The 2023 high school sports season is upon us. Volleyball practices and games/tournaments are going on throughout this week in the Kanzaland area. To get you ready for the season, here is a look at some of the volleyball players to watch for this season.

Starting with the teams that made their state tournaments from a year ago, in Class 3A Nemaha Central made a good run at the title but fell just short.

This year, they will once again be led by Class 3A Coach of the Year Jessica Koch. They lose First All-State outside hitters Addy Holthaus and Ella Larkin. However, they get back a dynamic duo of juniors Cali Honeyman and Reagan Gerety who play both middle and outside hitter.

Honeyman had an impressive 215 kills with a hitting percentage of .353% along with 70 blocks. She was also an Honorable Mention All-Big 7. Gerety finished the 2022 season with 154 kills, a hitting percentage of .180% and 97 blocks.

The Thunder also return senior middle hitter/right-side hitter Kyle Sperfslage, who started playing varsity after an injury last year. She returns after getting 58 kills, a hitting percentage of .241% and 18 blocks in 2022.

Nemaha Central went 46-2 last year and won the Big 7 league title with a record of 13-1.

In Class 2A, Jefferson County North is coming off a third-place finish at state. The Chargers are once again coached by David Schuler, who led them to an NEKL title with a league record of 15-1 and an overall record of 33-10.

JCN’s lone All-State representative Audrey Bell graduated after being an Honorable Mention. Bell was also First Team All-NEKL. Claire Jobbins also graduated from last year’s team after being an NEKL Honorable Mention.

However, they do return four impactful seniors including outside hitter/setter Emily Langley, who was on the First Team All-NEKL. She had 247 kills, 26 blocks, 206 assists and 203 digs last year.

Evelyn Smith is another senior that will make a major impact for JCN this season. The middle hitter had 138 kills and 73 blocks in her junior season.

Clara Johnson was a big part of the team’s run in the state playoffs a year ago after getting 181 assists and 76 digs. She will be back for her senior season as a middle hitter/setter.

Emma Ruckdeschel is looking for a breakout season after a promising season in 2022. The senior finished with 110 kills, 50 blocks and 39 aces.

The Valley Heights Mustangs also made the state tournament in Class 2A but were bounced in pool play.

After a great season, they bring back two of their players that made the All-TVL teams. Taya Smith is the only player they lost to graduation from last year’s team. Smith was First Team All-League.

They bring back senior Maggie Toerber and sophomore Ava Smith. Ava Smith was the only freshman to receive All-League honors as she was an Honorable Mention. She is also one of just 40 freshmen in the entire state across all classifications to receive All-League honors.

Valley Heights finished 2022 with a 26-15 overall record and placed tied for fifth in the always-brutally difficult Twin Valley League with a league record of 7-5.

In Class 1A-Division I, the Doniphan West Mustangs placed third at the state tournament in Dodge City last fall.

Head coach Andrea Keller’s team was consistent, and we should expect nothing less from them once again this season.

Unfortunately, both of their players that received All-State honors graduated after last season. Avery Weathersbee made First Team All-State and Kyra Johnson was named to the Second Team. Both decided to continue their volleyball careers at Highland Community College. Claire Cole was also a huge contributor to the team that won’t be on the court this fall.

The Mustangs are led by a pair of seniors this season: Taygen Reno and Malaina Whetstine. Reno plays outside hitter and is Doniphan West’s most consistent player on the squad, according to Coach Keller. Whetstine is due for a breakout season at middle blocker and is a solid six rotation player, who brings a lot of intensity on the court.

D-West also returns junior middle blocker Katie Johnson, who was an Honorable Mention All-TVL.  She led the team in kills and blocks last year and was second in aces as well. Coach Keller is excited to have her back and said that she has the potential to be a top player in the entire class.

The Mustangs placed second in the TVL with a record of 11-1 and an overall record of 37-6.

The team that placed first also made the state tournament but in Class 1A-Division II: The Hanover Wildcats.

Hanover got all the way to the state final, but ultimately fell just short. Head coach Melissa Holle is back and will hope to continue their winning streak in the league which dates all the way back to October 6th, 2020. The winning streak currently sits at 32 consecutive TVL wins.

Sadly, they won’t have 2022 Class 1A-Division 2 Player of the Year Massey Holle suiting up this year. Ceegan Atkins is also gone after making First Team All-State with Holle. Another senior that graduated is Taeben Stallbaumer, who was Second Team All-State as their setter.

Anna Jueneman returns, however, after being an All-State Honorable Mention and an All-TVL Honorable Mention.

Here’s some of the other players to watch for this fall from the Kanzaland listening area:

Hattie Gros, senior – Frankfort
Emma Hardwick, senior – Frankfort
Shea Wurtz, senior – Clifton-Clyde
Oen Deters, junior – Centralia
Jesse Hoover, junior – Washington County
Rees Brown, senior – Jefferson West
Taylor Damme, senior – Royal Valley
Abby Elffner, senior – Hiawatha
Taylor Weishaar, senior – Riverside
Cora Miller, senior – Holton
Olivia Scott, senior – Jefferson West
Erin Boltz, junior – Sabetha
Samantha Klotz, junior – Royal Valley
Kelsi Ko, senior – Pleasant Ridge
Gwyn Noll, senior – Maur Hill-Mount Academy
Ava Potter, senior - Pleasant Ridge
Jordyn Renk, senior – Maur Hill-Mount Academy
Maddie Heim, senior – Pleasant Ridge
Lexi Messalle, senior – Oskaloosa
Bella Major, junior – Pleasant Ridge
Carly Hutfles, junior – Horton
Carlie Kramer, junior – Maur Hill-Mount Academy
Aleah Wallisch, junior – ACCHS
Emma Regan, senior – Atchison
Claire Holle, senior – Marysville
Bella Rader, senior – Marysville