When Taylin Stallbaumer took to the court at Washburn University’s Lee Arena on June 1, the multi-sport star for the Seaman Vikings got the opportunity to cap off her accolade-filled prep career.

Stallbaumer turned her high school swan song into an exclamation-point finish as she led her Red team to 4-1 set victory over the Blue team during the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Game. The Red team won 25-20, 25-20, 22-25, 25-14, 15-9.

Stallbaumer registered 44 assists, 19 digs and two kills as her instant chemistry with teammates helped position the Red Team for a pair of 25-20 sets to open the contest. The Blue team struck back with a three-point win in the third, but Stallbaumer’s crew clinched the victory with a double-digit win in the fourth set. In what became the bonus final set, the Red team kept the momentum going as they finished with a 15-9 advantage to close it out.

Stallbaumer, who will play volleyball at Johnson County Community College this fall, earned the 2024 Joan Lundstrom Wells Award of Excellence for her performance. As a player who followed up a state title with the volleyball team last fall by also helping lead her girls basketball team to a state title in March, Stallbaumer still viewed this exhibition contest as a really important moment in her career.

"It means a lot because these girls here are really talented, really good,'' Stallbaumer said. "You've got girls going all over the country, so to be a part of that team and to be with all of them, that means a lot.”

“It's an accomplishment that you've been working up to your whole career, so it's pretty rewarding.”
 

With just three practices to prepare, Stallbaumer said it was important for her and her teammates to work hard at making a quick connection off the court in the lead up to the match.

“I think it's really important when you're with the new team to get to know your teammates and I feel like we did a really good job of that,” Stallbaumer said, pointing to team dinners as key complement to their on-court workouts. “We had a lot of team bonding and I feel like we really just got to know each other.

“We care for one another, so I feel like that showed on the court today.”

Along with their on-court chemistry, Stallbaumer and Burke also shared another connection based on how their respective teams finished the 2023 volleyball season. Seaman and Mill Valley were the only two state championship teams this year who were not repeat champions from the 2022 season. Just like the Vikings, the Jaguars brought home their program’s first volleyball state title.

After Burke and Brewer, Wichita Northwest’s Nina Mitchell and Ottawa’s Emery Keebaugh were the next up as the Red Team’s leaders in kills as each finished with eight. Circle’s Mia Fox and Beloit’s Mylie Brown added another six kills each while three other players on the Red Team finished with at least three kills.

Olathe West’s Riley Ourth led the team with 26 digs, followed by Stallbaumer at 19. Keebaugh was next best in that category with 13.

Smoky Valley’s Hope Duncan led the team with four aces. Keebaugh finished right behind her with three aces while Ourth and Brewer added another two each.
 

After a slow start put the squad down two sets, the Blue team ended up finding a better rhythm midway through the third. The Red team looked to clinch their victory early after going up 17-9, but Cheney’s Alex Bittner keyed a 10-0 run from the service box. 

Although she ended up with just one ace in the match, Bittner’s ability to consistently place her serve deep, and with solid velocity, put the Red team off balance while the Blue team found its footing.

Bittner, who will play volleyball at Pittsburg State, said she was not surprised by her team showing its grit to bounce back in that spot.

“I knew we were so capable of it,” Bittner said. “We did start off a little rocky. It's always hard starting with new setter-hitter connections, not being on the court for a while. But we just tried to lock in on that third set. We knew we wanted it, we played for each other and we ended up on top.”

The Blue team also started to combat the Red team’s ferocious attack by meeting their attackers at the net. The Blue Team finished with a 12-5 total block advantage, led by Little River’s Aubrey Olanda with four.

Circle’s Jacqueline Corcoran gave the Blue team 13 kills, followed by Bittner and Manhattan’s Tatum Tindall finishing with seven kills each.
 

Maize’s Jordyn Bird and Little River’s Alaina Eck tied for the team lead in aces as both finished with three. Holton’s Cora Miller provided 26 digs, followed by Bittner with 19 and Corcoran with 17.

Along with Stallbaumer getting honored at the game, fellow Red team member Fox received recognition as a 2024 Flo Hyman Scholarship recipient. 

In addition to Stallbaumer’s honor, the Seaman program was named the KVA Class 5A program of the year. Seaman head coach Tatiana Dowling, who served as the Blue team’s head coach, was also recognized for reaching the career milestone of 200 wins as a coach. Topeka Seaman finished the year with a 38-6 record.

Stallbaumer felt a little odd about going up against her coach in this one.

"She's never been on the opposite side of the net as me,'' Stallbaumer said. "She's been my club coach, my school coach, so it was definitely different.''

For the Blue team, Bittner received the Don Bechard Award while Tindall took home the Judy Bellomo Memorial Award.

Tindall, who will play volleyball at Kansas State University, said it took her by surprise when she received her award, which is given to the most inspirational player of the match.

“A lot of these players are so good and I’ve grown up with them,” Tindall said. “Honestly, I just feel so blessed to win this award. It feels amazing.”

During the Blue team’s third-set comeback, Tindall made the first score to start the rally as she earned four of seven kills during that 10-point stretch.

“I really love that I made an impact on people and that people saw that,” Tindall said. “It makes me feel really happy because my goal is just to be inspirational to other people and younger generations.”