By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

CLAFLIN — Central Plains all-stater Cassidy Crites was named Class 2A Player of the Year by the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association. Crites led the Oilers (40-3) to a Class 2A state runner-up finish after they captured the Class 2A state championship with an unbeaten record last year.
Cassidy Crites excelled as a setter and often shifted into a offensive mode. She had 686 assists, 7 per game, to go with 205 digs, 181 kills and 53 blocks.
“Cassidy was honored for her versatility,” said Central Plains coach Lisa Crites. “The fact she had skills in two areas definitely got her some deserving recognition. Cassidy had a really strong season that helped her team achieve some lofty goals.”
Central Plains’ outside hitter Kylee Kasselman earned first-team all-state honors. Middle blocker Kassidy Pflughoeft earned second-team all-state honors. Kasselman had 427 kills, 313 digs and 37 blocks. Pflughoeft had 322 digs, 191 kills and 35 blocks.
“It was great that Kylee Kasselman and Kassidy Pflughoeft earned all-state honors,” coach Crites said. “They both played excellent volleyball during the season and into post-season play. It was good to see our team effort was rewarded at the state level.”
Olathe Heritage Christian downed the Oilers 25-12, 25-15 in the finals after the Oilers defeated Belleville-Republic County 25-28, 25-11 in the semifinals. The Oilers downed Alma-Wabaunsee 25-18, 25-15; Greensburg-Kiowa County 25-20, 20-25, 25-16; and Heritage Christian 25-20, 25-22 in pool play Oct. 28 at Emporia’s White Auditorium.
Class 1A Division 2 state third-place finisher Otis-Bison was represented by first-team all-stater Taylor Regan, a 5-9, middle blocker and second-team all-state libero Lacey Mitchell. Regan and Mitchell also earned all-tournament honors. The Cougars finished with a 28-13 record in the school’s first state volleyball trip in 25 years under coach Janell Meier.
The Cougars defeated Waverly 25-23, 25-20 for third place after losing to state champion Axtell 25-18, 25-17 in the semifinals. The Cougars finished 2-1 in pool play. They defeated Ingalls 25-12, 25-14 and Fowler 25-19, 25-23 and lost to state runner-up Grainfield-Wheatland 26-24, 25-21. The Cougars appeared to score a point to win the first set 25-22, but an official whistled a Cougar player for touching a fingertip on the net.
CLASS 2A FIRST TEAM
Cassidy Crites, Central Plains, 5-11, MB/S, Sr.
Kate Allen, Heritage Christian, 5-7, OH, Jr.
Faith Hammontree, Heritage Christian, 6-5, MB, So.
Kylee Kasselman, Central Plains, 5-9, OH, Sr.
Brianna MacLean, Republic County, 5-2, L, Sr.
Maddy Michaelis, Wabaunsee, 5-11, MB/RS, Sr.
Madison Scott, Republic County, 5-5, OH, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Savannah Crossland, Heritage Christian, 5-9, OH, So.
Payton Gawith, Flinthills, 5-10, S/OH, Sr.
Alyssa Howard, Flinthills, 5-5, S/RS, Sr.
Brynn Niblock, Hoxie, 5-10, OH, Sr.
Kassidy Pflughoeft, Central Plains, 5-11, MB, Jr.
Kayla Smith, Valley Heights, 5-9, OH, Jr.
Breanna Vail, Oswego, 5-10, OH/MB, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Rebecca Davis, Heritage Christian, 5-9, S, So.
Jalyn Froese, Inman, 5-7, OH, Jr.
Ravyn Jobbins, Jefferson County North, 5-9, S/MB, Jr.
Brittany MacLean, Republic County, 5-4, MB, Jr.
Cammie Miller, Washington County, 5-3, S, Sr.
Haylie Rodriguez Sacred Heart, 5-5, S, Jr.
Jenessa Zenger, Kiowa County, 5-9, OH, Sr.
Player of the Year—Cassidy Crites, Central Plains
Coach of the Year—Tom Slaughter, Heritage Christian Academy

CLASS 1A, DIV. 2 FIRST TEAM
Anna Buessing, Axtell, 5-10, S/MB, Sr.
Paige Baird, Northern Valley, 5-7, S/OH, So.
Delaney Herold, Sylvan-Lucas, 5-9, OH/MB, So.
Payton Meader, Waverly, 6-4, S/OH/MB, Sr.
Mikaela Meyers, Cunningham, 5-10, OH, Sr.
Taylor Regan, Otis-Bison, 5-9, MB, Sr.
Zoe Schultz, Wheatland-Grinnell, 5-11, OH, Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Makenzie Dewell, Fowler, 5-10, S, Sr.
Maddy Kuckelman, Axtell, 5-9, OH, Sr.
Trisha Mathewson, Axtell, 5-11, S/MB, Jr.
Lacey Mitchell, Otis-Bison, 5-4, L, Jr.
Hannah Pletcher, Wallace County, 5-7, MB, Sr.
Kylee Ricke, Cunningham, 5-5, S, Jr.
Carlie Zimmerman, Wheatland-Grinnell, 5-6, OH, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Logan Batchman, Sylvan-Lucas, 5-8, OH, Jr.
Miranda Golden, Colony-Crest, 5-10, MB, Sr.
Kendra Haffner, Wheatland-Grinnell, 5-5, L, Sr.
Ryann Kats, Logan, 5-9, S/OH/MB, Jr.
Alivia McKinney, Weskan, 6-0, MB, Sr.
Hanna Stuewe, Caldwell, 5-9, OH/MB, Sr.
Cora Vineyard, Argonia, 5-11, MB, So.
Player of the Year—Anna Buessing, Axtell
Coach of the Year—Pam Buessing, Axtell

CLASS 1A DIV. 1 FIRST TEAM
Cassidy Haufler, Centralia, 6-0, OH, Sr.
Olivia Baus, LaCrosse, 6-0, S/MB, Sr.
Emilee Ebert, Frankfort 5-10, OH, So.
Eden Hiebert, Goessel 5-10, OH, Jr.
Ashton Jueneman, Hanover 5-10, MB, Sr.
Karli Schmidt, Immaculata, 6-0, OH, Fr.
Jordan Speer, Dighton 5-10, OH/MB/S, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Sadi Boyce, Centralia, 5-6, S, Sr.
Riley Doebele, Hanover, 5-5, S/RS, Sr.
Olivia Duerksen, Goessel, 5-11, MB, Sr.
Katelyn Jueneman, Hanover, 5-6, MB, Sr.
Madison Lueger, Centralia, 5-11, OH, So.
Bailey Roberts, South Barber, 5-8, S, Sr.
Elizabeth Walter, St. John’s/Tipton, 5-7, S/OH, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Rylee Alexander, South Central, 5-9, S/RS, Jr.
Holly Brockmeier, Rural Vista, 5-6, MB, Fr.
Sara Cramer, Dighton, 5-5, S/OH/MB, Sr.
Haley Crupper, Lebo, 5-10, MB, Jr.
Madison Dirks, South Gray, OH, Sr.
Haven Hamilton, Stockton, 5-10, MB/OH, Jr.
Brittney Hiebert, Goessel, 5-11, MB, Jr.
Player of the Year—Cassidy Haufler, Centralia
Coach of the Year—Kimbrook Tennal, Centralia

CLASS 3A FIRST TEAM
Kailey Jo Ince, Hesston, 6-1 OH Jr.
Marissa Bates, Silver Lake, 5-6 OH Jr.
Alaina Dunlavy, Hesston, 5-7 S Jr.
Alex Ferguson, Silver Lake, 5-10 OH Sr.
Madison Freund, Cheney, 5-10 OH Sr.
Karly Patton, Wellsville, 6-1 OH Sr.
Madison Woody, Douglass, 5-10 OH/MB Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Haley Albers, Cheney, 6-1 MB Sr.
Lexi Cobb, Silver Lake, 5-6 S Fr.
Grace Graniewski, Wellsville, 5-11 MB Sr.
Laura Macke, Nemaha Central, 6-1 OH Jr.
Katelyn Moore, Douglass, 5-7 OH So.
Kristen Wewe, Cheney, 5-3 L Jr.
Karissa Winkel, Beloit, 5-5 OH Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Sydney Bangert, Kingman, 5-5 S/RS Jr.
Brianna Bradshaw, Kingman, 5-10 OH Jr.
Kaley Dalinghaus, Nemaha Central, 5-10 RS Sr.
Josie Harrison, St. Marys, 5-7 OH So.
Sydney Johnson, Beloit, 6-3 MB Jr.
Kenlee Martin, Douglass, 5-7 L Jr.
Kayla Vitztum, TMP, 5-10 OH Jr.
Player of the Year—Kailey Jo Ince, Hesston
Coach of the Year—Jason Peters, Hesston

CLASS 4A DIV. 1 FIRST TEAM
Gracie Van Driel, Rose Hill, 6-2 MB So.
Olivia Gassman, Abilene, 5-6 L Sr.
Jessica Hayes, Abilene, 5-10 OH Sr.
Hunter Mussetter, Wamego, 5-11 MB Sr.
Serena Sparks, SM Miege, 5-4 L So.
Mallory White, SM Miege, 5-9 OH So.
Emily Witt, Rose Hill, 6-1 S/RS Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Mandi Cooks, McPherson, 6-0, OH/MB Jr.
Anna Dixon, Louisburg 6-2 OH So.
Claudia Hess, Abilene 6-2 MB Sr.
Caedyn Reinhart, El Dorado, 6-0, MB Sr.
Brooklyn Strobel, Andover Central 5-3 L So.
Kennedy Wallace, KC Piper, 6-0, MB Sr.
Hannah Weber, SM Miege, 6-1 MB Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Sophia Dalziel, Augusta, 6-0, MB Sr.
Rachel Dossett, McPherson, 5-11 MB Sr.
Matti Morgan, Paola, 5-8 MB Sr.
Riley Oglevie, Ulysses, 6-2 OH So.
Beth Schulte, Andover Central, 5-7 OH Sr.
Anna Van Driel, Rose Hill, 5-10 OH/RS Sr.
Mykah Wingerter, Tonganoxie, 5-11 MH Sr.
Player of the Year—Gracie Van Driel, Rose Hill
Coach of the Year—Melissa Segovia, Rose Hill

CLASS 4A DIV. 2 FIRST TEAM
Amanda Desch, Hayden, 5-9 S/OH Jr.
Julie Archer, Andale, 5-9 RS Sr.
Tara Davis, Nickerson, 5-11 OH/MB Jr.
Mykah Eshbaugh, Concordia, 6-1 OH/MB So.
Brooklyn Hunter, Hayden, 5-11 S/RS So.
Mady Myers, Hayden, 5-9 MB Sr.
Laken Schroeder, Concordia, 5-6 S Jr.
SECOND TEAM
Riley Abernathy, Baxter Springs, 5-8 OH/MB Sr.
Cydney Bergman, Concordia, 5-7 OH/MB Jr.
Myka Dalton, Andale, 5-3 L Sr.
Kate Deterding, Smoky Valley, 5-8 OH Sr.
Remyngton Green, Nickerson, 5-4 S/RS Jr.
Ashley Ray, Girard, 6-4 MB Sr.
Kelsey Simmons, SF Trail, 5-10 OH/S Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Gracie Golay, Wichita Trinity, 5-7 S Jr.
Sydney Hillmer, Hayden, 5-8 RS Fr.
Alli Klausmeyer, Clearwater, 5-11 OH/MB Sr.
Carly Locke, Baxter Springs, 5-8 OH Sr.
Mariah Murdie, Jefferson West, 6-3 OH/MB Jr.
Haley Peterson, Smoky Valley, 5-10 MB Sr.
Jessica Williams, Concordia 5-7 MB/RS Jr.
Player of the Year—Amanda Desch, Hayden
Coach of the Year—Rio Brown, Concordia

CLASS 5A FIRST TEAM
Jazz Sweet, Shawnee Heights, 6-3 RS Sr.
Lacey Angello, Lansing, 5-7 OH Jr.
Allison Coens, St. James, 5-10 OH Jr.
Megan Cooney, Shawnee Heights, 6-4 OH Sr.
Bridget Doherty, Aquinas, 5-10 S/RS Sr.
Taylor Muff, Pittsburg, 5-11 OH/MB Sr.
Emily Regier, Newton, 6-0, MB Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Taylor Antonowich, Newton, 5-10 OH Jr.
Kelsey Gordon, Emporia, 6-0, MB Sr.
Shelby Innes, Aquinas, 5-8 OH Sr.
Ryleigh Jackson, Eisenhower, 5-9 MB Jr.
Morgan Miller, St. James, 5-5 S So.
Faith Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights, 5-4 L Sr.
Mikayla Simons, Emporia, 5-9 OH Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kaitlyn Bell, De Soto, 6-0, OH So.
Jordan Evans, Eisenhower, 5-9 OH Sr.
Rachel Fairbanks, Lansing, 5-11 MB So.
Julia Graves, Andover, 5-3 L Jr.
Brecken Roe, Maize, 6-1 OH Sr.
Amaya Tillman, Shawnee Heights, 6-3 MB So.
Caroline Zabroske, Aquinas, 5-10 MB/OH Fr.
Player of the Year—Jazz Sweet, Shawnee Heights
Coach of the Year—Laura Curry, Shawnee Heights

CLASS 6A FIRST TEAM
Tyanna Omazic, Olathe Northwest, 6-2 MB Sr.
Brooklyn Cink, Manhattan, 5-11 OH So.
Audrey Fisher, Olathe Northwest, 6-0, MB Sr.
Emma Henderson, SM East, 5-10 OH Sr.
Rachel Hickman, Lawrence Free State, 6-3 RS So.
Madiso.n Lilley, Blue Valley West, 5-11 S Sr.
Peyton Uhlenhake, Blue Valley West, 5-10 OH Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Hannah Engelken, Blue Valley West, 6-1 MB Jr.
Megan Kuper, Olathe Northwest, 6-0, OH Sr.
Taylor Kuper, Olathe Northwest, 5-9 OH Jr.
Morgan Lewis, Blue Valley Northwest, 6-0, MB Sr.
Ally Offerdahl, SM East, 5-6 S Sr.
Kenzie Smith, Manhattan, 5-9 S Jr.
Lauren Stubbs, Blue Valley, 5-8 OH Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jade Askren, Campus, 5-7 S Sr.
Carly Bachelor, Washburn Rural, 6-0, OH Sr.
Nia Bishop, Derby, 5-8 OH Sr.
Camryn Blanton, SM West, 5-9 S Sr.
Kayley Cassaday, Blue Valley North, 6-0, OH So.
Naomi Hickman, Lawrence Free State, 6-4 MB Sr.
Emily Jackson, Olathe Northwest, 5-8 L Sr.
Player of the Year—Tyanna Omazic, Olathe Northwest
Coach of the Year—Barry Lenth, Olathe Northwest