Backcourt Gems Lock in at MO/KS Stock Up Showcase

Here's another staple of the Kansas City showcase scene.   Yesterday's feature covered the <a href="https://prepdig.com/2026/07/cant-miss-pin-hitters-dominate-mo-ks-stock-up-showcase/" data-type="link" data-id="https://prepdig.com/2026/07/cant-miss-pin-hitters-dominate-mo-ks-stock-up-showcase/">pin positions</a>, where we had no shortage of eye-catching athletes to discuss. But these terminal attackers can't thrive without a cast of backcourt anchors helping them out. Kansas and Missouri prep enthusiasts understand this well.   Our Missouri/Kansas Stock Up Showcase participants upheld a long-lasting tradition of backcourt excellence in the Heart of America Region. The college game pulls some of its best liberos from the Kansas City area, so we were fully invested in this position group before Sunday's event. Naturally, we're dishing out a few players who backed up that hype.   Let's get into the trenches.    Like many of the athletes we've discussed this week, Kramer was no stranger to the Prep Dig coverage spotlight. She has soared up Kansas' Class of 2027 hierarchy through her tireless defensive effort and exceptional instincts. Many of her [program_tooltip program_id='430171' first='Atchison' last='Attackers'] teammates have climbed the leaderboard, but Kramer has also proven that her quality ball control persists beyond the club stage. She was a backcourt anchor at Sunday's showcase and was particularly comfortable with covering seams in the middle-back area. It's exactly the kind of influence we've seen from Kramer at Jefferson County North, where she will lock down the end line again this fall.     Our Stock Up Showcase served as a reminder that we still have plenty to sort out regarding Kansas' Class of 2029. We overhauled those rankings right before Sunday's event, but Nash has already made her claim to keep rising. The [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] standout was an active, vocal part of six-on-six drills last weekend. She always found ways to better the ball for her temporary showcase teammates, and that extends beyond Nash's precision on the first contact. Her eagerness to dish out secondary sets to the pin also set her apart, making her a true ball control asset in every phase. It's no wonder why Nash excelled while playing up a year in the [program_tooltip program_id='515493' first='Club' last='North'] gym this spring.     Shockwave is back on the board with one of our highest-ranked defensive specialists in Kansas' 2029 class. She made an immediate impact with Andover Central last fall, racking up a triple-digit dig total as the Jaguars battled to a 27-11 mark. That freshman campaign demonstrated Holcomb's willingness to patrol any zone along the end line, and that's often a good omen for showcase success. The constant shuffles of Sunday's event would not deter Holcomb's calm, steady demeanor during scrimmages. Positive momentum is peaking after Holcomb's top-five placement with Shockwave 15 Black at AAU Nationals, so expect a productive outing in Year 2 on the prep side.     Shugart is a new addition to our radar after last weekend's showcase, and she's one of the most unique athletes on this DS feature. We were taken aback by Shugart's stable platform, but that's not the only tool she's wielded throughout her club career. She has also shouldered attacking roles in past seasons with [program_tooltip program_id='515242' first='Optimum' last='Volleyball Club'], whose 15-1 team posted a podium finish at the Salt Lake City Showdown. Perhaps Shugart's experience as a terminator has aided her stout all-around skills across the backcourt.     If you followed our recent coverage of the Kansas 2029 rankings update, you'll recognize this multi-position standout from Derby High School. Splane entered the spotlight through her strong Derby debut, which featured several impactful outings as a middle-back defender. However, we've also seen Splane flex her terminal ability in the front row, so don't lock her into the libero jersey yet. Regardless of positional designation, this is a 2029 prospect with game-changing potential on first contacts.     Here's a storyline we didn't expect to address from the Missouri/Kansas Stock Up Showcase: Arkansas brought elite defensive talent to this event. Carroll's quick, twitchy movements in the back row helped solidify the Delta Region's foothold at our Kansas City event. This Fayetteville freshman-to-be may have been surrounded by older peers in an unfamiliar environment, but she brought the consistency needed to fit in with anyone. Carroll is adept at getting her feet to the ball, but she also isn't afraid to sprawl out for anything drifting outside her midline. We saw a little of everything from the Ozark Elite libero at Sunday's event, and Carroll's prep career is just getting started.     We'll add one more to the 2030 fray. Spies has yet to begin her high school career with Rose Hill, but she's already looking to make an impression through her lockdown defense. She donned the contrasting jersey for Shockwave's top 14s team this spring, lifting the team to a top-ten finish in Wave 2 of AAU Nationals. Shockwave was keen on plugging Spies into Zone 6 and letting her take control of the passing pattern. She brought a little more of this confidence to Sunday's showcase.

Here's another staple of the Kansas City showcase scene.