Class of 2024 Pace Setters: Part One

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I witnessed the play of several top-tier setters during the high school season, but one look at the list of assists leaders in Kansas in the Class of 2024 proves that I barely scratched the surface.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were so many seniors in Kansas with high assist totals that this will be a two-part scouting report.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at athletes who dished out the ball to hitters for kills. Look for the second report to be posted on November 19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ana Schenk, </strong>5'6”, S, Heritage Christian Academy, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has become an all too common theme. I really missed out by not scheduling myself to watch Heritage Christian Academy this season. Schenk helped guide the Chargers to a Class 3A state title. She finished with 974 assists in 96 sets played as HCA's primary setter. She is a member of the 1,000-career assist club. She is quick and has solid court instincts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaydence Schotte, </strong>5'8”, S, Hanover, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schotte is a tall setter. She racked up 905 assists during her senior campaign for the Wildcats. She has a nice vertical and net presence as she added 22 total blocks to her stat sheet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495606' first='Josey' last='Kennedy'], </strong>5'5”, S/DS, Hoxie, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy is a solid basketball prospect, but she also could play college volleyball. She finished her senior season with 902 assists. She also plays solid defense as she finished with 227 digs. Her serve will play at the next level as she racked up 43 service aces in 88 sets played. She finished her high school career with more than 1,600 career assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Iliany Yanez</strong>, 5'7”, S, Greeley County, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yanez is an experienced setter and gifted athlete. She finished her high school career with more than 2,000 career assists. During the 2023 season, she collected 890 assists in 94 sets played. She is a bit of a stat monster across the board as she finished her senior season with 181 digs, 56 kills, 13 blocks, and 20 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Avery Bergan, </strong>5'7”, S, Baldwin, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergan could be a six-rotation setter at the next level. She does not have very many flaws in her game. She had 882 assists for the Baldwin Bulldogs, another team I regret missing. She also finished with 314 digs, 60 kills, and 24 blocks during her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaylee Moyer, </strong>5'6”, S, South Gray, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moyer is an experienced distributor of the ball. Her assist numbers increased every year in high school. She finished with more than 2,000 career assists for the Rebels. During the 2023 season, the senior setter recorded 858 assists in 95 sets played.  She also has an accurate and hard serve finishing the season with 63 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='495588' first='Alex' last='Romero'], </strong>5'7”, S, McPherson, ‘24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Romero helped lead McPherson to the Class 4A state tournament. She collected 855 assists in 94 sets played in 2023. She finished her high school career with more than 1,500 career assists. She can really jump and has a diverse skill set based on her senior stat line of 105 kills, 294 digs, and 34 total blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->