By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
EDITOR'S NOTE: TopSports.news' list of the top Shawnee County volleyball players to watch in 2026, based on performances in the 2025 season and coach recommendations, will be updated as needed after practice begins on Aug. 17 and more information is received from county coaches.
Brynn Anderson, Washburn Rural [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
BRYNN ANDERSON, Washburn Rural
Anderson, a 5-foot-11 sophomore hitter, was a first-team TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League selection and named the county and league newcomer of the year last season after helping lead the Junior Blues to the Centennial League championship and a ninth straight Class 6A state tournament berth. Anderson registered 397 kills on the season along with 20 block kills, 96.3 percent serving with 29 aces and 229 digs. Anderson was also a first-team all-county pick in basketball and a state qualifier in track and field.
Nora Burdiek, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
NORA BURDIEK, Rossville
A senior hitter, Burdiek is a two-time TSN All-Shawnee County first-team selection after being named the county newcomer of the year and earning second-team honors as a freshman. Burdiek has registered 1,373 total kills in her career with 936 digs. Burdiek was a first-team All-Big East selection as a junior after helping lead the Bulldawgs to a Class 2A state berth and earning All-State Tournament and All-2A first-team recognition from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Burdiek is also a basketball and softball standout, helping Rossville advance to the state tournament in both of those sports.
Campbell Dawson, Topeka High [File photo/TSN]
CAMPBELL DAWSON, Topeka High
Dawson, a senior, earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honors last fall in her third season as a varsity player. Dawson also earned second-team All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League recognition as a sophomore. Dawson was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County and second-team Class 6A All-State selection this past spring in softball after helping lead the Trojans to a third-place state finish.
Karys Deiter, Silver Lake [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
KARYS DEITER, Silver Lake
Deiter, a junior hitter, helped lead the Eagles to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including a 37-match winning streak to end the 2025 season. A first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick and second-team 3A All-State honoree, Deiter finished the year with 313 kills, a 34.7 kill percentage, 18 blocks and 253 digs. Deiter also earned All-Shawnee County first-team honors in basketball and track and field after helping lead Silver Lake to the 3A state championship in basketball and earning a 3A state medal in track.
Kylie Hanni, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
KYLIE HANNI, Silver Lake
A senior setter, Hanni was named the TopSports.news Shawnee County Player of the Year last season after helping lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including 37 straight wins to end the season. Hanni was named to the 3A All-State Tournament team and All-3A first team by the Kansas Volleyball Association and was also a first-team All-Big East League pick after registering 1,181 assists, with 45 kills, 22 blocks, a 91.7 serving percentage with 33 aces and 174 digs. Hanni also helped the Eagles win 3A state titles in basketball and softball.
ADY HENRY, Rossville
Henry, a senior libero, helped Rossville reach the Class 2A state tournament last season while earning second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and third-team All-Big East League recognition.
HADLEY KILGORE, Washburn Rural
Kilgore is expected to be a key contributor for the Junior Blues at middle hitter this fall in her first season at the varsity level. Kilgore joins a Washburn Rural team that won the 2025 Centennial League championship and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament for the ninth straight season.
Clara Morgan, Shawnee Heights [Submitted photo]
CLARA MORGAN, Shawnee Heights
A senior setter, Morgan was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County selection last season while also receiving All-United Kansas Conference honorable mention. Morgan surpassed the 1,000 assist mark for her career last season.
Kenna Perine, Rossville [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
KENNA PERINE, Rossville
Perine, a sophomore setter, was one of just two freshmen on the TSN All-Shawnee County first team last fall after helping lead Rossville to a Class 2A state tournament appearance. Perine finished the 2025 season with 982 assists, 288 digs and 64 kills for the Bulldawgs. Perine was a second-team All-Big East League selection.
Hailey Schmidtlein, Hayden [Photo by Scott Paske/KSHSAA Covered]
HAILEY SCHMIDTLEIN, Hayden
A junior hitter, Schmidtlein earned TSN All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season after helping lead the 32-10 Wildcats to a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament and earning All-State Tournament honors for the second straight year. Schmidtlein led the Wildcats with 492 kills on .330 hitting, giving her 932 kills in just two seasons, and also contributed 296 digs with 54 blocks and 47 service aces.
MALLORY TANKING, Hayden
Tanking, a senior hitter, was named to the Class 4A All-Tournament Team by the Kansas Volleyball Association after helping lead the Wildcats to a runnerup state finish and a 32-10 record. Tanking was named to the TSN All-Shawnee County, All-Centennial League and KVA All-4A second team.
ACEY THOMPSON, Seaman
As Seaman's lone senior, Thompson will be counted on to be a team leader for the Vikings this fall as they try to bounce back from a rare losing season after winning the Class 5A state championship in 2023 and posting a runnerup state finish in 2024. Thompson is also a softball standout for Seaman, earning second-team All-Class 5A and All-Shawnee County recognition as a junior.
Sydney Van Dyke, Topeka West [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
SYDNEY VAN DYKE, Topeka West
Van Dyke, a senior outside hitter, earned first-team All-United Kansas Conference recognition last fall for the Chargers after registering more than 260 kills and 230 digs. Van Dyke recorded 58 kills on .269 hitting with 77 digs and 14 service aces in Topeka West's UKC matches. Van Dyke moved up to the All-Shawnee County first team in 2025 after earning second-team honors as a sophomore.
Blakely Walter, Hayden [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
BLAKELY WALTER, Hayden
A junior setter, Walter earned All-Shawnee County first-team recognition for the second straight season after helping lead the Wildcats to a second-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament and earning All-State Tournament honors in 4A for the second straight season and 4A All-State honors from the Kansas Volleyball Association. Walter registered 1,052 assists this fall, giving her more than 2,000 in her two high school seasons, and also had 282 digs and 39 service aces on the season. Walter also helped lead Hayden to the 4A state championship in basketball and starred in softball for the Wildcats.
Jaylie Whitehead, Silver Lake [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
JAYLIE WHITEHEAD, Silver Lake
Whitehead, a senior libero, was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County selection last fall after helping lead Silver Lake to the Class 3A state championship with a 46-1 record, including 37 straight wins to end the season. Whitehead was named to the 3A All-State Tournament team and 3A All-State first team by the Kansas Volleyball Association and was also a first-team All-Big East League pick after recording 531 digs and 39 assists while serving 94.6 percent with 43 aces on the season. Whitehead also helped Silver Lake win the 3A basketball title and was a first-team All-Shawnee County pick and 3A state medalist in track.
