By CONOR NICHOLL
Sports In Kansas completes its fourth fall of full season volleyball coverage with a final look at top statistical leaders, records, and notable achievements. Plus first team all-league players from conferences that have released lists, along with Top-25 statistical leaders for main categories. Thanks to all the coaches and players involved throughout the season. Note: As of Wednesday afternoon, the Kansas Volleyball Association has not released all-tournament teams from state, and all-state teams.
Washburn Rural finished 45-1 for the 6A state title, the eighth volleyball crown under Kevin Bordewick. Rural is currently ranked No. 22 nationally by MaxPreps. WR opened the season with a win against St. Thomas Aquinas and a loss to St. James Academy. Aquinas and SJA were 1-2 in 5A. Rural was the lone Kansas team to beat Aquinas. Brooklyn DeLeye completed one of Kansas’ all-time great careers and has a strong case for the best Topeka area volleyball player ever. She is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, MaxPreps All-American, Kentucky volleyball commit and three-sport first team all-state pick.
This season, DeLeye finished with 457 kills, a .341 hitting percentage, 324 digs, 64 aces and a 91 percent serve rate. She has 2,090 career kills, tops in Kansas history for any player above 1A. Jada Ingram finished with 307 kills and a .310 hitting percentage. She had 55 block kills.
Zoe Canfield, a Kansas basketball commit, recorded 96.6 percent serving accuracy, 46 aces and 1,016 assists, which ranked second for all classes. Katie Borough recorded 360 digs. After three straight final-four showings, WR won its first volleyball title in 10 years.
Olathe Northwest junior Sky Pierce, the nation’s top recruit for the Class of 2024 and a Nebraska commit, earned Sunflower League Player of the Year. Mill Valley’s Kylie Corneliusen was Coach of the Year after she led the Jaguars to the state tournament in her first year as head coach. Pierce enjoyed another remarkable year with 6.2 kills per set and a .361 attack percentage.
Riverton’s Jacy Thomasson helped the Rams to a final four showing in Class 3A, the school’s best all-time finish since 1975. Thomasson, a Pittsburg State commit, went over 2,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Morgan Compton exceeded 2,000 career assists. Thomasson and Compton were first team all-league selections for the CNC champion Rams. Thomasson and Baxter Springs senior Hallee White were the two unanimous all-league picks. Thomasson finished her career with 2,043 kills, 1,001 digs, a .403 hitting percentage, 330 blocks and 276 aces.
Smith Center’s Camryn Hutchinson has led the Lady Red to second, first and second in the last three years in 2A. A junior, Hutchinson has already set the school record with 1,806 assists. She also serves as the primary passer in all six service rotations. Smith Center served as a remarkable 93.4 percent as a team. Maile Hrabe led the balanced attack with 417 kills, while Gracie Kirchhoff recorded 353. Hutchinson led with 269 digs. Smith Center went 11-0 in conference and won the Mid-Continent League.
Inman 5-foot-11 freshman Suttyn Harris and junior setter Kambrey Woods enjoyed a remarkable fall. They led the Teutons to a fourth place showing in 2A. Harris had a Kansas-best 684 kills and averaged a kill on 52 percent of swings. Woods led Kansas with 1,055 assists. Harris was also top-five in Kansas in hitting percentage and blocks. Inman set a bevy of school records, including team most kills and most assists in season. Woods broke the Inman mark for single season assists. Harris set the mark for individual kills and points scored. Maci Neufeld had the individual record for most good serves in a fall. Inman finished 36-8, its first trip to state since 2010 and the school’s best showing since a championship in 1994.
Two coaches – state titles at different schools: Last year, Lindsay Zych Franco won the 5A crown at Lansing. She returned to alma mater Bishop Miege and won the 4A title this fall. Miege won its state record 27th state volleyball championship, best in Kansas history. The Stags were the lone team to beat Andale this year, first in pool play and again in the state title.
Little River, with 99 percent of its kills from non-seniors, won its first state volleyball championship since 1984. LR coach Kim Rolfs also won a title in 2015 with Central Plains. Zych Franco and Rolfs join a rare group of volleyball coaches to win championships at two different schools. Notably, Kimbrook Tennal accomplished the feat at Nemaha Valley and Centralia. LR finished on a 14-game winning streak and went 39-4.
Junior Alaina Eck recorded 343 kills and a .217 average, and junior Aubrey Olander had 305 kills. Junior Ashley Stephenson finished with 162 kills, freshman Havanah Olander delivered 138, and junior Kami Grasser had 125.
The Redskins have long been a contender with 14 state trips in the last 37 years. LR took second in ’88 and ’05. Last year, LR went 1-2 at state and graduated first team all-state hitter Lily Boughfman, now at Fort Hays.
Cheney’s 6-foot-2 Campbell Hague committed to San Diego State volleyball this week. Hague has helped Cheney to an undefeated state basketball season, along with state qualifier, second and third in the three volleyball years. This fall, Hague paced Cheney with 3.6 kills per set and a .270 average, 73 blocks and 42 aces.
Smoky Valley junior Hope Duncan had a highly rare 400-400-400 season. She led SV to its third straight state tournament and delivered 423 digs, 426 kills and 499 serve-receptions.
Olathe Heritage Christian Academy won its third straight state title. HCA captured 2A in 2020 and 3A the last two seasons. The Chargers have their well-known junior duo of Rachel Van Gorp and Cy Rae Campbell. Both players recently exceeded 1,000 career kills. Van Gorp has committed to Iowa State and is the reigning 3A Player of the Year. Campbell is going to Wake Forest. Van Gorp led with 353 kills, Campbell had 258 and Grace Schmedding delivered 218. Caelyn Ferguson paced with a .399 average, and Maci Hazel led with 819 assists.
Van Gorp has 1,179 kills, and Campbell is at 1,070 in her career. Hazel delivered 1,721 assists in the past two falls.
Ellinwood was a top-5 2A team throughout the fall. The Eagles finished 34-4 and lost to Smith Center in three sets in the sub-state championship. Bella Baker set the new Ellinwood record with 828 assists. The seniors went 132-22 in four years. Ellinwood has won six straight Central Prairie League League titles. Brittany Simpson delivered 100 career solo blocks, second all-time. Gabby Jacobs finished third in EHS history with 852 kills.
Sedgwick was undefeated until a sub-state title game loss to Inman. Junior outside hitter Talya Sampson delivered a school record 415 kills. Freshman setter Kalyn Sampson had 781 assists.
Notable 2,000 career assists cleared: Riverton’s Morgan Compton, Hillsboro’s Ella Suderman, Hutchinson’s Josie McLean, Basehor-Linwood’s Taylor Cruse. Suderman helped Hillsboro to a great season (top-15 all classes) and a 2A state title. Cruse, the reigning SIK 5A Pitcher of the Year, has committed to Ohio State softball. McLean, who played at Nickerson her first three seasons, helped Hutchinson to an impressive third place finish in 5A. Hutchinson pushed St. James Academy to three sets in the 5A semifinals. The Salthawks had not won a match at the state tournament since a second place finish in 1997, per KSHSAA archives.
Towanda-Circle took third in 4A, and coach Shelly Nibarger reached 900 career wins. Circle had five seniors, Riley Chenoweth, Lyric Edgerle, Addison Haskins, Sydney Johnson and Hailee Schropp, that had two third place finishes in its career. Plus 5-foot-10 junior Jacqueline Corcoran led the offense with 4.6 kills per set and a .306 average.
First Team All-League Players (conferences that have published all-league by Wednesday morning)
CNC: Riverton’s Jacy Thomasson and Morgan Compton; Girard’s Sara Goble; Frontenac’s Mia Brown and Hattie Pyle; Baxter Springs’ Hallee White
Twin Valley League: Centralia’s Raegan Becker and Lena Haverkamp; Doniphan West’s Avery Weathersbee and Kyra Johnson; Hanover’s Ceegan Atkins, Massey Holle and Taeben Stallbaumer; Linn’s Sophia Bott; Valley Heights’ Taya Smith and Maggie Toerber; Washington County’s Alexandria and Briahna Boykin
Sunflower League: Olathe West’s Amber Allen and Ava Testrake; Shawnee Mission West’s Reagan Barth; Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Tori Creason, Vix Vilott, and Elinor Engel; Mill Valley’s Ella Florez and Saida Jacobs; Olathe Northwest’s Sky Pierce, Emmy Sher, and Jillian Huckabey; Olathe South’s Jaya Johnson; Lawrence Free State’s Sawyer Thomsen; Olathe East’s Chloe Tyrrell;
Western Kansas Liberty League: Northern Valley’s Audrey Bina; Logan-Palco’s Madison Brackney; Golden Plains’ Jordyn Fleckenstein; Wheatland-Grinnell’s Kerri Heier; Golden Plains’ Breanna Rath; Weskan junior Aubree Richardson; Wheatland-Grinnell junior Karoline Schroeder
Wheat State League: Little River’s Alaina Eck, Aubrey Olander, Ashley Stephenson; Herington’s Leslyn Kremeier and Harley LaRosa; Elyria Christian’s Ryland Hawkinson; Goessel’s Brooklyn Wuest and Jaicee Griffin; Canton-Galva’s Trinity Espinoza; Rural Vista’s Kacie Acres; Centre’s Olivia Carlson
NCAA: Beloit’s Addison Budke, Mylie Brown, Kailyn Follis, Jaidyn Follis; Ellsworth’s Kylan Turnipseed; Minneapolis’ Shelby Davidson, Jordan Peck; Republic County’s Harley Ludecka; Sacred Heart’s Avery Eshleman; Southeast of Saline’s Chase Gilpin, Lexi Jacobson, Brielle Ptacek
NPL: Lakeside’s Lauren Brummet; Southern Cloud’s Braya Damali; Sylvan-Lucas’ Keeli Knobbe, Sophie Pancost; Thunder Ridge’s Taree Slavik; Beloit St. John’s-Tipton’s Ella Wiles
SPIAA: Bucklin’s Sydnie Jones; Ingalls’ Oliva Stein; Kiowa County’s Marley Little; Meade’s CC Krier and Carlie Martin; Minneola’s Madison Denison; South Central’s Kodie Herd; South Gray’s Allie Reed, Jacelyn Heulskamp and Kaylee Moyer; Spearville’s Tawney Krominga and Cameron Offerle
Final Kansas statistics (stats from MaxPreps and/or emailed/sent to Conor Nicholl and Bethany Bowman, Sports in Kansas)
Kills
Harris, Inman, 684
Thomasson, Riverton, 590
Perine, Rossville, 568
Budke, Beloit, 539
Keebaugh, Ottawa, 527
Lujan, Belle Plaine, 520
Stein, Ingalls, 508
Werth, Hillsboro, 503
Atkins, Hanover 460
White, Baxter Springs, 457
DeLeye, Washburn Rural, 457
Smith, St. Marys, 455
Pyle, Frontenac, 446
Corcoran, Towanda-Circle, 442
Bartlett, Bennington, 431
Duncan, Smoky Valley, 426
T. Sampson, Sedgwick, 415
Holle, Hanover, 413
Torrance, Colgan, 410
Davidson, Minneapolis, 407
Lopez, Bishop Miege, 407
Miller, Eureka, 406
Weers, Southern Coffey County, 397
Young, Pretty Prairie, 395
Stover, Neodesha, 394
Schroeder, Wheatland-Grinnell, 393
Olberding, Jackson Heights, 391
Hitting Percentage
Stein, Ingalls, .483
Thomasson, Riverton, .465
Stover, Neodesha, ,446
Harris, Inman, .432
Randall, Flinthills, .413
Romer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, .377
Knobbe, Sylvan-Lucas, .374
Young, Pretty Prairie, .372
Grimes, St. Thomas Aquinas, .369
Cacho, Sumner Academy, .367
Budke, Beloit, .366
Klingenberg, Rock Creek, .363
Testrake, Olathe West, .363
Thomasen, Lawrence Free State, .360
Washington, Andover Central, .356
Pyle, Frontenac, .353
Honeyman, Nemaha Central, .353
Goodenow, Aquinas, .352
Behnke, Ellinwood, .351
Cure, Goodland, .350
Singhateh, Eureka, .350
Stowell, Olathe West, .348
Schrandt, Andale, .347
Olson, Bishop Miege, .346
Wells, Riverton, .344
Assists
Woods, Inman, 1,055
J. Follis, Beloit, 1,004
Canfield, Washburn Rural, 1,016
Compton, Riverton, 987
Lehman, Goodland, 982
Smith, Circle, 982
Suderman, Hillsboro, 949
Hazelwood, Smoky Valley, 930
Bergan, Baldwin, 913
Quinn, Louisburg, 885
Gardner, Spring Hill, 869
Weller, Clay Center, 867
McLean, Hutchinson, 866
Nichols, Ottawa, 859
Delaney, Hiawatha, 849
Wedman, Blue Valley West, 849
Bartlett, Cheney, 839
Scanlon, Lansing, 837
Martin, Bishop Miege, 834
Baker, Ellinwood, 828
Heft, Kiowa County, 803
Messer, St. James Academy, 792
Moyer, South Gray, 789
Creason, SM Northwest, 788
Stuhlsatz, Garden Plains, 781
K. Sampson, Sedgwick, 781
Unruh, Lawrence Free State, 764
Baldwock, Tonganoxie, 762
Digs
Kremeier, Herington, 845
Atkins, Hanover, 646
Koontz, Newton, 594
Adolph, Cheney, 573
Krien, St. Francis, 565
Bender, Abilene, 551
Hett, Marion, 547
Cornelsen, Holcomb, 519
Bell, Quinter, 517
Holmes, Rock Creek, 502
Jones, Holcomb, 501
Wright, Clay Center, 490
Kanaga, Mulvane, 487
Holle, Hanover, 486
Anderes, Salina South, 484
Thompson, Jackson Heights, 484
Puetz, Garden Plain, 477
Traffas, Attica, 470
Foster, Derby, 466
Bittner, Cheney, 463
K. Follis, Beloit, 462
Castleberry, Herington, 454
Rencin, Hanover, 451
Pearson, Blue Valley Northwest, 450
Cline, Sylvan-Lucas, 449
Bolton, St. James Academy, 444
Troike, Girard, 443
Blocks
Coughlin, Olpe, 157
Afonja, Baldwin, 150
Pasquarelli, Erie, 143
Cure, Goodland, 131
Harris, Inman, 127
Thomsen, Free State, 116
Hawkinson, Elyria Christian, 114
Wurtz, Clifton-Clyde, 109
Grimes, St. Thomas Aquinas, 105
Holle, Hanover, 104
Olander, Little River, 102
Damme, Perry-Lecompton, 101
Zimbal, St. Francis, 101
Luna, Great Bend, 100
Randall, Flinthills, 100
Burnett, Erie, 98
Schmidt, Inman, 98
Feikert, Bucklin, 97
Cheeks, Salina South, 97
Gerety, Nemaha Central, 97
Lohman, Iola, 96
Hoffman, Udall, 96
Rucker, Eureka, 96
Thomasson, Riverton, 96
Aces
Rodriguez, Sumner Academy, 132
Wiles, BSJT, 101
Sutton, Marmaton Valley, 98
Sher, Maranatha Christian Academy, 97
Alexander, Maranatha Christian Academy, 96
Girty, Flinthills, 95
Wells, Riverton, 91
Wight, Flinthills, 87
Holling, Thunder Ridge, 86
Alvarez, Kiowa County, 85
Sanford, Rural Vista, 84
Arnold, Hillsboro, 81
Randall, Flinthills, 81
Weers, Southern Coffey Co., 80
Harbaugh, Pretty Prairie, 77
Johnson, Wichita Classical, 75
Kauffman, Hutchinson Central Christian, 74
Stover, Neodesha, 74
Ratzlaff, Hillsboro, 74
Countryman, Quinter 74
Higbie, West Franklin, 73
Krien, St. Francis, 73
Brown, Frontenac, 73
Fund, Santa Fe Trail, 73
Lutters, Osborne, 73
