25 NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2022

 

CEEGAN ATKINS, HANOVER

Atkins has helped lead Hanover to back-to-back Class 1A Division II state championships with the Wildcats topping Lebo 25-18, 25-19 in last year's championship match to cap a 40-5 season. A four-year starter for the Wildcats at outside hitter, Atkins recorded a team-high 289 kills last year as one of four Wildcats with at leat 230. She also led the team in digs with 530. In her career, Atkins has 624 kills, 1,031 digs and 67 blocks. She earned first-team All-Twin Valley League honors for the second straight year and was a first-team All-Class 1A Division II selection by the Kansas Volleyball Association for the second straight year, earning player of the year honors in 2020 in 1A Division II. She could take on even more of an offensive load this season with Hanover graduating three senior starters off its back-to-back title teams.
 

RAEGEN BECKER, CENTRALIA

Becker helped lead Centralia to a third-place finish at last year's Class 1A Division I state tournament as the Panthers finished the season 38-7. She finished the season with 361 kills and in the past two years has recorded 520. She also had 68 aces last season. The senior outside hitter earned first-team All-Class 1A Division I honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association and was a first-team All-Twin Valley League pick after being a second-team selection in 2020.
 

SOPHIA BOTT, LINN

Bott helped lead Linn to its most wins in nearly a decade as the Bulldogs went 26-13 last year. A senior four-year starter who has served as Linn's primary setter the past two seasons, Bott dished out 598 assists last season after recording 569 as a sophomore. She's had at least 30 aces each of her first three seasons for 118 in her career, 54 of those coming last year. She also posted 86 kills and 109 digs last season, moving up to first-team All-Twin Valley League honors after being a second-team pick in 2020. Bott also was an honorable mention All-Class 1A Division II selection by the Kansas Volleyball Association.

 

LAYNEE BROWN, SEAMAN

Occupying the libero position for the Vikings, Brown, a 5-foot-5 senior, has led the team in digs the past two seasons including 338 last year as a junior. Brown made her way into the rotation as a freshman in 2019, earning honorable mention All-Centennial League honors before gaining first-team all-league recognition the past two seasons. She added 109 assists and 27 aces last year while sporting a 2.09 pass average and for her career, Brown has 770 digs, 128 assists and 81 aces. She has committed to Butler Community College and helped lead Seaman to a fourth-place finish at last year's Class 5A state tournament.
 

MYLIE BROWN, BELOIT

After a strong debut freshman season in 2020 where she had 180 kills, Brown took things to another level last year as a sophomore. Complementing incoming freshman Addison Budke, Brown pounded out 503 kills to help lead Beloit to a fourth-place finish at the Class 3A state tournament and a sixth straight North Central Activities Association title. A 5-8 outside hitter, Brown had a stellar 41.7 kill percentage and also added a team-high 54 aces and 339 digs. She was a first-team All-NCAA selection for the second straight year and garnered second-team All-Class 3A honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association.
 

ADDISON BUDKE, BELOIT

Not many freshmen have put together the kind of season Budke did for Beloit last year, helping the Trojans not only get back to the Class 3A state tournament but finish fourth. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter led the entire state in kills with 679, posting a sizzling kill percentage of 44.7% and hitting efficiency of .312. She added 213 aces, 28 blocks and 37 aces, earning first-team All-North Central Activities Association honors as well as first-team All-Class 3A honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Budke and teammate Mylie Brown (503 kills last year) give Beloit one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the state as it goes after a seventh straight NCAA crown and sixth state berth in the past seven years.
 

LEAH COOK, SILVER LAKE

A senior outside/right-side hitter, Cook was part of a balanced Eagle offense that had five players with at least 100 kills last year. Cook ranked second on the team with 193 kills, 30 behind the departed Camillo Ossola. It marked Cook's third straight year with at least 100 kills as she recorded 111 as a freshman in 2019 and 180 in 2020. Cook also had 27 blocks and 43 digs last year, earning first-team All-Mid-East League honors after helping the Eagles to the league championship.
 

TAYLOR DAMME, PERRY-LECOMPTON

A force at the net in the middle for Perry-Lecompton last year, Damme led the Kaws to a 22-12 record. As a sophomore a year ago, Damme had nearly double the number of kills as any other Kaw, finishing the season with 362 kills on a 46.5 kill percentage and .337 hitting efficiency. Her kill total was more than double her freshman total of 153 kills and she more than doubled her efficiency. Damme added 120 blocks, nearly matching her freshman total of 127, and also chipped in 168 digs and 33 aces, earning unanimous first-team All-Big Seven League honors and an honorable mention All-Class 3A selection from the Kansas Volleyball Association.
 

JOSIE DELANEY, HIAWATHA

A senior setter, Delaney helped direct Hiawatha to one of the best seasons in program history as the Red Hawks won their first Big Seven League title since 1997 and went 38-4 overall, falling just short of their first state tournament appearance since 1983. Delaney earned unanimous All-Big Seven League honors for the second straight season and finished last year among the state leaders in assists with 926 (10.89 per set). In her career, Delaney has recorded 1,685 assists. She also served 97.3% for the season last year, also ranking among the state leaders. She's one of only three returning starters for Hiawatha this year
 

BROOKLYN DELEYE, WASHBURN RURAL

Last year's Gatorade Player of the Year in Kansas, DeLeye helped Rural take an undefeated record into the Class 6A state tournament semifinals before back-to-back losses relegated the Junior Blues to a fourth-place finish and 41-2 overall mark. DeLeye, a University of Kentucky commitment, was one of the state's leaders in kills with 586 while hitting at a blistering .438 efficiency. She added 133 aces, 26 blocks and 259 digs. She goes into her senior season with a school-record 1,633 career kills and also ranks No. 3 in aces with 213. DeLeye is a three-time first-team All-Class 6A selection by the Kansas Volleyball Assocation and was the 6A and Centennial League player of the year last year.
 

ALAINA ECK, LITTLE RIVER

Little River boasted a strong sophomore class a year ago with Eck being the top hitter of the group from her outside hitter position. She finished second on the team in kills to senior Lily Boughfman with 229, posting a 34.8% kill percentage. She added 251 digs and 50 aces, serving at 93.4% to help lead Little River to a 34-6 record and a Class 1A Division I state-tournament appearance. With Boughfman having graduated, Eck will take on an even more prominent role in the Redskins' attack this season after earning first-team All-Wheat State League honors last season.
 

KATE ELLWOOD, LITTLE RIVER

Ellwood ran the show as a sophomore setter in Little River's 5-1 offense last year, helping lead the Redskins to the Class 1A Division I state tournament and a 34-6 record overall. Distributing the ball to four players that posted at least 100 kills, Ellwood finished with 738 assists. She also had 34 aces and served at 95.4%. Little River coach Kim Rolfs is toying with a switch to a 6-2 offense this season, which could cut into Ellwood's assist totals this season. Ellwood was a first-team All-Wheat State League selection last year.
 

SAIGE HADLEY, LEBO

Safe to say Hadley was an impact freshman for Lebo last season. Stepping into a veteran lineup, Hadley fit right in and led the Wolves in kills with 360, helping Lebo to a runner-up finish at the Class 1A Division II state tournament. Hadley showed her versatility, adding 328 digs and also collecting 74 aces. Hadley earned first-team All-Lyon County and first-team All-Class 1A Division II honors for her performance from an outside hitter position.
 

MASSEY HOLLE, HANOVER

After being more of a complementary piece on Hanover's 2020 Class 1A Division II championship team as a sophomore, Holle stepped into a larger role and helped the Wildcats repeat as state champions in 2021. She was one of four Wildcats with at least 230 kills a year ago, recording 236 while leading the team in kill percentage at 49.7 and hitting efficiency at .387. She also led the Wildcats in blocks with 96 from her middle position. In two years, Holle has 177 blocks, 380 kills and 67 aces. Holle earned first-team All-Twin Valley League honors and was an honorable mention All-Class 1A Division II selection from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Her role could be expanded even more offensively with the Wildcats graduating three senior starters.

 

ADDY HOLTHAUS, NEMAHA CENTRAL

Holthaus did a little bit of everything for Nemaha Central last year in leading the Thunder back to the Class 3A state tournament and a 37-8 record overall. The senior outside hitter led the Thunder in kills with 328 and was second on the team in digs with 346. She also added 51 blocks, 30 aces and had only 15 serve-receive errors in 400 chances, earning unanimous All-Big Seven League honors for the second straight year. Holthaus was a second-team All-Class 3A pick for the second straight year as well and has racked up 696 kills, 1,032 digs, 134 blocks and 85 aces in her career.

 

BROOKLYN JONES, LEBO

A four-year starter for the Wolves, Jones has helped Lebo to back-to-back runner-up finishes at the state tournament with the Wolves taking second in 1A Division I in 2020 and second in 1A Division II last year. Jones ranked second on the team last year in kills with 252, hitting at a .344 efficiency. She earned first-team All-Lyon County League honors for the third straight year and first-team All-Class 1A honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association for the second straight year. Jones has 847 career kills from her outside hitter position.
 

YOLAINE LUTHI, MADISON
 
A four-year starter at outside hitter and setter for the Bulldogs, Luthi was a first-team All-Lyon County League selection last season after being a second-team pick as both a freshman and sophomore. Last year, Luthi finished with 304 kills and recorded 27 aces.
 

KANYON OLBERDING, JACKSON HEIGHTS

A three-sport standout at Heights, Olberding has helped the Cobras post back-to-back 20-win seasons, including a 27-10 mark last year. Teaming with classmate Kaylee Thompson to give Heights a serious 1-2 punch at the net, Olberding led the Cobras in kills with 273 from her outside hitter position, just 10 more than Thompson. She also added 320 digs and 46 aces last season and over the past two seasons, Olbdering has recorded 455 kills and 553 digs, earning first-team All-Northeast Kansas League honors both years. She's also won a state track title in the triple jump and helped the Cobra basketball team to the Class 2A state tournament last year.
 

KINSEY PERINE, ROSSVILLE

A three-sport standout for the Bulldawgs, Perine has been a force in the volleyball team's offense each of her first two seasons as an outside hitter. After recording 263 kills as a freshman, Perine upped those totals in a big way last year, finishing with 437 kills to lead the team by more than 100. She ranked second on the team in digs (277) and blocks (29) and was third in aces with 27. Perine was a unanimous All-Mid-East League selection for the second straight year, helping lead Rossville to a 30-9 record. With the graduation of Briar Gillum, Perine could become an even bigger focal point of Rossville's attack this season.
 

BELLA RADER, MARYSVILLE

Rader starred taking over as Marysville's primary setter last year as a sophomore, earning first-team All-North Central Kansas League honors. Rader finished the season with 872 assists after having just under 200 as a freshman. Last year, she also added 206 digs, 34 aces and 13 kills. The Bulldogs will have to replace their top two hitters from last year and will lean heavily on Rader to direct a new-look attack this season. She's already topped 1,000 career assists and has 415 career digs.
 

TAYLOR RUSSELL, WASHBURN RURAL

Operating in either left or right-side hitting positions, Russell has somewhat quietly put together an oustanding career playing alongside fellow senior standout Brooklyn DeLeye. Last year, Russell ranked second on the Junior Blues with 242 kills while hitting at a .282 efficiency.. Russell added 224 digs, 53 aces and 14 blocks while earning first-team All-Centennial League honors and second-team All-Class 6A distinction from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Russell has earned all-league honors all three years and All-6A honors the past two seasons while helping lead Rural to second-, third- and fourth-place finishes at the state tournament. Russell ranks No. 11 on Rural's career kills chart with 810 and is 13th in career aces with 123.
 

BRENNA SMITH, ST. MARYS

Smith was a first-team All-Mid-East League selection for the Bears last year as a sophomore after leading the team in kills with 262 from her outside hitter position. Smith also shined on the back row, picking up 226 digs and having 375 serve receive passes. She's had 14 aces each of the past two seasons and recorded 172 kills as a freshman in 2020.
 

TAYLIN STALLBAUMER, SEAMAN

A junior right-side hitter/setter, Stallbaumer helped lead the Vikings to a fourth-place finish at last year's Class 5A state tournament. She ranked third on the team last year in kills with 209, second in assists wth 305 and second in digs with 212. Going into her third year starting, Stallbaumer has 357 career kills and 459 assists. She was the Centennial League newcomer of the year as a freshman in 2020 and last year earned first-team all-league honors. With leading hitter/setter Drew Baxter having graduated, Stallbaumer -- a basketball and track standout as well -- will be leaned on even more this year in running Seaman's powerful attack, though she will miss some games early with a lingering knee issue.
 

JOSIE WEERS, SOUTHERN COFFEY COUNTY

Weers earned unanimous All-Lyon County League honors for the second straight year after leading the league with 375 kills. A 5-foot-8 senior middle/outside hitter for the Titans, Weers had more than 300 kills for the second straight year and as a four-year starter has recorded 878 career kills in her first three years. She added 57 blocks last year (197 in her career) and also had 37 aces (100 career). Weers was a second-team All-Class 1A Division II pick by the Kansas Volleyball Association for the second straight year.
 

LILY ZIEGLER, COUNCIL GROVE

A transfer from Washburn Rural last season, Ziegler stepped in as Council Grove's middle blocker last year and was a big-time force at the net. She finished the season with 453 kills and 76 blocks. She was more than just a front-row standout, also adding 340 digs, 23 assists and 24 aces, earning unanimous All-Flint Hills League honors. Ziegler will take on a setting role this year in addition to her hitting duties.