CLASS 5A VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
 

KYA BEHR, GREAT BEND

A junior setter, Behr has played a huge role in helping Great Bend produce back-to-back seasons with 30-plus wins. She set Great Bend’s single-season record for assists with 829 last year and also provided a scoring punch, adding 211 kills and 284 digs and 35 blocks  She was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference pick for the second straight season last year along with now-graduated teammate Cassie Ellegood. The Panthers also graduated a second-team pick All-WAC selection in Cara Feist. Great Bend (35-5) repeated as WAC champions and reached the 5A tournament last year before going 0-3 in pool play. Behr is also a standout softball player for the Panthers.
 

ISABELLA COOK, MAIZE SOUTH
 
The 6-foot-2 Cook is essentially a defensive stopper for the Mavericks, using her length to harness opposing attackers. A first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I middle last season, Cook recorded 80 blocks while adding 215 kills, 61 digs, 25 aces and 8 assists. She enters her junior season with 173 career blocks and 418 kills. She’ll also play the pin hitter spot for Maize South, which looks to return to state after finishing third in Class 5A in 2023. Cook has committed to Iowa State.
 

LAUREN DEGROOT, BISHOP CARROLL
 
DeGroot, a 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter, helped the Golden Eagles capture the Greater Wichita Athletic League title last season. A first-team all-league selection, DeGroot produced 285 kills, 111 digs, 34 aces, 22 blocks (6 solo) and 8 assists as Carroll finished 29-9 and sub-state runner-up. She enters the season with 379 career kills. DeGroot was the Class 5A runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles in May. 
 

MADELINE ETLER, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

Etler, a sophomore middle blocker, was a key part of last year’s St. James squad that finished third at the Class 5A state tournament, posting a 195-kill season to go along with 46 solo blocks. Her efforts earned her second team All-Eastern Kansas League and all-state honors in what was a 32-7 season for the Thunder. Etler and the Thunder came up just short of eventual state champions St. Thomas Aquinas in the semifinals as they lost in three sets before bouncing back to beat Kapaun Mt. Carmel for third.
 

PAITYN FRITZ, SALINA SOUTH
 
Fritz, a senior, helped the Cougars post their first 20-win season in at least a decade a year ago. The 6-foot-3 multi-sport standout has posted top-10 program marks for kills and hitting percentage in a season. The versatile Fritz can play setter, outside hitter and opposite. Last season, she recorded 296 kills, 313 assists, 24 blocks, 168 digs and 18 aces, earning first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honors. A UNLV softball commit, Fritz begins her final volleyball campaign with 692 career kills, 601 assists, 106 blocks, 379 digs and 34 aces.
 

 
HARPER HAFENSTINE, SEAMAN

Hafenstine helped fill a big void from Seaman’s 2023 Class 5A state championship team, taking over as the Vikings’ second setter after the graduation of outside hitter/setter Taylin Stallbaumer. As a complement to primary setter Campbell Chabot, Hafenstine finished with 508 assists and helped Seaman return to the Class 5A championship match where it finished runner-up to St. Thomas Aquinas. With Chabot part of a standout senior class that drove the title and runner-up runs, Hafenstine will take over as the primary setter this year and be called upon to be a leader for a young Viking team looking to stay at the top of 5A. Hafenstine also had 185 digs and 26 aces last year.
 

MORGAN HAMPTON, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Coming off a strong sophomore season that saw her play a pivotal role in the Saints’ 5A state championship run, Hampton enters her junior year with confidence. She finished last season with 181 kills and 28 blocks, helping Aquinas to a 34-6 record and its latest state title in a storied program history. The 6-foot, 1 inch outside hitter, who has already committed to the University of Central Missouri, earned second team all-state honors last season and was an all-league honorable mention.
 

ANNIE HUMPHREY, HAYS

Humphrey is a four-year starter at libero for the Indians. She hit the 1,000-dig milestone last year and finished with 398 digs on the season, averaging 4.8 per set. Humphrey added 36 service aces. She had a season-high 22 digs against TMP-Marian in the Maroon and Gold Invitational. Humphrey was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference pick last season after earning second-team all-league honors in each of her first two seasons. Hays went 27-9 in 2024. The Indians graduated Molly Martin, who joined Humphrey on the All-WAC first team last year.   
Illian transferred to Maize South after a solid freshman season at Wichita Trinity, where she recorded 250 kills, 182 assists, 40 blocks, 184 digs and 47 aces. A standout beach volleyball player who has been selected to the U.S. National Team Development Program, the 6-foot-1 Illian can play outside hitter and setter. Illian joins a young squad that features just one senior and will try to help the Mavericks improve on a 24-14 season that ended in the sub-state finals.
 

CHLOE KMIECIK, DE SOTO

Kmiecik is poised to lead the Wildcats once again after a breakout junior year that firmly established her as one of the top players in the United Kansas Conference. Kmiecik was a force at the net in 2024, racking up 177 kills and 68 blocks to anchor the Wildcats' front line. Her impact was felt on both sides of the ball, helping De Soto to 17 wins and a strong showing in conference play. Her performance earned her first team All-United Kansas Conference honors.
 

MYA LEE, ST. JAMES ACADEMY

As a freshman, Lee made an immediate impact for one of the top programs in Kansas. She finished second on the team in kills with 226 and added 100 digs, helping St. James to a third-place finish at the 2024 5A state tournament. Her play at the net earned her second team All-EKL and all-state honors. Lee will be back to lead the Thunder after the departure of setter Reese Messer, who was the 5A player of the year last season, as she is now at USC.
 

 
GRACE MARTIN, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Martin has been a cornerstone of the St. Thomas Aquinas volleyball team, and as she enters her senior season, the versatile six-rotation star is looking to close her high school career the same way she finished her junior year — on top. She was a big part the Saints’ 34-6 record and 5A state championship last fall. Her all-around impact — 314 kills and 260 digs — earned her first team All-Eastern Kansas League and all-state honors. Now a senior, Martin enters the season with 645 career kills, nearly 500 digs and is currently committed to Arizona State.
 

 
SYDNEY NANCE, EISENHOWER
 
Nance, a senior middle blocker, earned first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail II honors last season after helping the Tigers post a 22-14 record. She owns the school record for season hitting efficiency (.389). Last season, Nance registered 149 kills, 73 blocks, 29 digs, 9 assists and 7 aces. She enters her final season with 249 career kills. Nance has committed to play at Rocky Mountain College, a NAIA program in Billings, Montana.
 

ALLY ORTH, BISHOP CARROLL
 
Orth returns at setter for the reigning Greater Wichita Athletic League champions after earning first-team all-league honors. The senior dished out 742 assists, raising her career total to 1,454, and added 54 kills, 32 blocks, 105 digs and 55 aces. Orth, who played on a state-qualifying team as a freshman, settled into her setting role midway through her sophomore season, when the Golden Eagles transitioned to a 5-1 offense. A standout on Carroll’s softball team, Orth has committed to play volleyball at Army. 
 

 
MASON PALACE, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Palace helped the Crusaders earn their first trip to the state tournament in 11 years last season. A six-rotation outside hitter and middle blocker, Palace recorded 355 kills, 48 blocks, 144 digs and 26 aces as Kapaun finished fourth in Class 5A with a 32-10 record. The 5-foot-11 Palace earned first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors and All-5A honorable mention. A Pittsburg State commit, Palace, a senior, enters her final season with 728 career kills, 195 blocks, 179 digs and 27 aces.
 

MCCOY PHISTER, KAPAUN MT. CARMEL
 
Kapaun coach Heather Holavach likes Phister’s versatility as a setter. The 5-foot-7 senior runs the Crusaders’ 5-1 offense, but could be used on the front line in a 6-2 rotation. Phister helped Kapaun finish fourth in Class 5A in its first state appearance since 2013, recording 482 assists, 115 kills, 9 blocks, 196 digs and 21 aces. After earning first-team All-Greater Wichita Athletic League honors and All-5A honorable mention, Phister enters her final season with 1,121 career assists.
 

AUTUMN POPP, MAIZE SOUTH
 
Part of Maize South’s talented junior class, Popp recorded 814 assists at setter last year after transferring from Wichita Heights. That pushed Popp’s career total to 1,207 and helped her land first-team All-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail I honors. The 6-foot Popp also had 82 kills, 30 blocks, 215 digs and 33 aces last season. Popp, who also plays the opposite hitter spot, has committed to Wichita State.
 

TAYLOR STANLEY, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Stanley helped lead the Timberwolves to their first-ever state tournament appearance last fall, a breakthrough moment for the program. Stanley’s dominance on the outside was a driving force in the team’s historic run, as the 6-foot-3 hitter totaled 271 kills and 52 blocks during a standout junior season. Stanley, a University of Kansas commit, earned first team All-EKL honors and was a second team all-state selection.
 

 
ALAYNA VAETH, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

The senior setter was the engine behind the Saints’ 34-6 season and 5A state championship run last fall, leading one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses in the state. With 1,026 assists, 169 digs, and 36 blocks, Vaeth’s all-around game helped Aquinas reclaim its place at the top of Kansas Class 5A. Vaeth’s performance earned her first team All-Eastern Kansas League honors and a spot on the second team all-state list.
 

HAILIE VAUGHN, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Vaughn, a Princeton commit, returns after a stellar junior season that saw her rack up 270 kills and 39 blocks while helping guide the Timberwolves to their first-ever state tournament appearance. Her impact on the court earned her first team All-Eastern Kansas League and all-state honors, cementing her place among the elite players in Class 5A. She is one of three Division I hitters on the Timberwolves’ front line this season.
 

IVERY WATTS, PITTSBURG

Entering her senior year, Watts returns as one of the most complete players in the Southeast Kansas League — a six-rotation standout who does a little bit of everything. Last fall, Watts recorded 189 kills and 230 digs, helping Pittsburg to a 22-13 record. With that, Watts earned first team All-Southeast Kansas League honors and is hoping for a bigger improvement this season.

 
KATE WELLS, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

The senior middle hitter played a crucial role in Aquinas’ 34-6 season and 5A state championship run last year, leading the team with 71 blocks while also contributing 128 kills on offense. She was a big force at the net with teammate Grace Martin, who is heading to Arizona State, and Alea Goolsby who is now currently at Iowa State. Her efforts earned her second team All-Eastern Kansas League honors and honorable mention all-state recognition. She has committed to the University of Central Oklahoma.
 

WILLOW WENINGER, BLUE VALLEY SOUTHWEST

Weninger played a key role in a historic season for Blue Valley Southwest and now, the Georgia Tech commit is ready to help the Timberwolves take the next step. As a junior, Weninger tallied 256 kills and a team-high 47 aces, helping Southwest punch its ticket to the state tournament for the first time in program history. Her play earned her second team All-Eastern Kansas League honors and honorable mention all-state recognition in Class 5A.
 

 
JADE XU, EMPORIA
 
Xu has been a dominant force at the net since her freshman season in 2022 when she stepped right in as a starter and led the Spartans in kills with 209. She hasn’t slowed since, recording 344 kills as a sophomore and 336 last year, improving her kill percentage to 37.2. The 6-foot-1 outside hitter now has 889 career kills, closing in on 1,000 this season. She also has 109 career blocks, 89 career aces and 707 career digs. A three-time first-team All-Centennial League selection, Xu has committed to Emporia State.