Milestones To Keep An Eye On In 2020: Update!
This summer we highlighted a list of milestones we should keep an eye on this season. In an unpredictable year, we didn’t know what to expect with the potential of cancellations and postponements. With a few weeks to go in…
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Continue ReadingThis summer we highlighted a list of milestones we should keep an eye on this season. In an unpredictable year, we didn’t know what to expect with the potential of cancellations and postponements. With a few weeks to go in the regular season, let’s take a look back and see where these athletes are on their pursuit of these amazing accomplishments. What is most impressive is many of these were going to be accomplished without the change in match format. This fall, the state of Missouri shifted to a best of five format in match play. We utilized the same milestones as if it was still the best of three. For example; 1000 kills or 2000 assists in the best of three matches, compared to the best of five in a career is a big accomplishment for a four-year varsity player. We will also add some others, such as 1000 digs. The list below is shown from July, with their numbers entering the season. Here is the original piece.
1000 Kills
Mallory Polk Mallory Polk 5'10" | MB Lesterville | 2021 State MO – MH/OH – Lesterville – 960
Polk earned her 1,000th career kills on September 11th at the Dig for Life Tournament. She currently has 1286 in her career.
Grace Winkelmann Grace Winkelmann 5'9" | MB Hermann | 2021 State MO – OH – Hermann: 854
The Hermann outside hitter earned reached the milestone in a match on September 24th against Union during an 18 kill performance.
Salma Lewis Salma Lewis 5'8" | OH Carl Junction | 2021 State MO – OH – Carl Junction: 817
Earlier in the season, Lewis took down the school record. Last week, she became the first player in school history to earn 1,000 kills. September 29th versus Neosho in an 11 kill performance, she put down a slide to reach the milestone.
Kristen Birmingham Kristen Birmingham 6'1" | OH Park Hill | 2021 State MO – OH – Park Hill: 745
It appears if not for a canceled tournament, Birmingham would have reached the milestone by this point. She currently sits at 954 on the season with five regular-season matchups remaining.
Ryenne Gepford Ryenne Gepford 5'9" | OH Butler | 2021 State MO – OH – Butler – 728
Butler has dealt with some cancellations which has slowed down Gepford’s pursuit of the kill milestone. She has played in 39 sets and has climbed up to 897 kills in her career.
Bailee Middleton Bailee Middleton 5'10" | DS/L Liberty | 2021 State MO – OH – Liberty: 714
Middleton has 115 kills on the season and now has 829 for her career. She has been hot as of late with 3 straight double-digit performances. She did eclipse the 1,000 dig mark in her career on September 10th.
Jordan Iliff Jordan Iliff 6'1" | RS Mehlville | 2021 State MO – RS – Mehlville: 691
Iliff and her Mehlville teammates just started their season last week. At this point, they only have three matches under their belt. Stats are available for two of those matches and the Missouri commit earned 23 kills and now sits at 714.
Serena Sundell – MH – Maryville: 657
It appears we were off on Sundell’s career marks and now it makes sense how that occurred. Her freshman stats aren’t listed on MaxPreps! The Kansas State basketball commit reached her 1,000th kill on September 29th against Savannah.
Samantha Schuler Samantha Schuler 5'11" | RS Pattonville | 2021 State MO – RS – Pattonville: 613
Pattonville had a delay to their start of the season. To date, their stats haven’t been updated.
2000 Assists
Arley Anderson Arley Anderson 5'5" | Setter Park Hill South | 2021 MO – S – Park Hill South: 1892
Anderson, the recent Central Missouri commit earned her 2,000th career assist on September 8th in a match against Mill Valley. She now has 2,132 in her four year career for the Panthers.
Samantha Thompson – S – Logan Rogersville: 1795
On September 19th in a match against Branson, Thompson reached the 2,000th career assist milestone. She keeps adding to that total and has 2,145.
Abby Van Buskirk Abby Van Buskirk 5'10" | S Rockwood Summit | 2021 State MO – S – Rockwood Summit: 1609
Rockwood Summit was in one of the locations that started their season late. They have only played 13 sets this fall. Van Buskirk has 103 assists so far to raise her career numbers to 1712.
Hannah Joyce Hannah Joyce 5'8" | S Pleasant Hill | 2021 State MO – S – Pleasant Hill: 1577
Entering the season, we knew Joyce had the weapons to have a big enough season to challenge this mark. With the return of their leading scorer, who transferred last year, Joyce earned assist number 2000 in a September 29th showdown with rival Harrisonville.
Raegan Riley – S – Clarkton: 1542
Riley should reach her 2,000th career assist soon! She is 38 shy after earning 420 this season.
Lily Letchworth Lily Letchworth 5'10" | S Blue Springs | 2021 State MO – S – Blue Springs: 1416
The Blue Springs setter is steadily climbing closer to the milestone. She has 366 assists, which puts her at 1782 now with a few weeks to go.
1500 Digs
Chloe Kaimann Chloe Kaimann 5'7" | DS/L Winfield | 2021 State MO – L – Winfield: 1192
Kaimann is closing in on her 1,500th career dig. She is averaging 6.8 digs per set and now has 1410 in her illustrious career.
1000 Digs
Aly Gurtiza Aly Gurtiza 5'8" | DS/L Lee's Summit West | 2021 State MO – L – Lee’s Summit West
Gurtiza, the standout libero for the Titans garnered her 1,000th career dig last week.
300 Total Blocks
Tristan Weaver – MH – Eminence: 247
Stats haven’t been updated this season.
Kristen Kaempfe – MH – Perryville: 246
Kaempfe has 48 total blocks on the year and is just six shy of 300 for her career.
Hannah Graves – MH – Park Hill: 225
The Park Hill Middle has 58 total blocks on the year, including a 12 block performance in her last match. She now has 283.
Lexi Miller – MH – Galena – 218
Miller has moved up to 270 blocks in her career. She is averaging just under 2 blocks a set in her final season.