CLASS 1A DIVISION II VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

ALIVIAH BALL, WHEATLAND-GRINNELL

Ball was the top hitter on a Thunderhawk team that went 31-11 last year and reached the state tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The middle blocker led the team in kills with 301, adding 51 blocks. She was highly efficient, posting a .337 hitting percentage. Ball, now a junior, earned second-team All-1A Division II honors last year along with now-graduated hitter Jocelyn Perez. Ball was also a first-team All-Western Kansas Liberty League selection. Wheatland-Grinnell will also have to replace first-team all-league setter Emily Heier, but the Thunderhawks bring back a second-team All-WKLL pick in junior outside hitter Natalie Bixenman. Ball is expected to take on some back-row play this year.
 

 
GRETCHEN BOTT, LINN
 
Linn returned to the state tournament for the first time since 2020 and Bott was a big reason why as part of a stellar sophomore class that emerged as team leaders last fall. The 5-foot-8 setter/right side hitter led the Bulldogs in kills (189), assists (535) and aces (71) and was fourth on the team in digs (267). Bott was an all-state tournament team pick and also earned first-team All-Class 1A Division II honors as well as being a first-team All-Twin Valley League pick. Bott will team with fellow juniors Baileigh Peters (179 kills), Izzy Rogge (114 kills) and Geni Turk (356 digs) and senior Ella Oehmke (197 assists) to give Linn a strong nucleus to try and get back to the 1A Division II state tournament this fall.
 

ISABEL BOWMAN, BUCKLIN

A four-year starter at middle hitter, Bowman led the Red Aces in all major statistical categories last year. She recorded 288 kills, 286 digs, 48 blocks and 42 aces. Bowman boasted a .416 hitting percentage. The six-rotation player earned first-team All-SPIAA honors. The Red Aces went 20-17 in 2024, losing to Otis-Bison in sub-state. Bucklin also returns a second-team all-league selection in senior outside hitter Karlee Evans. Bowman enters her senior year with 554 kills, 612 digs, 119 blocks and 130 aces. She has an outside shot at Bucklin’s solo block record, which stands at 161. 

 
DREW BRUNA, HANOVER

Bruna has been a force at the net from her middle position from Day 1 of her freshman year in 2023. After racking up 314 kills in her debut season, Bruna led the Wildcats in kills last year as a sophomore, finishing the season with 347 – one of five Wildcats with at least 100 kills. Bruna sported a 54.2% kill percentage and hit at a sizzling .464 clip, both those numbers far and away tops on the team, as were her 78 blocks. Bruna’s power helped Hanover return to the top of Class 1A Division II as the Wildcats finished 42-1 and won their third state title in the past five years. She earned first-team All-Class 1A Division II and All-Twin Valley honors and could see her numbers increase even more this year with the loss of second-leading hitter Anna Jueneman.
 

 
GRACIE BRUNA, HANOVER

Bruna was part of a balanced, overpowering Hanover offense that helped the Wildcats return to the top of Class 1A Division II last fall as the Wildcats won their third state title in five years and finished with a 42-1 overall record. The outside hitter was one of five Wildcats to record more than 100 kills, finishing third on the team with her 195 kills. She was an effective back row player as well, recording 385 digs that also ranked third on the team. For good measure, she also led the team with 55 service aces. Bruna also racked up 235 kills and 543 digs her freshman season and is 70 kills from 500 and 72 digs from 1,000 in her career. Bruna earned second-team All-Class 1A Division II honors and likely will be an even bigger factor in the offense this season with the graduation for four-year standout Anna Jueneman.
 

AUTUMN COLEMAN, ARGONIA
 
Coleman and the Red Raiders got to the second day of the Class 1A Division II state tournament in their second straight appearance and finished fourth with a 39-10 record. The 5-foot-5 outside hitter led Argonia with 396 kills, putting her within nine of 1,000 for her career. She added 420 digs, 73 aces, 12 assists and 6 blocks to earn second-team all-state honors and All-South Central Border League first team for the second straight season. Coleman went over 1,000 career digs last year at state and enters her senior season with 177 career aces.
 

LINDSAY COLEMAN, ARGONIA
 
Coleman’s solid freshman season helped Argonia post a fourth-place finish last year in Class 1A Division II. She earned All-Class 1A Division II and All-South Central Border League honorable mention after recording 290 kills, 370 digs, 65 aces, 16 assists and 6 blocks. A 5-foot-4 outside hitter, Coleman helped Argonia finish with a 39-10 record.
 

 
EMILY CRIQUI, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
 
To call Criqui a difference maker for the Trojan program is an understatement. Marais des Cygnes Valley went just 16-15 in 2023, but shot to a 37-7 record last fall with the arrival of Criqui as a freshman. The daughter of head coach Missy Criqui, Emily stepped in as an outside hitter and became a big-time force, pounding out 358 kills which was more than double any other Trojan. She also led the team with 474 digs and added 76 aces in leading the Trojans to their first Lyon County League title in more than a decade. Criqui was a second-team All-Class 1A Division II selection and first-team all-league pick and with three other returning all-leaguers also back for the Trojans, they have an eye on ending a lengthy state-tournament drought this fall.
 

AVA DENT, ST. PAUL

After a breakout sophomore campaign, Dent enters her junior season as one of the top returning setters in the area. She paced the Indians with 425 assists in 2024, orchestrating the team’s attack. Dent also proved to be a threat from the service line, tallying 71 aces. Her all-around impact didn’t go unnoticed, as Dent was a unanimous first-team All-Three Rivers League selection.
 

 
KATIE HOLLE, HANOVER

With Hanover needing to replace multi-year starting setter Kaydence Schotte off its 2023 Class 1A Division II state runner-up squad, head coach Melissa Holle turned the offense over to a trusted replacement, daughter Katie. The junior delivered in a big way, spreading the offense out to the tune of 931 assists with five different Wildcats having at least 100 kills. Holle also had 339 digs and 30 aces, and earned first-team All-Class 1A Division II and second-team All-Twin Valley League honors as she helped lead Hanover to a 42-1 record and the 1A Division II state championship. She should have another big season as Hanover returns all but one player from its title team.
 

JAELYN ITA, WALLACE COUNTY

Ita was one of four All-Northwest Kansas League selections for the Wildcats last year. It was her first all-league honor. She’s started all four years, playing all around during her freshman and sophomore seasons before settling into the libero position last year. She is on her way to 1,000 digs, recording 282 in 2024. Ita delivered 26 aces and posted a 98% service rate last season. The Wildcats fell to Wheatland-Grinnell in sub-state a year ago after taking third place at state in 2023. They lose two key players in Jaelyn Daily and Jmya Stafford but bring back two all-league players in seniors Ita and Jersi Benisch.
 

TAYLOR MCCARTY, CHEYLIN

Cheylin could be primed for a strong season, returning its top player in McCarty along with a couple other all-league players. McCarty, also one of the state’s best basketball players, supplied a good chunk of the Cougars’ scoring production last year, netting 361 kills (4.1 per set) with a .265 hitting percentage last year as a sophomore. McCarty was a second-team All-1A Division II selection last year as a sophomore and was a first-team Western Kansas Liberty League pick. Cheylin went 22-16 last season. Senior Gabi Pochop and junior Ashlyn Schields are also back for the Cougars after earning All-WKLL honors last year. McCarty has already received multiple Division I honors in basketball.
 

RYLEE MILLER, CUNNINGHAM
 
The versatile Miller can play setter, middle or right-side hitter for the Wildcats, who are coming off a 15-18 season. Miller, a 5-foot-8 junior, posted 176 assists, 126 digs, 110 kills, 37 aces and 8 blocks last season. For her career, Miller has 187 assists, 268 digs, 186 kills, 72 aces and 13 blocks. A multi-sport athlete, Miller also plays basketball and runs track for Cunningham.
 

ZOE MILLER, DEERFIELD

Miller is the top returning player for the Spartans. The senior will play setter and opposite hitter. She’s received All-Santa Fe Trail League honors each year, moving up to the first team last season after being named to the second team as a sophomore and earning honorable mention as a freshman.
 

TONI MORRISON, ARGONIA
 
Morrison, a 5-foot-5 senior middle blocker, has been a three-year starter for the Red Raiders, earning All-South Central Border League first-team honors the last two years after landing on the second team as a freshman. She added balance to Argonia’s lineup last season with 319 kills as the Raiders posted a fourth-place finish in Class 1A Division II. Morrison enters her senior season with 914 career kills, 904 digs, 174 aces, 54 assists and 52 blocks. She helped Argonia end a decade-long state absence in 2023.
 

GABI POCHOP, CHEYLIN

Pochup will be a senior leader for the Cougars after a solid junior campaign that saw her earn first-team All-Western Kansas Liberty League honors. She was second on the team in kills (163), digs (253) and service aces (48) last year. Her season-high 11 kills came in a three-set match against St. Francis. Pochop played libero as a freshman before playing outside hitter in her sophomore and junior campaigns. Pochop is one of three returning all-league players for the Cougars as they look to build on last season’s 22-16 campaign, which ended with a loss to Ingalls in sub-state.
 

BRENLYNN RATH, GOLDEN PLAINS

Rath turned in an impressive freshman season for the Bulldogs last year. She led a balanced hitting attack with 192 kills, averaging 2.4 per set. She also led Golden Plains in digs (283) and aces (49). Rath earned a spot on the All-Western Kansas Liberty League first team. The Bulldogs finished with a 20-17 mark last season, falling to Wheatland-Grinnell in sub-state. Golden Plains graduated a first-team All-WKLL player in Hayden Wark but the Bulldogs return another standout sophomore in Lakin Wark, who earned second-team all-league honors in her freshman season.
 

 
ELLA REED, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
 
Reed moved into the libero role last year for the Trojans and performed well enough to earn first-team All-Lyon County League honors. Her presence was felt far more than the stats indicate as she had just 177 digs, but was a steady force on the back row. Reed is one of three returning seniors who earned all-league honors of some kind and has helped the program turn things around to the point of going 37-7 last year and capturing the league title for the first time in years.
 

YARELI ROJO, MOSCOW

A returning senior setter, Rojo averaged 3.7 assists per set and served at an 86% clip last season. She is the Wildcats top player and leader. “Yareli will be a major factor in any of the goals we hope to reach this season,” Moscow coach Cory Bixler said.
 

CAMERON ROSS, SATANTA

Ross was a first-team All-SPIAA selection as a junior last year after being named to the second team as a sophomore. She totaled 240 kills, 60 solo blocks and 43 aces in 2024, finishing the season with a. 370 attack percentage. Ross, who is looking to play at the college level, has started since her freshman season, playing middle and outside hitter. The Indians went 20-15 in 2024.
 

 
ALLY SCHEELE, HANOVER

Scheele saw plenty of time her sophomore year as a back row specialist, but with the Wildcats needing to replace libero Tessa Lohse off its 2023 state runner-up team, Scheele slid into that role last year for the Wildcats. She finished the year with 665 digs, going over the 1,000 mark for her career. Scheele also had 40 aces for the second straight year and chipped in 36 kills and 24 assists, earning second-team All-Twin Valley League and honorable mention All-Class 1A Division II honors after helping the Wildcats return to the top of Class 1A Division II as they finished 42-1 and with their third title in the past five seasons.
 

 
TRINITY SCHLABACH, HANOVER

After seeing limited time as a sophomore on Hanover’s 2023 Class 1A Division II state runner-up team, Schlabach took on a bigger role as Hanover’s complementary middle hitter to leading middle Drew Bruna, filling the void left by Katie Klipp. She stepped up and had 105 kills and 57 blocks, the latter ranking second on the team to Bruna. Schlabach was one of five Wildcats with more than 100 kills as Hanover ended its string of two straight runner-up state finishes by reclaiming the 1A Division II state title and finishing 42-1. She earned honorable mention All-Class 1A Division II honors.
 

JILL SCHMEECKLE, INGALLS

Schmeeckle's versatility was on full display when the Bulldogs needed her most in the postseason last year. She played most of her sophomore season at middle blocker but finished the season at setter, filling in for Remy Tate after the senior suffered a season-ending injury in warmups before the regional championship match. It was a seamless transition to setter for Schmeeckle, who helped the Bulldogs take third place in 1A Division II. Schmeeckle recorded 251 kills with a .398 hitting percentage. She also notched 242 digs, a team-high 60 blocks, 36 aces and 209 assists. Schmeeckle joined teammate Olivia Stein on the All-1A Division II first team last year. 
 

 
Spangler earned a spot on the All-Western Kansas Liberty League first team last year after being named to the second team as a freshman in 2023. The outside hitter delivered 194 kills last season, averaging 2.4 per set. Spangler added 76 service aces and 168 digs. She had four matches with 10 kills or more, including a season-high 12 in a three-set win against Weskan. The Bobcats fashioned a 21-17 record in 2024, losing to Victoria in sub-state. Western Plains will have to replace a second-team All-WKLL pick in Kalihan Flax. Spangler is also a basketball and track standout for the Bobcats.
 

LANI SPEER, DIGHTON

Speer earned honorable mention All-1A Division II honors last season as a junior. The 6-foot hitter put up 297 kills with a .470 hitting percentage. She has a shot at the 1,000-kill milestone, entering this season 633 kills. Speer is a three-time All-Northwest Kansas League selection.
 

 
GRACEN STAHL, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
 
Stahl has held down the middle blocker position for the Trojans the past two seasons and had a solid junior season in helping Marais des Cygnes Valley capture the Lyon County League title for the first time in years. After recording 121 kills in her first two seasons, Stahl jumped up to 166 kills last year, ranking only behind Emily Criqui. She also led the team with 62 blocks and added 94 aces and 165 digs, earning second-team All-Lyon County League and honorable mention All-Class 1A Division II honors. She’ll look to help the Trojans end a lengthy state tournament drought as one of four returning players who earned all-league honors of some kind.
 

 
OLIVIA STEIN, INGALLS

A Wichita State commit, Stein already finds herself in rarified air among the top hitters in state history. She’s on the brink of 2,000 career kills, entering her senior season with 1,932. Beloit’s Addison Budke sits No. 2 on the state’s all-time list after finishing her career last year with 2,302. Stein has shot at breaking former Hutchinson Central Christian’s Jamie Patrick state record of 2,635 kills set from 2008-11. Stein put up a staggering 728 kills last season, averaging 8.3 per set. Her .539 hitting percentage led the state of Kansas in 2024, with her kills total ranking second in the state. She also led the Bulldogs in digs with 466. Ingalls (37-5) is coming off its best season in program history, culminating in a third-place finish at the Class 1A Division II tournament. Stein was a first-team All-1A Division II pick last year.
 

 
AKYRA TRAVER, MARAIS DES CYGNES VALLEY
 
A three-sport standout, Traver may be small in stature – she’s just 5-foot-4 – but has been huge in leading her Trojans programs to success. In volleyball, she helped MdCv to its best season in years as the Trojans finished 37-7 and won the Lyon County League title. Playing outside hitter and setter, Traver finished with a team-high 422 assists, slightly more than the 414 she had as a sophomore. Traver also finished last year with 125 kills, 222 digs and 40 aces, topping 500 career digs and 100 career aces. She’s 162 assists shy of 1,000 and 30 kills shy of 300. Traver was second-team All-Lyon County League last fall.