2023s Moving on Up
The high school season provides a great opportunity for athletes to make their cases in entering the rankings or moving up some slots. Our last ranking update was in August, so having a full high school season allows us to…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season provides a great opportunity for athletes to make their cases in entering the rankings or moving up some slots. Our last ranking update was in August, so having a full high school season allows us to get more information and talk to more of our trusted sources. Today we look at some of the players who made what we consider drastic jumps in our latest update.
Reagan Anderson Reagan Anderson 5'3" | DS/L St. Thomas Aquinas | 2023 State KS 18 → 11 – L – St. Thomas Aquinas/Mavs
The Wichita St. commit was electric in her junior campaign for one of the top teams in the state in 2021. She was all over the court with 353 digs and was solid in serve receive with 470 receptions.
McKenzie Fairchild McKenzie Fairchild 5'10" | MB Andale | 2023 State KS 27 → 13 – OH – Andale
One of the premier athletes in not just the state but the country, Fairchild elevated her volleyball play this fall in helping lead her team to a state championship. She dropped the hammer with 442 kills in her junior campaign and jumped 14 positions in the rankings. She is also an elite javelin thrower.
Avery Delong Avery Delong 5'11" | RS Blue Valley | 2023 State KS 21 → 15 – RS – Blue Valley/KC Power
Delong had a good season for Blue Valley that allowed her to move up 6 slots in the latest rankings. She had 202 kills and 76 digs.
Vix Vilott Vix Vilott 5'10" | OH Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2023 State KS 23 → 16 – OH – Shawnee Mission Northwest/ PVA
Shawnee Mission Northwest was able to return to the state tournament in 2021 behind the play of Vilott on the pins. She was a game-changer, as seen by her 371 kills at a whopping .304 hitting percentage.
Emma Wheeler Emma Wheeler 5'5" | DS/L Olathe South | 2023 State KS 24 → 18 – DS – Olathe South/Dynasty
Wheeler moves up 6 positions in the latest update after a fall campaign that saw her standout defensively. She navigated the back row for 394 digs on the year. She also added 457 receptions and 43 assists.
Maliyah Johnson Maliyah Johnson 5'8" | OH Hutchinson | 2023 State KS 64 → 21 – OH – Hutchinson
One of the biggest rises in these ratings was the electric, Johnson. She had a big fall for Hutchinson with 364 kills on the pin. The 5’11” junior also showed her ability to play defense with 295 digs and over 30 blocks.
Tori Creason Tori Creason 5'9" | S Shawnee Mission NW | 2023 State KS 32 → 22 – S – Shawnee Mission Northwest/
We highlighted Vilott and her play earlier but we can’t discount the work by her setter Creason in feeding her the ball this fall. Creason was crazy good in 2021, dishing out 1037 assists. She added 298 digs from her back row position while playing a 5-1.