Kirkpatrick is another student-athlete that’s significantly raised her level of play during the last year. She stood out during in-person scouting opportunities last club season and again during the state tournament in the fall, when helping Grundy Center reach the semifinals. I caught her again during the USAV Iowa Regional in late March after last watching her compete at the M1 Rochester Elite Scrimmages in early January. Again, Kirkpatrick keeps trending up as a six-rotation outside hitter with a lot of projection remaining. She already brings a heavy swing to the pin, and she’ll keep adding power with increased strength. Kirkpatrick is a good athlete that can jump, which helps her throw up an effective block, and she moves well laterally, making her a productive player in the back row. She ranked second on the Spartans in kills (241, .248) and digs (261) during the prep campaign.

In a program that regularly competes at a high level, Kirkpatrick has impacted the 2025 squad as a ninth-grader. She shined through the team’s first 74 sets with 157 kills (.263), 150 digs and 25.0 blocks. Kirkpatrick has built on a successful club campaign, when I saw her stand out for a strong CIA outfit. She gets excellent elevation on her vertical leap after exploding off of the floor. She times her swing well and generates a lot of velocity with her attack. Kirkpatrick is a good athlete with sharp reflexes, helping her to defend efficiently up front and in the back row.