Kansas 2028s Gaining Momentum After State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time for a retrospective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had a lot to say about Kansas' Class of 2028 heading into postseason play. As mentioned in those preview features, we still have so many uncommitted juniors proving their worthiness to compete at the next level. The Sunflower State has plenty of those college-ready athletes, and postseason play is a perfect venue to find them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2028s are gaining momentum. The yearly volleyball cycle never stops, and we'll be looking ahead to the club season before long. These juniors are ready for that next phase of the journey after wrapping up the fall in Kansas' state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1059682"],"_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-6ae93c05c8c7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Junior pin hitters ran the show for Blue Valley last weekend. Werkowitch could be seen as an unsung hero for this group, as her influence spans far beyond her scoring ability on the left antenna. She was also a fixture in the serve-receive pattern as Blue Valley fielded a gauntlet of tough serves in 6A pool play. The intensity of Thursday's quarterfinals yielded a trip to Saturday's semis, putting Werkowitch on our coverage radar for 2027. If you're looking for a six-rotation pin with high-level experience, Werkowitch fulfills all the criteria.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["518358"],"_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-6ae93c05c8d12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lansing's tremendous 2026 season culminated in a trip to the 5A semifinals, and Andrews was an influential figure throughout. She can carry plenty of different roles for the Lions, but her presence on the right pin is stout across the board. Her experience as a setter gives her a unique perspective on bettering the ball and helping her teammates succeed. However, Andrews also led Lansing's efficiency column while teeing off on the right antenna. This versatility gives us plenty of angles to cover as Andrews embarks on another club season in the KC area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["523960"],"_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-6ae93c05c8d6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Lipker duo has rewritten the record books at Clay Center, and the junior setter still has unfinished business with the Tigers. Clay Center returned to the Class 4A podium while Lipker maintained her incredible pace at the setter spot. She hovered near the top of Kansas' assists leaderboard with an astonishing eleven assists per set, dishing out one of the state's most efficient attacks this fall. An undefeated run through last week's pools and a third-place finish have added to Lipker's legacy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["875079"],"_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-6ae93c05c8dbb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Goodwin made a considerable jump as an upperclassman, and her rankings rise will soon follow. She led Frontenac with 3.2 kills per set, nearly tripling her sophomore output. Goodwin's whippy southpaw swing has become a nightmare matchup for opposing left-side blockers. We don't often see opposites leading a prep team's scoring column, but Goodwin was ready to take that mantle to help Raider Nation reach the Class 3A semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883484"],"_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-6ae93c05c8e05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thomas More Prep-Marian garnered a lot of attention after reaching the 2A semis as the No. 7 seed. It's a testament to the effort of players like Gottschalk to take the Monarchs to a new level when it matters most. This hard-hitting attacker logged multiple double-digit-kill performances at last weekend's tournament, catalyzing three-set wins over Chase County and Moundridge. Gottschalk is an unconventional attacker who operates best when approaching the inner third of the court. Good luck tracking this springy hitter in the frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["719106"],"_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-6ae93c05c8e50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This feels overdue. We've been looking to discuss Duerksen dominance for a while, and this feels like the ideal time to do it. She guided Goessel to the Class 1A-DI quarterfinals behind a team-leading 4.2 kills per set and a near-.300 hitting efficiency. Duerksen's sharp, assertive crosscourt shots jump out on Goessel's highlight tape. She often dents the floor right in front of back-row defenders, leaving little chance for a defensive response. Her tireless effort will persist as a standout with Goessel's track and field program, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["843285"],"_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-6ae93c05c8e9b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">All-around pin hitters have had quite a presence in this junior feature. Leach adds to the narrative with her multi-faceted contributions to Cheylin's third-place effort in Class 1A-DII. This two-sport athlete showed plenty of finesse as a pin attacker, often finding open court with a well-placed roll shot. But like many of the juniors highlighted here, Leach was just as effective across the back row. She had productive defensive outings against Hodgeman County and MDCV, leading to straight-set wins in both contests. Don't lose sight of the small-town gems in Kansas' vast talent pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->