Sands finished her high school career by putting the Lions on her back to make an appearance in the Class 5A State Tournament’s final four. She led Lansing in kills (307), digs (250), serve receptions (312), and aces with 39. She was named to the KVCA Class 5A All-State Tournament team and the 2026 All-Deck Team. Sands recorded career totals of 981 kills and 804 digs. She is ranked No. 9 overall by Prep Dig Kansas and has verbally committed to Missouri State University.

So I should not play favorites, but two teams I will be pulling hard to see do well this week are the Great Bend Panthers and the Lansing Lions. They are the two underdogs in this field, and both are easy to root for. Sands is the backbone of a young Lions Pride. She is a six rotation defender who can beat teams with her blasts from the back row. She leads the team in kills (307), digs (250), and serve receptions (312). She plays with the energy of a six-week-old puppy, but protects her teammates like a proud Mamma Bear. She is ranked No. 9 overall and verbally committed to Missouri State University.

Saturday’s tournament will be the last chance I get to see the Lions’ Sands play, and that is a tough pill to swallow. I feel like I have watched Sands grow up over the past three years as an athlete and a young adult. She has played more roles for Lansing than Meryl Streep has in her entire acting career. According to the team’s stats on MaxPreps, she leads the team in kills and digs, but only seven sets’ worth of stats have been published. Sands is playing for her third head coach in three seasons, but always takes the court with a smile and is prepared to play six rotations. She is ranked No. 9 overall by Prep Dig Kansas and is verbally committed to Missouri State University after graduation. I plan on watching Lansing’s tournament opening match against Spring Hill.

I have seen Lansing play a ton of matches over the past few seasons. I have seen Sands evolve as a player and a leader for the Lions. She is ranked No. 21 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and has verbally committed to play for Missouri State University. I have seen often enough that I feel like a distant uncle. Her game has improved, and she is a court leader. I wish her the best of luck when she moves to Springfield, Missouri.

Sands has been a frequent participant in past Prep Dig Showcases. Regardless of whether she is competing for Lansing High School, her club team, or at a combine, she always plays hard and leads other athletes around her. She is a natural-born leader and has the skills to play all over the court and at multiple positions. Sands is currently ranked No. 21 overall and one of the top uncommitted athletes in the rankings.