Kansas 2029 Middles Quickly Commanding the Net This Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're staying on the 2029 wave a little longer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you've missed our recent coverage of the ongoing high school season, Kansas' sophomore class has our attention through the first handful of fall matches. Prep athletes often make massive progress between Year 1 and Year 2, and many sophomores get their first varsity reps during this time. This has left us with a medley of stock risers and new names to consider, so another Kansas 2029 update could be warranted. Stay tuned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pin hitters and liberos have already been in the coverage spotlight, and today's discussion moves into the middle. It's a notoriously tough position for underclassmen to thrive, but Kansas athletes have never been afraid to defy trends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["895669"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa865693e158"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a time to catch up with Pendergraph. We already had this athletic middle blocker on our radar during the club season, but last weekend's Titan Volleyball Classic brought her physicality on the road with Blue Valley West. The defending Class 6A champs rolled to a tournament title with Pendergraph providing all-around fortitude in the frontcourt. She can dent the floor when attacking in front of the setter, but Pendergraph also churns out the soft touches that make the Jaguars lethal in transition. Underclassmen have a major foothold in the Blue Valley West program, making their dominance even more impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keyonna Raney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cunningham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa865693e22c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Here's one of those new names we alluded to earlier. This Cunningham sophomore is a sure addition to our 2029 database after her quick start to this year's fall campaign. Raney has put down over two kills per set from the middle, and the Wildcats have found unique ways to get her involved in the offense. She will often hit as an opposite in two-hitter rotations, giving Raney plenty of room to pick her shots. Cunningham also likes using Raney on slower tempos to take full advantage of her length and athleticism. This is another sophomore standout who has soared past her freshman output.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kenzie Nickel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Marion","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa865d48c49d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nickel is the kind of athlete who can't be tethered to one positional designation. She often operates in the middle for Marion, using her effortless elevation to excel in the 'A' gap. However, Nickel can also slide over to the left antenna in first-ball situations. This dual role between the pin and the middle has become a growing trend in the prep game, and Nickel makes the most of her incredible versatility. She's just beginning to find her stride with the Warriors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maddy Werth","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Quinter","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa890f6b53d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Quinter plans on returning to the postseason after reaching last year's Class 1A D1 semifinals. Werth was a key part of last year's effort, but she has already exceeded many of those freshman totals in Year 2 with the Bulldogs. She's terminating near a 0.300 clip so far this year, and Werth only needed about 20 sets to soar past her 2025 kill count. Quinter is not afraid to move Werth around and find ideal blocking matchups for this high-flying attacker. Give her any tempo and location, and let Werth go to work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["938650"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa890f6b5431"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of last year's tournament participants, we have to give a shoutout to Clay Center and its cast of stock risers. The Tigers earned a third-place finish in 2025's Class 4A race, and Richter has brought a new influx of firepower to the fray. Her opening weekend was particularly dominant, hitting north of 0.600 in wins over Eudora and Cheney. The Tigers won their first ten contests behind Richter's multifaceted offense in the middle. Opposing teams usually dedicate two blockers to slowing her down, but Richter still finds the seams anyway.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883636"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aa890f6b5479"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Okay, we have one more visit with last year's postseason royalty. If there's any team that left no doubt about its championship worthiness, it was that 47-0 Ellinwood squad. The team is back to its undefeated ways in 2026, and Stickney has been in the middle of it all. She boasts an exceptional hitting percentage near 0.400 and has led the Eagles' overall block tally. Stickney works hard to make herself available in transition, and her large hitting window makes her an ideal target under any circumstances. It's been plug-and-play for this new face in the Ellinwood lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->