As a member of the nationally prominent KC Power club volleyball team, Lauren Schutter routinely goes up against some of the top competition in the country.

So playing against high-level competition is nothing new for the recent Wabaunsee graduate.

Still, when she gets in a setting like she was in Saturday night at the Kansas Volleyball Association's annual All-Star game, where she's going up against standouts from all classification levels, it stirs the small-school pride she holds.

"Heck ya!" said Schutter, who starred for Class 2A Wabaunsee in high school, helping the Chargers to a state championship in 2019. "I don't think you should underestimate anybody. A lot of the best players I saw here -- no offense to anybody in Class 5A or 6A -- but they were 1A, 2A players. We go out and just want it. ... I think it's really cool and it just goes to show that no matter where you are from, you can go out and do big things."

Schutter proved as much. Playing for the Red team in Saturday night's All-Star game at Washburn's Lee Arena, Schutter stood out on a team loaded with top-notch talent, leading the Red to a 25-16, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-10 victory. Pounding out multiple kills in each of the first two sets that put the Red in control, Schutter's presence at the net was that of an unstoppable force.

She finished with a team-high 9 kills for the Red with only one error and also had a team-high 5 block assists. TMP-Marian's Emilee Lane was next with 7 kills, while Smith Center's Ashlyn Long, Little River's Lily Boughfman and Hillsboro's Sammie Saunders each added 6 kills.

"I am so competitive," Schutter said. "Before we even started playing, before we even started practicing, we were looking over at (the Blue team) and were like, 'Oh yeah, we're going to win this one. Easy money.' You know just hyping ourselves up for the match."

Sometimes chemistry can be a hindrance in all-star type games. But when Schutter took a look at who her teammates would be for the All-Star game, she immediately felt at ease. Also on the Red roster were Kamryn Farris of Lansing and Ashlyn Berning of Blue Valley West, teammates of hers on the KC Power club team.

"I was really pumped up," she said. "Seeing those girls from my club team and also Caitlin Bishop (of Lansing), who plays for Dynasty who we play against all the time. It was fun to finally play with her instead of against her."

Bishop had 14 assists, while Wichita Northwest's Caiya Stucky led the Red with 16 assists.

Central Plains' Kassidy Nixon led all players with 10 kills for the Blue, while Seaman's Drew Baxter added 10 and Garden Plain's Brooke Hammond had 7. Baxter also had 13 assists and Ottawa's Kirsten Evans added 12.

After leading the Red to victory on Saturday, Schutter can turn her attention to an even bigger step up in competition. Next stop for the Charger standout -- who just last week captured her third state championship in track and field -- is Michigan State. Not only are the Spartans a Division I program, but play in the Big 10, which has an unmatched reputation on the volleyball court, producing 10 of the past 16 NCAA national champions.

If going up against big-school competition was a step up, this is a quantum leap, but one Schutter is excited for.

"I'm super-excited," she said. "Eveyone knows that the Big 10 is probably the best -- no, it is the best -- volleyball conference in college. I can't wait to go up and do that. To come from 2A Kansas and go play at Michigan State is the coolest thing. I get to represent Alma, I get to represent the whole community and I get to represent Kansas. It's just so cool. Just a kid from a small town and I get to do that."

In addition to being on the winning team on Saturday night, Schutter got a bit of a surprise after the match was over. The KVA annually hands out four different awards to players in the game and Schutter received the Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence, drawing a huge roar from her teammates.

"That was awesome," she said. "I try to just keep positive energy the whole time. I'm that teammate you can kind of laugh at some times because I'm just being goofy or whatever. I just think you play so much better when you're loose and having fun. That's the biggest thing, go out and have fun. If you're not having fun, why do it?"

Other award winners included Central Plains' Nixon receiving the Don Bechard Memorial Award, Lansing's Bishop receiving the Judy Bellomo Most Inspirational Award and Hesston's Harley Ferralez receiving the Flo Hyman Memorial Scholarship.

The KVA also inducted four new members to its Hall of Fame: St. James Academy coach Nancy Dorsey, Tina Johnson, a former coach and official; Donna Lee, an official and former Washburn Rural standout Kelsey (Chipman) Stringer.

RED ROSTER

Ashlyn Berning, Blue Valley West; Caitlin Bishop, Lansing; Hali Bloomdahl, Clay Center; Lily Boughfman, Little River; Katelynn Brogan, Washburn Rural; Brette Doile, McPherson; Kamryn Farris, Lansing; Emilee Lane, TMP-Marian; Ashlyn Long, Smith Center; Sammie Saunders, Hillsboro; Lauren Schutter, Wabaunsee; Caiya Stucky, Wichita Northwest. Coaches: Christy Doile, McPherson; Maira Aikins, Hutchinson; Melissa Holle, Hanover.

BLUE ROSTER

Annabeth Baalamnn, Andale; Drew Baxter, Seaman; Madison Bruna, Hanover; Kirsten Evans, Ottawa; Harley Ferralez, Hesston; Brooke Hammond, Garden Plain; Katy Harris, Atchison; Iyannah Jackson, Lansing; Kassidy Nixon, Central Plains; Tallon Rentschler, Smith Center; Jacey Schurle, Clay Center; Grace Xu, Emporia. Coaches: Nick Linn, Smith Center; Lindsay Zych, Lansing; Sharlene Ramsey, Smoky Valley.