25 South Central Kansas Volleyball Players to Watch in 2022
 

KORI ARNOLD, HILLSBORO
 
Arnold, a senior libero, starts her final season with more than 1,000 career digs after helping Hillsboro reach the Class 2A championship match, where the Trojans fell to Smith Center. Coach Sandy Arnold’s daughter earned Class 2A second-team all-state and All-Central Kansas League first-team honors after finishing with 488 digs (10.8 per game), 60 aces, 99 assists and a .969 serving percentage. Already a strong passer, defender and server, Arnold will inherit more of a leadership role in 2022.
 

PAYTON BENOIT, WICHITA NORTHWEST
 
Benoit’s play at the libero position helped Northwest reach the Class 6A state tournament and finish with a 39-4 record, including a 33-match winning streak to start the season. One of three returning All-Greater Wichita Athletic League first-team selections for the Grizzlies, Benoit had 411 digs (4.6 per set) and served 94% on 269 attempts. Benoit, a senior, also earned second-team all-league honors in soccer.

 

ALEX BITTNER, CHENEY
 
Bittner, a junior, is the top returning hitter for Cheney, which finished 40-4 and lost to Olathe Heritage Christian in the Class 3A championship match. She had 216 kills on .265 hitting, part of a balanced squad that had five players with at least 100 kills. Bittner earned All-Central Plains League first-team honors and Class 3A all-state honorable mention.

 

BRAILEE BOGLE, WICHITA NORTHWEST
 
Bogle, a senior, was one of the area’s top setters last season, finishing with 380 assists (5.8 per set) during Northwest’s unbeaten run through the Greater Wichita Athletic League and into the Class 6A state tournament. Bogle also committed just 24 errors on 341 service attempts and eaned first-team all-league honors.

 

JACQUELINE CORCORAN, CIRCLE
 
Circle’s versatile outside hitter was a Class 4A all-state and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division Division III first-team selection after boosting the Thunderbirds to a 35-7 record and a strong showing in the state tournament that included a pool-play victory over eventual champion Andale. The junior finished the 2021 season with 379 kills (4.1 per set) on .242 hitting with 42 aces, 40 blocks and 266 digs. Corcoran’s speed and power as a six-rotation player produces kills on a variety of attacks.
 

JACIE CUMMINGS, SEDAN
 
Cummings helped Sedan come within one victory of a Class 2A state tournament berth, averaging 10 kills per match for the 26-9 Blue Devils. The senior middle hitter earned All-South Central Border League honors, leading the team in service aces with 60. She was also a key defensive player, averaging 7.3 digs per match. As part of the Blue Devils lineup since her freshman year, Cummings provides coach Chelsea Alcorn a wealth of experience.
 

HOPE DUNCAN, SMOKY VALLEY
 
The departures of all-state performers Abby Rose and Madi Tolle create an increased role for Duncan, who helped the Vikings follow a 2020 runner-up finish in Class 3A with a third-place effort last season. The junior outside hitter produced well enough at state to land on the all-tournament team and cap a season in which she had 265 kills, 333 digs, 21 blocks and 47 aces while serving 92%. Duncan’s all-around skills also landed her on the All-Central Kansas League’s second team a year ago.
 

AVERY ELOFSSON, WICHITA COLLEGIATE
 
Elofsson has left her mark in each of her first two seasons at Collegiate, leading Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV in blocks both seasons. The junior middle hitter earned all-league first-team honors after she averaged four kills per set with a .238 hitting percentage. Elofsson, a six-rotation player, had 79 blocks and 144 digs. Coach Regan Carlstrom says her talent for blocking makes her a wall to work through.
 

MCKENZIE FAIRCHILD, ANDALE
 
Fairchild helped Andale claim its first state volleyball championship and returns as Class 4A’s reigning player of the year after leading the Indians to a 40-3 season. The two-time all-state selection and Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV MVP had 442 kills (4.8 per set) on .289 hitting. She added a team-leading 351 digs (3.8 per set) and 53 blocks. Fairchild’s athleticism, highlighted last spring as one of the nation’s top high school javelin throwers, makes her a force at the net, as well.

 

SARAH GRAHAM, WICHITA TRINITY
 
Graham was part of a formidable hitting combination last season with teammate Lauren Cary, as both registered over 300 kills in the Knights’ 31-6 season. Cary has graduated, and Graham assumes part of the senior leadership role. The All-Central Plains League selection finished with 328 kills (4.0 per set) on .276 hitting with 43 aces and 387 digs (4.7). With senior setter Kourtney Koster also back, Graham should be comfortable in the go-to role.

 

JILLIAN GREGORY, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Gregory’s solid freshman season at outside hitter helped Maize South reach the Class 5A state tournament. An All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team selection, Gregory had 281 kills (3.1 per set) with a .319 hitting percentage and 28 blocks. Gregory spent part of her summer working with the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program in Tulsa.
 

SOPHIE HALL, ANDOVER
 
Hall, a senior, moved outside last season and increased her production with 285 kills (3.6 per set) on .222 hitting for the Trojans. She was one of three underclassmen to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors, joining Andover Central’s Maddi Amekporfor and Allie Paulsen. The Trojans finished 20-15, falling to Emporia in the Class 5A sub-state finals.
 

GRACE HETT, MARION
 
Hett, a junior libero, was named All-Heart of America League first team and Class 2A all-state honorable mention after helping Marion win 20 matches last season. Hett did her part to extend plays with 523 digs (6.2 per set) and was good on over 91% of her service attempts.

 

MALIYAH JOHNSON, HUTCHINSON
 
After earning second-team all-league honors as a sophomore, Johnson took it to another level last season, earning Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I MVP honors and leading Hutchinson to the Class 6A state tournament. A six-rotation player and starter since her freshman year, Johnson had 371 kills last season on .275 hitting with 304 digs and 54 aces. The Salthawks came up empty in three state pool-play matches, but still finished 31-8.
 

KAYLEE KAUFFMAN, HUTCHINSON CENTRAL CHRISTIAN
 
Kauffman, a multi-sport standout, helped Central Christian post fourth-place finishes in Class 1A Division II in basketball and volleyball last season. The senior earned All-Heart of the Plains League first team at setter, finishing with 835 (9.6 per set). She helped the Cougars post a 29-12 record before earning all-state second-team honors in basketball.
 

MAGGIE MILLER, EUREKA
 
The high-flying Miller led Eureka in kills last season with 301 as the Tornadoes earned their fourth state tournament appearance, finishing with a 35-4 record. Miller, who has a 29-inch vertical leap, added 260 digs and a team-leading 58 aces. The senior outside hitter, who earned All-Tri-Valley League first-team and Class 3A honorable mention honors, will assume more court and team leadership roles for first-year head coach Faith Rucker.

 

GRACE MORROW, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Morrow, a junior outside hitter, has been a key contributor on Maize South’s last two state qualifying teams. She earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division I first-team honors and Class 5A all-state honorable mention after registering 208 kills (3.0 per set) on .336 hitting. Morrow added 32 aces and 33 blocks. She’ll be part of a talented outside hitting combo with sophomore Jillian Gregory.
 

ALLIE PAULSEN, ANDOVER CENTRAL
 
Paulsen’s leadership and understanding of the game are huge assets for Andover Central, which finished 25-14 last season. The senior middle blocker and outside hitter has developed a knack for big blocks, making 20 solos and 69 total blocks in 2021. Paulsen led the team with a .435 kill percentage, delivering 177 kills on .251 hitting to earn All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division II first-team honors.
 

SYDNEY PUETZ, GARDEN PLAIN
 
Puetz earned All-Central Plains League and Class 2A all-state second-team honors at libero after helping the Owls finish third in 2A and stretch a streak of consecutive state appearances to four. She finished the season with 450 digs (5.0 per set) and 44 aces on 93.5% serving as Garden Plain posted a 34-10 record. Puetz also plays guard for the Owls’ basketball team, which finished second at state in March.
 

HAYLIE SANDERS, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Sanders, a senior, begins her third season on Kapaun’s varsity squad as one of its leaders and go-to players. She earned All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors last season after registering 285 kills, 202 digs and 15 total blocks. Sanders added 23 aces and served 92%. The outside hitter will continue to play six rotations for the Crusaders.
 

MADDIE SCHRANDT, ANDALE
 
Schrandt is Andale’s answer to the trivia question, “Who had the kill that gave the Indians their first state volleyball title?” But she has been much more than that in her career. Schrandt, a senior outside hitter, capped Andale’s 2021 championship season by earning Class 4A all-state and All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division IV first-team honors after finishing second-team all-state in 2020. Last season, Schrandt had 205 kills on .256 hitting with 38 aces and 217 digs, serving as a perfect complement to all-state teammate McKenzie Fairchild.
 

TALYA SAMPSON, SEDGWICK
 
Sampson is a key returning player from Sedgwick’s 35-4 team that lost to eventual Class 2A runner-up Hillsboro in the sub-state final. The junior outside hitter earned 2A all-state second team and All-Heart of America first team, finishing with 349 kills, 175 digs and 38 aces as part of 89% serving. Sampson’s ability to read the block complements her versatile shot-making skills.
 

REAGAN SMITH, CIRCLE
 
Smith, a junior, is an experienced engineer of Circle’s 5-1 offense, averaging a shade under 10 assists per set last season as the Thunderbirds reached the Class 4A state tournament during a 35-7 season. Smith earned All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division III first-team honors and helped Circle post state victories over McPherson and eventual champion Andale in pool play. Her leadership ability could factor into Circle’s continued success.
 

ZAYLEE WERTH, HILLSBORO
 
Werth, a 6-foot outside hitter, was equally tough on offense and defense for the Trojans last season as they reached the Class 2A championship match. She was second on the team in kills with 339 and posted a team-leading .240 hitting percentage. The all-state and All-Central Kansas League second-team selection added 325 digs, 20 solo blocks and 41 total blocks. One of Hillsboro’s better passers, Werth, a junior, couples that with length that tests opposing hitters.
 

BAILEY YOUNG, PRETTY PRAIRIE
 
Young, a senior, is Pretty Prairie’s top returning hitter after helping the Bulldogs advance to the Class 1A Division I championship match. Her 43 kills in the state tournament gave her 300 for the season. The middle-outside hitter posted a .329 hitting percentage and added 46 blocks on defense. Young provides Pretty Prairie with a player who is capable of taking over a match.