Area Ladies are Driving Their Team to the Top Rungs of NCAA DI
The local area's reputation for developing talent is borne out by who is on the rosters of the Top 25 teams. It is unmistakeble how many excel in the classroom. Read on about these special ladies.
There are 13 ladies from Missouri and Kansas high schools who are now on NCAA Division DI top 25 volleyball rosters. And they aren’t just on top teams. They are at the top of the top teams. It is fun for us to enjoy the results of their hard work in the gym. Good volleyball is a wonderful thing to watch. But it is especially nice when they also excell in the classroom. I will be reviewing the inhabitants of the DII and DIII Top 25’s in future posts. The data is as of October 24, 2022.
No. 3 Ranked San Diego
Gabby Blossom-St. Joseph’s Academy
After four stellar years at Penn State, Gabby is a graduate student at the University of San Diego. During her time as a Nittany Lion, the 2018 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year won numerous awards including the AVCA All America Third Team, two All Big 10 Second Teams, and two Academic All Big 10 Teams. She currently leads the West Coast Conference with 11.07 assists per set.
No. 4 Ranked Louisville
Amaya Tillman-Shawnee Heights
Amaya is used to going deep into the postseason as she led her high school team to a state championship. She made an immediate impact as a Cardinal by being named to the ACC All Freshman Team and the ACC All Academic Team in her first season. Since then she has added two ACC Second Team awards, an AVCA All East Region First Team, ACC All Academic Team, and the 2021 ACC Volleyball Scholar of the Year Award. In this, her senior year, the 6’3” Topeka product leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in blocks and is 7th in hitting percentage.
No. 4 Ranked Louisville
Ayden Bartlett-Leavenworth
The junior libero has started 11 of the Cardinal’s 20 matches. Ayden is fourth on her team in digs.
No. 8 Ranked Stanford
Taylor Beaven-Seckman
The sophomore defensive specialist has started all 48 matches in her career for the Cardinal. Academics? Stanford. Nuff said.
No. 9 Ranked Minnesota
Elise McGhie-St. Teresa’s Academy
Before transfering to Minnesota, Elise helped Kansas get to a Sweet 16 and she was named to the Academic All Big 12 Rookie Team. Elise is a junior setter for the Gophers.
No. 14 Ranked Florida
Birdie Hendrickson-Logan Rogersville
Birdie arrived at Florida having been named the Missouri Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year. She has been named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll in each of her first two years. The 6’2”setter has started four matches for the Gators.
No. 15 Ranked Creighton
Morgan Coangelo-Blue Valley West
Morgan is also used to going deep into the playoffs having led her high school soccer and volleyball teams to state titles. The freshman defensive specialist has not seen the court as she is recovering from knee surgery.
No. 15 Ranked Creighton
Kendra Wait-Gardner Edgerton
As the 2019 Kansas Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year recipient, Kendra was the highest ranked Bluejay recruit since 2004. And oh boy, she has not disappointed. As a freshman last her, she started in all 35 matches and led the Big East Conference in assists per set. That led to her being named to the All Big East Freshman Team, the All Big East Team, and the Honorable All-American Teams This year she is leading the conference in assists and assist per set while also posting the 10th most digs.
No. 15 Ranked Creighton
Ellie Bolton-St. James Academy
Ellie led her team with digs her freshman year from her defensive specialist position. This year she has 84 digs .
No. 15 Ranked Creighton
Ava Martin-St. Thomas Aquinas
Ava arrived at Creighton after being names an AVCA First Team All-American while still a Saint. The freshman outside hitter has 260 kills, 49 digs, and 18 blocks thus far in her first year.
No. 16 Ranked Marquette
Carsen Murray-Blue Springs South
The 6’4” middle blocker has been named to the Big East All Academic Team in each of her first two years. This year she was named to the All Big East Preseason Team. Carsen currently leads her team in blocks and leads the Big East Conference in blocks per set.
No 22 Ranked Rice
Ellie Bickelmeyer-St. Teresa’s Academy
Ellie is another athlete who is used to long post season runs. She led her high school team to the Missouri final four all for years. After becoming an Owl she had been named to the Conference USA All Freshman Team and the Conference USA Second Team. In addition, she has twice been placed on the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Currently, the 6’2” outside hitter is 4th on her team in points and kills.
Pepperdine
ok, ok. Pepperdine slipped to one spot out of the Top 25 just before press time. But, I am including this because it is too good of a story to not tell.
Vanessa Polk-John Burroughs
Last year, before arriving at Pepperdine, Vanessa was named to the All State Team and notably to the AVCA Best and Brightest First Team. The 6’2” freshman middle blocker has started 21 of the 22 matches. She leads her team in blocks and is 4th in the West Coast Conference in blocks per set.
I am sure you noticed the many references to academics. These are amazing women.