Class of 2027 Tall Timber: Kansas Block Leaders

Jeremy Deckard November 10, 2023 @ 10:42 AM

I love watching a good block in a volleyball match. The issue with blocking is it is a statistic that is often recorded incorrectly.   Anyone can google the definition of what a block actually is, here is what I found; “a block is awarded whenever a player blocks the ball into the opposition's court leading directly to a point or side out. Touches and balls kept in play are not blocks.”   I fight myself when scouting a game to not want to credit a block every time the ball is actually blocked keeping the opposing attacker from scoring. Stat apps also have issues trying to decide how to count an overpass that just gets crunched at the net. Some apps will count it as a kill, a block, or an error on the other team.   Having said all that the block is one of the least underappreciated stats in the game and the one that players and fans love when it happens.   Here is a look at “tall timber” players in Kansas who love to get blocks and who were among the unofficial kill leaders in the state among teams who record their stats on Max Preps.   [player_tooltip player_id='483915' first='Bella' last='Cook'], 6'0”, MH, Campus, ‘27   A six-foot freshman will always garner attention and Cook backs up that attention by being a block monster. She unofficially led all freshmen in Kansas with 104 blocks and she also added 208 kills to go with them in 2023.   [player_tooltip player_id='483896' first='Macie' last='Corcoran'], 5'6”, MH, Perry-Lecompton, ‘27   Corcoran gets her blocks not because she is tall, but because she can leap. The Kaw freshman racked up 95 total blocks in 2023. She also finished with 149 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='483934' first='Presley' last='Kreter'], 6'1”, MH, St. Thomas Aquinas, ‘27   Kreter is a tall talent that I saw play in the state tournament. She finished her season with 89 total blocks. She also had 137 kills for the Saints.   Bo Bronson, 5'9”, OH, Shawnee Mission Northwest, ‘27   Bronson was one of the Cougars' top blockers in 2023. She finished with 60 total blocks in 80 sets played and added 199 kills to her freshman stat line.   [player_tooltip player_id='516246' first='Quincy' last='Cook'], 5'10”, MB/OH, Santa Fe Trail, ‘27   Cook had a solid freshman season for the Santa Fe Trail Chargers. She collected a total of 59 blocks to go along with 141 kills.   [player_tooltip player_id='516248' first='Talen' last='Stuewe-Orton'], 5'9”, MB, Wabaunsee, ‘27   Stuewe-Orton blocks the ball like Randy Orton hits RKO DDTs, with authority. The Wabaunsee freshman finished the 2023 season with 59 total blocks and 112 kills.   Halle Laincz, 5'10”, MH/OH, Lansing, ‘27   I saw Laincz play several matches this season and she is very athletic. During her first season on the Lansing Lions' varsity roster, she racked up 50 total blocks and 248 kills on a Class 5A state qualifying team.   [player_tooltip player_id='516250' first='Evelyn' last='Igbenebor'], 5'9”, MH, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘27   Timberwolves love running through the forest, but Igbenebor is not tall timber that opposing attackers want to hit at. She finished her freshman campaign with 47 total blocks and 124 kills.

I love watching a good block in a volleyball match. The issue with blocking is it is a statistic that is often recorded incorrectly.