2018 KVA Preseason Volleyball Rankings – click here.

The 2018 volleyball season is set to get underway Saturday and with that the Kansas Volleyball Association has released the 2018 Pre-Season Volleyball Rankings with six area teams named.

The rankings are headlined by Nemaha Central in Class 3A, as the Thunder will start the season ranked No. 1 after going 42-6 a season ago and reaching the 3A state tournament. The Thunder bring back three first team all-league selections in Jacy Dalinghaus, Ashley Larkin and Riley Bontrager, with Dalinghaus returning as a second team all-state selection as well.

Two more Big 7 League teams highlight the 3A rankings, as Royal Valley checks in at No. 3 and Holton fourth.

The Panthers surprised a lot of teams last season finishing second in the league with a 13-3 record and an overall record of 26-12. Mary Broxterman and Ivy Fink each return this season after being named first team all-league selections a year ago and look to get the Panthers over the hump.

The Wildcats meanwhile also return two all-league selections from a year ago in Regan Baum and Josie Marriott after finishing third in the league in 2017 with a league record of 11-5 and an overall record of 24-19. Baum was also named a 4A-II honorable mention all-state selection last season, while the Wildcats are looking to once again make it back to the 4A-II state tournament after going 1-2 at state last season. 

Class 2A features just one area team in Valley Heights who will start the season ranked No. 5. After finishing in a tie for the league title with the Panthers with a league record of 11-1 last season, Valley Heights lost a strong senior class that produced three all-state selections a year ago. The Mustangs still have talent and experience coming back, but don’t return a single all-league selection. Valley Heights is looking for a repeat trip to the 2A state tournament, after taking third place last season at Emporia. 

In no surprise throughout the state of Kansas the Centralia Panthers will start the season off ranked No. 1 in Class 1A, after going 43-1 last season and claiming the 1A-I state title. Four all-league returners are back for the Panthers led by first team all-TVL and first team all-state selection from a season ago in senior Madison Lueger. Two more seniors are back for Centralia heading into the year with Kate Elliott and all-state selection Maegan Koch returning, while junior Morgan Kramer also returns.

The 1A rankings also feature Hanover at No. 5. The Wildcats are coming off a 2017 season in which they went 9-3 in the Twin Valley League while holding an overall record of 30-12, led by returning all-league selection Macy Doebele.