The Week Ahead: Three Jamborees Before The Season Starts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I last served as a head coach I was not a fan of the “Jamboree” concept, but as a scout I enjoy them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's a chance for teams to compete against someone else as a tune-up for the season. I plan on scouting three jamborees this week before scouting a couple of matches at a season-opening tournament on August 31.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few prospects I look forward to watching during the week ahead, including jamborees at Washburn Rural, Santa Fe Trail, and Hayden High Schools. Stay tuned this week for reports covering those events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='173381' first='Hadley' last='Porter']</strong>, 5'6”, DS/L, Blue Valley Southwest, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter is currently ranked No. 90 overall in the Prep Dig class of 2025 rankings. The Timberwolves are one of two visiting schools participating in the Jamboree at Washburn Rural. She finished with 329 digs in 85 sets as a junior. There are multiple Southwest prospects in the rankings I have not seen play in person and Porter is one of those.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ella Boote</strong>, 5'7”, MB, Heritage Christian Academy, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heritage Christian won the Class 3A state title last season and lost a significant senior class. Boote is an unranked talent, I look forward to seeing play at Washburn Rural. She played in just 11 varsity sets as a junior, so I am interested in seeing how she fits in on this club and which underclassmen step up for the Chargers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='223572' first='Stella' last='Kelly']</strong>, 5'9”, S, Washburn Rural, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly is a setter I have been keeping track of for the past couple of years. She is currently ranked No. 58 overall in the class of 2026. I have seen her play club ball multiple times, but have not watched her closely while playing for her prep team. The Blues are a perennial state contender and Kelly seems prepared to step up her leadership role of Rural.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493511' first='Lauren' last='Fund']</strong>, 5'5”, S, Santa Fe Trail, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three programs I have not seen play hardly at all will be in Overbrook to compete at Santa Fe Trail's Jamboree. Fund is currently ranked No. 141 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She finished with 692 assists last season and is a little over 400 away from reaching 2,000 career assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='612038' first='Adaline' last='Bloomfield']</strong>, 5'6”, OH, Mission Valley, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mission Valley is a program I have not seen play since I first launched Prep Dig Kansas back in 2020. The Vikings' leader attacker from a year ago was Bloomfield. She finished with 263 kills in 77 sets as a junior. She had 255 during her sophomore campaign. Mission Valley is one of two visiting schools participating in Santa Fe Trail's jamboree. The Cair Paravel Lions are the second team participating in the scrimmage at Santa Fe Trail.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480408' first='Tinley' last='Wilson']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Holton, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson is one of the elite hitters in the state and I can't wait to catch her and the Wildcats at Hayden this Friday. She had some eye-popping numbers last season collecting 465 serve receptions, 257 digs, and 257 kills. I saw her play this summer and look forward to seeing her again. She is currently ranked No. 15 overall in the class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='355653' first='Finley' last='Rieke']</strong>, 6'1”, MB, Tonganoxie, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonganoxie is a team I saw multiple times last season. The Chieftains have a new head coach this season but return a top-ranked junior middle blocker. Rieke is currently ranked No. 11 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She finished with 188 kills as a sophomore and has 400 total in two seasons with Tonganoxie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->