These Runner-Up Athletes Look To Win It All In 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not every team finishes the season as State Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I featured athletes looking to repeat as champs in 2025. Today, I would like to feature athletes on State Runner-Up teams. Each of these athletes will look to finish their stories by holding a title trophy after coming so close in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubik']</strong>, 6'2”, OH/RS, Blue Valley West, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars finished second in the Class 6A tournament. The cupboard is still well stocked for West. The leading attacker for the Jags returns for her junior season in 2025. Kubik recorded 419 kills in 95 sets. She is ranked No. 2 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='514541' first='Harper' last='Hafenstine'],</strong> 5'6”, S, Seaman, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings will lose six seniors from their Class 5A Runner-Up Squad. Hafenstine will have to step up if Seaman is to continue a long streak of state tournament appearances. She finished with 489 assists and 182 digs in 96 sets during her junior campaign. Hafenstine is ranked No. 165 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='516237' first='Ambree' last='Portelli']</strong>, 5'4”, MB, Rock Creek, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After finishing second in Class 4A, the Mustangs will return an impressive core of athletes in 2025. One of those is Portelli. She finished her junior season with 188 kills and 64 blocks in 91 sets. The Mustangs will have an elite setter to distribute the ball and will be expected to make a return trip to Hutchinson. Portelli is ranked No. 75 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446331' first='Ali' last='Jo Henry']</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Nemaha Central, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Thunder will lose six of the top seven hitters from their Class 3A second-place team. The only returning attacker with quality varsity time is Henry. She recorded 160 kills in her sophomore season. She is ranked No. 23 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='731872' first='Mia' last='Vermetten']</strong>, 5'9”, MB/OH, Valley Heights, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vermetten is ranked No. 94 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She will look to guide the Mustangs back to the Class 2A State Tournament after finishing second in 2024. She finished with 256 kills in 95 sets. She is a six-rotation athlete who also collected 356 digs as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483904' first='Hayden' last='Kramer']</strong>, 5'5”, OH, Centralia, ‘27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kramer is one of several gifted athletes returning to the Panthers in 2025. She finished her sophomore season with 259 kills and 227 digs. The Panthers will be early favorites to win the Class IA -DI state title in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->