CLASS 1A DIVISION I VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 
 

 
CALYN BAKER, CLIFTON-CLYDE

Baker has led the Eagles in kills each of her two seasons since moving into a starting middle hitter role at the start of her sophomore year. She led a tight race for the team kill lead as a sophomore with 251 – one of four Eagles with at least 228 – but last year was far and away the team leader with 320 kills, pushing her over the 600 mark for her career. Baker has added 114 blocks the past two seasons and has 143 in her career and also thrives on the back row where she’s one dig away from 500 in her career, picking up 252 last year. Since she joined the starting lineup, Clifton-Clyde has qualified for state each season, taking fourth in 2023 and third last fall. Baker earned second-team All-Class 1A Division I and first-team All-Twin Valley League honors last fall and could take on an even bigger role in the offense with the graduation of all-league hitter Lillian Steinbrock, who ranked second on the team in kills with 289 last year.
 

 
DELANEY DUERKSEN, GOESSEL
 
On a Goessel team loaded with standout seniors, Duerksen stood out as a freshman six-rotation player for the Bluebirds last year, helping them to a 32-8 record in which four of those losses came to eventual Class 1A Division I state champion Little River, the last in the sub-state finals. Duerksen was a more-than-capable defender, picking up 376 digs to barely rank second to senior Abbigail Funk. Offensively, her 219 kills ranked second to Brooklyn Wuest’s 497 and her 82 aces led the team by more than 30. Duerksen was first-team All-Wheat State League and will become Goessel’s primary attacker this season with Wuetz and the Funk twins having graduated last May.
  

KINLEY EDGERTON, COLONY-CREST

Edgerton returns as the Lancers’ anchor in the middle, both literally and figuratively. Edgerton, who served as the team’s middle blocker and setter, led Colony-Crest with 243 assists while also tallying 55 blocks and 38 aces in a successful junior campaign. Her all-around play earned her first-team All-Three Rivers League honors as she helped power the Lancers to a 16-3 league record.
 

ARIKA FELDMAN, LITTLE RIVER
 
Feldman is part of a senior class that has taken the Little River program to a new level with the Redskins having won the Class 1A Division I state title each of their three seasons in high school. After playing mostly a reserve role her sophomore season behind a dominating senior hitting trio, Feldman moved into a prominent role last year as a middle hitter/blocker, opposite hitter and setter. The 6-foot-2 force delivered 442 kills and 106 blocks when she was on the front line and then dished out 469 assists when she handled the backrow setting duties. Feldman also finished with 216 digs and 52 aces and was named the 1A Division I player of the year by the Kansas Volleyball Association after helping the Redskins to a 40-6 overall record. She’s also a basketball standout for the Redskins and is committed to Fort Hays State for that sport after leading Little River to a runner-up state finish last year.
 

AVERY JENSEN, ST. FRANCIS

Jensen received second-team All-1A Division I honors last year as a junior. The middle hitter was a first-team All-Northwest Kansas League pick. Jensen put up 434 kills in 2024, which set a St. Francis single-season record. She posted a .200 hitting percentage and tallied 47 blocks with 310 digs. The Indians made state last year, knocking off Rock Hills in the sub-state finals in an epic three-set match which included a 28-26 decisive set. St. Francis will lean heavily on Jensen again. The Indians will have to replace a pair of graduated second-team all-league picks in Delaney Myers and Matilynn Smull. Jensen is well on her way to hitting the 1,000-kill milestone, entering her senior season with 702.
 

 
NICOLE JUDD, TROY

Judd has served as Troy’s libero each of the past two seasons and helped lead the Trojans to a Class 1A Division I regional title last year. She earned first-team All-Northeast Kansas League honors after recording 344 digs. Judd has 832 digs in her career and was named an AVCA player to watch last fall. She’ll team with fellow returning all-league senior Harper Whetstine to give Troy a strong duo as they look to add a sub-state title to the program resume this fall.
 

 
MAKIAH KLIESEN, SPEARVILLE

Kliesen is a force at the net for the Lancers.The middle hitter put up 408 kills and 108 blocks last season. She was a first-team All-SPIAA pick after earning second-team honors as a sophomore in 2023. She was also an honorable mention All-1A Division I pick last season. Spearville went 35-4 in 2024 but the Lancers were knocked out in the sub-state final by St. John. Spearville should have another strong squad this season, returning four all-league players in Kliesen, Cheyenne Ackerman, Makenzie Preisner and Morghyn Rucker.
 

 
HAYDEN KRAMER, CENTRALIA
 
Kramer formed a powerful 1-2 punch along with teammate Oen Deters last year in helping Centralia reach the Class 1A Division I state championship match before falling to three-time state champion Little River to cap a 38-8 season. Kramer took on a starting role as an outside hitter as a freshman in 2023 and had 266 kills. Last year, she dipped slightly to 259 kills and also added 227 digs and 38 aces, earning second-team All-Class 1A Division I honors as well as a second-team All-Twin Valley League selection. Kramer, who also helped lead Centralia to an undefeated 1A Division I state title in basketball, will be an even bigger force this season with Deters having graduated after a first-team All-1A I season last fall.
 

EVIE LOOK, LITTLE RIVER
 
Look moved into a starting setter role for the Redskins her sophomore year after they had to replace one of their setters from the 2022 Class 1A Division I state championship team. She slid right in and has manned the position the past two seasons, helping Little River extend its state championship streak to three straight after the Redskins went 40-6 last year. Look had 359 assists as a sophomore and then racked up a team-high 638 assists last year in replacing Kate Ellwood as the team’s primary setter. A Labette Community College commit, Look also had 245 digs last year and went over 1,000 career assists, earning second-team All-Class 1A I and first-team All-Wheat State League honors.
 

BRYLEE MINNICK, OBERLIN

Minnick received honorable mention All-1A Division I honors last season and was a second-team All-Northwest Kansas League pick for the second straight year. She put up 340 kills (4 per set) last year, adding 21 blocks, 347 digs and 44 aces. Minnick has played outside hitter for the Red Devils but will most likely play middle hitter this season while still playing all six rotations. She recorded a season-high 16 kills in a three-set win against Wheatland-Grinnell last year. The Red Devils will look to improve on last year’s 13-22 mark. They will have to replace a first-team all-league selection in Jenna Fortin, who graduated.
 

HALLE MIZNER, ROCK HILLS

Mizner helped lead the Grizzlies to a 36-4 campaign last year. She finished with 362 kills as a junior, averaging 4.3 per set. Mizner added 203 digs, 26 blocks and hit .238 for the season. She earned first-team All-Northern Plains League honors and was honorable mention All-1A Division I. Rock Hills nearly made state last year but the Grizzlies dropped a three-set heartbreaker to St. Francis in the sub-state final. They are set up for another strong year, returning three all-league players in Mizner, Bethany Simmelink and Ally Beck. Mizner is on pace to hit the 1,000-kill milestone this year, entering her senior campaign with 708.
 

 
HAVANA OLANDER, LITTLE RIVER
 
While only 5-foot-8, Olander’s tremendous leaping ability that’s earned her three straight Class 1A state triple jump titles in track also translates on the volleyball court and makes her a dangerous attacker from her middle/OPP positions. She ranked second on the Redskins in kills last year with her 394, less than 50 behind teammate Arika Feldman, who was the Class 1A Division I player of the year last year. Olander stepped right into a big role as a freshman in 2022, helping Little River to a state title that the Redskins haven’t relinquished since, winning their third straight last fall. Olander also added 309 digs, 81 aces and 52 blocks last year, showing her versatility. A two-time first-team All-Wheat State League selection, Olander also earned first-team All-1A Division I honors last year and is part of a stellar senior class that will look to cap their careers with four straight state titles.
 

SAELYN RALEIGH, LITTLE RIVER
 
On a team loaded with junior talent, Raleigh emerged as more than just a complementary weapon to her elder teammates last fall as a sophomore after seeing spot duty as a freshman. She spent time at both middle and outside hitter spots and delivered 324 kills to rank third on the team behind now-seniors Arika Feldman and Havana Olander. Her 83 blocks ranked only behind Feldman, who was the 1A I player of the year. Raleigh helped Little River extend its streak of 1A Division I state titles to three straight last fall and was a second-team All-1A Division I selection.
 

ALEX SCRIBNER, FLINTHILLS
 
Scribner helped the Mustangs return to the Class 1A Division I state tournament and finish fourth last year after being upset in the sub-state finals by Wichita Central Christian two years ago. The senior libero set a school record for digs (460) while also registering a top-10 program mark in serve percentage. She added 30 aces and 26 assists as Flinthills finished 39-5. A first-team All-South Central Border League selection, Scribner has 708 career digs. She also played libero on Flinthills’ state runner-up team in 2023.
 

KAYTE SHIVELY, RAWLINS COUNTY

Shively is a versatile leader for the Buffaloes. She primarily plays middle hitter but is a powerful weapon from anywhere on the floor. Shively earned second-team All-Northwest Kansas League honors after receiving honorable mention in 2023. She recorded a team-high 259 kills with 310 digs and 50 blocks last year. After reaching state in 2023, the Buffaloes went through a rebuilding season last year with a 13-22 mark. Shively, a 5-foot-10 senior, is Rawlins County’s only returning all-league player. The Buffaloes graduated a first-team All-NWKL selection in Tayten Dewey. Shively is also a standout basketball player, earning All-1A Division I honors as a junior. She figures to have a good shot at multiple school records, both of the single-season and career variety.
 

JADENCE STEWART, GREELEY COUNTY

Stewart returns for her senior campaign after a huge junior season that landed her first-team All-1A Division I honors. An exceptional all-around player, Stewart put up highly efficient numbers while leading the Jackrabbits to their first state tournament berth. Stewart totaled 470 kills (4.9 per set) while posting a .329 hitting percentage. The Jackrabbits finished their breakthrough season with a 30-11 mark. Across all classes, Stewart ranked in the top 30 in the state in hitting efficiency, kills per set and total kills. She’s already eclipsed 1,000 career kills and owns school records for most kills in a match (28), season (470) and career (1,227). She was joined on the All-Northwest Kansas League first team last year by now-graduated Jadyn Mangan, a key component the Jackrabbits will have to replace this season.
 

JERYN STEWART, GREELEY COUNTY

Stewart made a huge impact as a freshman setter in 2024. She nearly put up 1,000 assists in her debut season, finishing with 973 (10.2 per set), ranking 11th in the state across all classes.  She recorded 30 or more assists in nine different matches last year, including a career-high 40 in a three-set win against St. Francis. She’s also a strong server, delivering 64 aces last year. Stewart earned honorable mention All-1A Division I honors and All-Northwest Kansas League honors. Stewart will play both setter and outside hitter this season. 

ADELYNNE STRECKER, LITTLE RIVER
 
For all the firepower that Little River boasts amongst its various attackers, the Redskins can also play a little defense and Redskins coach Kim Rolfs will put her libero up against anyone’s. That’s Strecker, who took over the role as a sophomore in 2023 and led the team with 386 digs. She improved those numbers last year as a junior, picking up 487 digs, putting her just 74 away from 1,000 in her career going into this season. She also can be deadly at the service line, serving at a 97.3% clip with 31 aces. Strecker was first-team All-Wheat State League and second-team All-Class 1A last year, helping Little River to its third straight 1A Division I state championship. She and teammate Havana Olander have both committed to McPherson College for volleyball. 
 

 
HARPER WHETSTINE, TROY

Perhaps more noted as a basketball standout for the Trojans, Whetstine was a driving force behind Troy capturing a Class 1A Division I regional title last fall. The 5-foot-8 senior splits time between outside hitter and setter and led the Trojans with 247 kills and 304 assists. She’s now 87 assists shy of 1,000 in her career and also is closing in on 800 career kills with 742 through her first three seasons as a starter. Whetstine also had 255 digs and 30 aces last year and has 761 digs and 93 aces in her career. She was a first-team All-Northeast Kansas League selection last year after being an honorable mention all-leaguer in 2023.
 

SEVY WURTZ, CLIFTON-CLYDE
 
Wurtz has helped lead Clifton-Clyde to back-to-back top-four finishes at the Class 1A Division I state tournament as the Eagles finished fourth in 2023 and then took third last fall. A four-sport standout for the Eagles, Wurtz has started since Day 1 with the program and after having more of a complementary role as a freshman has been a leading force the past two seasons, going over 200 kills each season. Last year, she racked up 209 kills, just shy of her sophomore total of 240. Wurtz also has recorded at least 250 digs each of the past two seasons with 268 last year, and has doubled as one of the Eagles’ primary setters with 487 assists as a sophomore and 500 last year. Wurtz was a first-team All-Class 1A Division I selection and is a two-time first-team All-Twin Valley League pick.