Kansas Klassic Coverage: Seaman v Jefferson West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On June 14, I scouted three matches at the Kansas Klassic, an annual high school summer tournament hosted by Seaman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday, I featured two reports on the first two matches that I watched.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The report features athletes who performed well in Seaman's two-set victory over Jefferson West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay tuned tomorrow for one more report about athletes competing in this event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='736414' first='Alivia' last='Dowty']</strong>, 5'70”, S/RS, Seaman, '29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The host Vikings are going to be young this fall, but the cupboard at Seaman is far from bare. This team will lack size headed into the 2025 season, but they will be athletic and gritty. Dowty was the Viking I was most impressed with in the Vikings' win over Jeff West. She is explosive and has versatile skills that make her a six-rotation athlete. She recorded 10 assists, four kills, two digs, and two blocks for the Vikings. She could one day lead all setters in Kansas in blocks. She debuted in the Kansas Class of 2029 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='783416' first='Leah' last='Little']</strong>, 5'8'”, MB, Seaman, '29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Little was not included in the first edition of the Class of 2029 rankings, but her efforts on Saturday, earned a spot in the rankings when they are next updated. She is a spunky athlete whose elevator goes all the way to the penthouse. She is another incoming freshman who could play six rotations for Seaman. She registered seven kills, five digs, and four serve receptions in the summer match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='603045' first='Parker' last='Ayers']</strong>, 5'10”, OH/MB, Seaman, '26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ayers is ranked No. 230 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026. She did not play much varsity ball last season, but looks as if she might well be the tallest athlete on this year's squad and could end up leading them in kills. While watching her play, the first word that came to mind to describe her frame was “stringy.” She looks like she would be blown over in a stiff breeze, but she is tougher than she seems. She can lay out for digs or jump high for attacks. She finished the match with seven kills, five serve receptions, and four digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='728439' first='Liz' last='Deeter']</strong>, 6'0”, MB, Jefferson West, '29</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaching staff at Jefferson West has a good problem to have heading into the 2025 season: there might be too many middles for the Tigers. Deeter is ranked No. 2 overall in the Kansas Class of 2029. She played in the second front row rotation for the most part, with [player_tooltip player_id='551804' first='Addison' last='Schwinn'] as the starting middle. I would be tempted to pair them together, as they could be an irresistible force as a blocking pair. She finished with six blocks in the two Tiger matches I scouted. She is young, physical, and skilled, but still raw enough that she will continue to evolve as a prospect. The ceiling is high for this small school youngster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='783419' first='Kolbie' last='Noel']</strong>, 5'8” OH/MB, Jefferson West, '26 So, as much as I hate to admit it, I can still overlook athletes, and sometimes I am wrong about players or forget about them. Noel was an impressive athlete whom I couldn't believe I didn't have in the Kansas Class of 2026 rankings. She is a physical athlete who played well in both of the Tigers' matches I watched yesterday. I went back and searched for her, and she was an honorable mention on one of my All-Deck squads in 2024, but I was spelling her name incorrectly. Anyway, she is a college-level talent with a new Prep Dig profile. I hope she claims it and updates information for the college coaches who subscribe to Prep Dig.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->