shoutout to the Prep Network Graphics Department, when I ask for a new graphic, they grant my wish more consistently than Santa Claus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They created a new graphic to provide extra exposure to players from the Wichita area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't want to dive too deep down the rabbit hole in this report, but I do want to make a couple of key points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although a Wichita-based team has not won a Class 6A or 5A State Volleyball Title since 2001, there is plenty of quality volleyball being played outside of the Kansas City metro. The Sedgwick County metro and surrounding schools continue to produce college-level prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much like Kansas City, the Wichita metro area has a bevy of gifted athletes in local suburbs and nearby towns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every time I travel to Wichita, I am amazed by the amount of new construction, and my inability to figure out where Andover starts and Maize ends. It's much like driving through Lenexa, Olathe, or Overland Park. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I also recognize that the area remains undercovered by Prep Dig Kansas, but what is one Topeka-based scout to do?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continued efforts to find someone in Wichita who wants to scout volleyball as a side gig or job have been made, but the Network still has not had any takers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Growing up with grandparents in Park City, I have many memories of attending professional wrestling events and hockey games at the Kansas Coliseum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have crushed my share of Monterrey's at Carrols and combo burritos at Taco Tico and Taco Grande over the years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched plenty of WSU and Wichita Wrangler games back in the day, and I enjoy my stays at the Hampton Inns on the east and west sides. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Traveling has become more of a financial and time strain in the past three years, so I don't make it down south as much as I would like.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I hope this new graphic and report will show that I have not forgotten our fans and supporters from the Air Capital.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five athletes to watch next fall in the home of the Do-Dah Diner, Delano BBQ, and the Nu Way!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["570416"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69645a13df7e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The first Wichita area prospect plans to stay around Wichita for some time. Popp, ranked No. 6 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027, has already verbally committed to play college ball for the Wichita State Shockers. Popp led Maize South to the Class 5A State Tournament last fall. She finished her junior season with 894 assists. She has gone back-to-back seasons with more than 800 assists after recording 814 as a sophomore. The Maize South prospect is a flashy setter with a ton of game and winning experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["551333"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69645a13df87c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Daggett had an awesome junior season for the Redhawks. She led the team in kills (394), aces (41), and blocks (24), and was second in digs with 225. For a six-foot-two athlete, she moves really well. North had a down season in 2025, but to be fair, they lost a ton of talent from their 2024 squad, which reached the state tournament. Daggett is ranked No. 35 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027. She was one of the top-uncommitted talents in my book.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["591953"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69645a13df8e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Andover Central Jaguars have been a perennial winner of late. They won 27 matches last season, but missed qualifying for the Class 5A State Tournament. Kaberline led the Jaguars last season in kills with 334 in 81 sets played. After two seasons, she already has more than 600 kills at the varsity level. Fans of the Jags can expect those numbers to continue to increase for two more seasons. She has a smooth approach and hits the ball with authority. Kaberline is ranked No. 36 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["747422"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69645a13df94a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Livermore is currently the No. 1-ranked athlete in the Kansas Class of 2029. She will want to be on high alert next week as Prep Dig Kansas has scheduled a rankings update for Tuesday, January 20. She put together a solid enough freshman season with Kapaun Mt. Carmel to make an argument to claim the top spot. She finished second on the Class 5A State Tournament team in kills as a freshman with 298 in 92 sets played. She also recorded 217 assists, 194 digs, 163 serve receptions, 28 blocks, and 20 assists. However, she will have plenty of prospects vying for that top spot, as the rankings will exceed 200 total ranked athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737065"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69645a13dfa2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Splane will be a name to search for in the aforementioned Class of 2029 rankings. She is currently ranked No. 23 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She played just 12 varsity sets for the Panthers last season. It's a team that should return a deep and talented senior class, so she may have to wait one more season to really show off her skills, or 2026 could be a breakout season for the young hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->