Which Under-the-Radar Pins Made Gains at Kansas State Tourney?

<!-- wp:image {"id":1022894,"width":"335px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/08/PD_ExposureTour.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1022894" style="width:335px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"textAlign":"center"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"><strong>Missouri/Kansas Exposure Tour</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"textAlign":"center"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size">Dec. 11, 2026 -- 6:00 PM</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"textAlign":"center"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-small-font-size">MAVS Volleyball Club</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"elements":{"link":{"color":{"text":"var:preset|color|primary"}}},"typography":{"textAlign":"center"}},"textColor":"primary","fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size"><strong><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2500/register/exposure-tour-missourikansas" data-type="link" data-id="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2500/register/exposure-tour-missourikansas">REGISTER HERE</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"textAlign":"center"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size"><em>-- USE CODE '<strong>Austin26PD25OFF</strong>' FOR 25% OFF ALL SHOWCASE REGISTRATION FEES --</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A feature on pin hitters was inevitable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We still have so much to process from the Kansas high school season, particularly among the state's postseason contenders. This final tournament sprint was loaded with surprise performances, and we've already highlighted several freshmen, sophomores, juniors, liberos, and middles. That's a lot of angles to evaluate, but we have room for more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pin hitters are poised to enter the discussion. Kansas' postseason featured some of the state's top superstars on the outside, and they delivered the kind of impact we'd expect. But there's another layer to this conversation when you add the pin hitters making considerable gains when the team needed it most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps some positive momentum is building for this group ahead of the new year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1050664"],"_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-6af4b6406dd9b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Toner has effectively rewritten her own scouting report after Year 2 with Lawrence Free State. She has a stellar highlight tape as a middle blocker with MAVS KC 15 Elite, culminating in a trip to USAV Nationals this summer. However, we saw a different side of this sophomore's range as the Firebirds competed at October's Class 6A Championships. She was Free State's go-to opposite, able to sky over any well-formed block in her way. Her quickness off the floor makes her an ideal target behind the setter, where Toner can also attack off one foot. No matter where her positional designation goes this spring, expect Toner to remain in the KC-area conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1062974"],"_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-6af4b6406ddf5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We're overdue for a check-in with Great Bend, which featured some of the most dynamic 5A terminators this fall. Stroup joins that list after compiling over three kills per set to be a "co-leader" for the Panthers' offense. Great Bend wasn't afraid to deploy this second-year starter on either side of the setter. She was one of the very few attackers on Kansas' prep stage who could run an efficient D-ball from the back row. This led to some daunting blocking matchups for opposing teams throughout 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["784353"],"_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-6af4b6406de33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've covered Haines' unique approach before. She can do a little of everything on the court, from running an offense to delivering floor-denting swings on either antenna. Circle often favored putting Haines on the left pin, giving her as many attacking opportunities as possible. However, we're most intrigued by Haines' slide-like approaches on the right, making her a fascinating pin-middle hybrid in the Thunderbirds' offense. Versatile athletes like Haines have been a staple of Shockwave's success and a mainstay at our showcase events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1063770"],"_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-6af4b6406de65"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meyr's emergence came at the right time. This freshman gained escalating reps through the late-season stretch, and she capped it off with some of her best-ever work in the tournament finale. She already has a strong command of the opposite position and saved rallies through her quick off-blocker reactions. October's postseason was quite a time to be thrust into the spotlight, but Meyr made the most of her reps in Hutchinson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["753159"],"_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-6af4b6406de95"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Year 2 was a massive step forward for Simpson, who nearly doubled her kill-per-set average from 2025. She flourished as a steady starter in the Rossville rotation, readily working off high hands or hammering into the low seam. Her reliability as an out-of-system attacker was critical in the Bulldogs' run through Class 2A's pools. She backed it up with another high-volume performance in the semifinal win over Moundridge. Simpson took 31 swings in that contest and willed Rossville to a well-earned title match berth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["523959"],"_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-6af4b6406dec5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This may be our biggest "wildcard" pick of the feature. Brockman is a true setter-opposite whose influence never wanes in either half of her trips around the dial. Our feature is about pin hitters, and Brockman did plenty of right-side damage this year with triple-digit kills across the front row. However, this narrative wouldn't be complete without mentioning this junior's willingness to better the ball as a backcourt setter. She showed the full array of skills as Blue Valley battled in the Class 1A-DI field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1063777"],"_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-6af4b8424de5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Finally, we visit with the Longhorns. The Class 1A-DII postseason has presented plenty of chances for database additions, and Walters is a good example from the Class of 2028. Whenever Hodgeman County needed a clutch kill in transition, Walters could deliver with heat that staggered opposing defenders. Walters also boasts some stellar finesse shots that you're not used to seeing from opposites. This year's tournament breakthrough has placed Walters on our radar for one more run in 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->