<p>With Willard, Parkway West, and Platte County all hit hard by graduation, this year’s Class 4 field appears to be anyone’s for the taking. Here are a few of the top retuning statistical leaders from last year to guide their teams to the state championships.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="102452" first="Kennedy" last="Lane"]-Senior-St. Pius X (Festus)</strong></p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="102452" first="Kennedy" last="Lane"] is the top returning kill leader for Class 4. She is returning for her senior year after leading St. Pius with 411 kills and 220 digs. Season-high 32 kills in a 3-1 win over Incarnate Word Academy. Kennedy is a powerful and intelligent hitter that gets the other team’s best blockers and still can score at will.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119187" first="Ella" last="Vogel"]-Senior-Cape Central</strong></p>
<p>The talented hitter from anywhere on the court again will be task with a heavy load. 6’1 outside and middle for the Tigers have been a leader since her freshman year. She finished her junior year with 381 kills, 86 blocks, and 149 digs. Season-high 25 kills beating crosstown rival Notre Dame 3-2.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119188" first="Jessa" last="Hylton"]-Senior-Carl Junction</strong></p>
<p>Having played second fiddle to [player_tooltip player_id="41753" first="Salma" last="Lewis"] last year, Hylton will be the go-to hitter for the Bulldogs. With 312 kills and 218 digs last year and a season-high 18 kills in a 2-3 loss to Willard in the state playoffs, look for [player_tooltip player_id="119188" first="Jessa" last="Hylton"]’s numbers to skyrocket this year. Jessa will now showcase her power on the outside and guide them back to the playoffs.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118889" first="Payton" last="Kincaid"]-Senior-Camdenton</strong></p>
<p>Lost one win away from the final four to Class 4 runner-up Parkway West 15-17 in the 5<sup>th</sup> Kincaid will be relieved on to carry a much bigger offensive load this year. Finished last year with 308 kills on .338% hitting and 218 digs and a season-high 17 kills in a 3-2 win over Lebanon.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="41803" first="Kate" last="Brown"]-Senior-Platte County</strong></p>
<p>[player_tooltip player_id="41803" first="Kate" last="Brown"] helped the Pirates to their best finish ever with a 3<sup>rd</sup> place trophy. In the state semifinals, the Pirates lost 12-15 in the 5th to Parkway West, where Brown had 15 kills and 18 digs for her season-high kills. Brown has various shots to keep teams off balance, and her volleyball IQ comes through in crucial moments.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119197" first="Paige" last="Gayer"]-Senior-Willard</strong></p>
<p>The top returning assists leader for Class 4 and the defending state champions Willard Tigers, Paige had two big bombers she fed a lot last season to the title. Look for Paige to guide Willard back to the playoffs after finishing with 1038 assists, 223 digs, and 55 kills. Season-high 54 assists in a 1-3 loss to Kickapoo. </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101701" first="Logan" last="Jones"]-Junior-Carl Junction</strong></p>
<p>Arkansas Razorbacks are getting a good one. Silky smooth and a dynamite player will look to guide the Bulldogs back to the state playoffs, having lost to state champion Willard 2-3, where she dished out a season-high 53 assists. Logan was just a sophomore last year and is returning for her junior year as the second returning assist leader in Class 4. She finished her sophomore year with 913 assists, 186 digs, and 66 kills.</p>
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