Whitaker recently committed to South Dakota for track and field. If you’ve watched her compete in volleyball, which I have for several seasons, you’re not surprised by her being pursued in that sport. Whitaker is an undersized middle that’s played at a high level for one of the state’s top programs because of her explosiveness and athleticism. She bounces off of the court quickly with excellent rise in her vertical leap. We saw it during the Mustangs’ march to the 2024 Class 3A state championship. Whitaker showed it again when I scouted Mount Vernon at the Westside Invite in Cedar Rapids on Oct. 11. Her contributions helped get the team into the Gold Bracket against a tough field. Through 86 sets played, Whitaker produced 216 kills and a team-best 70.0 blocks.

Whitaker often is overshadowed playing on talented teams, but the bouncy middle hitter deserves credit for her contributions to winning programs. She makes up for not having traditional height at the position by combining athletic explosion with a high volleyball IQ. Whitaker jumps quickly, which helps in snapping the attack or throwing up the block. She piled up 151 kills (.311) and 97.0 blocks in helping the Mustangs win the Class 3A state championship last season.