All-Metro volleyball: Welcome to newest additions to The Eagle’s annual team
All-Metro volleyball is one of the most exclusive teams in Kansas high school sports.
With seven spots available every year, each player has to earn her placement. Here is the 2019 team:
Morgan Bruna - Andale, Middle Hitter, Sr.
The Indians reached the state championship match for the first time, and Bruna was one of the biggest keys to Andale’s 37-3 season. Bruna had 298 kills, 44 blocks and 338 digs.
She finished with 912 career kills at a .323 hitting percentage.
“Our senior class wanted this since we were so little, playing middle school ball together,” Bruna said. “When we made that history, it was the best feeling in the world.”
Natasha Dooley - Garden Plain, Outside Hitter, Sr.
Garden Plain had back-to-back state title hopes coming into 2019, and while that didn’t happen, Dooley was a big reason it was possible.
Dooley made her second straight All-Metro team after finishing her senior season with 401 kills, 34 blocks, 267 digs and 61 aces. She was the best player on a team that finished third in Class 2A.
Dooley finishes her career with two state trophies and two All-Metro selections.
“We go to some pretty big tournaments with some 6A teams, some 5A teams, and we’re just a small 2A team,” Dooley said. “(We had) to really learn what we’re made of.”
Laurel Jones - Maize South, Setter/Middle Hitter, Jr.
On paper, she can do it all.
Jones had the most assists in Class 5A this season with 894. She was chosen to the All-State tournament team and is one of the best middle hitters in Kansas, too.
Jones made her second straight All-Metro team and has pledged to play at Marquette after her senior season.
“Since we lost a lot of seniors last year, we kind of went into the season with an underdog feeling, but we ended up doing a lot better than we thought, and we learned anything is possible if you try really hard,” Jones said.
Ella Larkin - Bishop Carroll, Setter/Outside Hitter, Jr.
Bishop Carroll drew three of the best teams in Kansas in pool play, including the Class 5A champion and runner-up. But Larkin might have been the best player in the tournament.
Larkin had 341 kills this season with 43 blocks, 285 assists and 314 digs. She made her second straight All-Metro appearance with another season to go.
Lark has pledged to play beach and indoor volleyball at LSU.
“Some of the seniors this year are some of my best friends, so playing with them for the last time and getting to state again was pretty incredible,” Larkin said.
Sydney Nilles - Derby, Setter, Sr.
Derby reached the Class 6A state tournament for the first time since 2002, and Nilles was the Panthers’ most consistent player.
Arguably the best setter in Kansas, Nilles was nearly perfect in her passing this season and set up her hitters for success.
After winning a state basketball championship and standing out in soccer, this is Nilles’ first All-Metro selection.
“Going to state is one of the best things that’s ever happened to Derby in volleyball,” Nilles said. “That’s just an amazing feeling.”
Ellie Shank - Valley Center, Setter/Outside Hitter, Sr.
Valley Center has the second-most All-Metro volleyball selections of any Wichita area team, but Shank is the first since 2013.
The Hornets senior was a cannon from the outside and the key to the team’s improvement in 2019.
Shank has signed to play beach volleyball at LSU upon her graduation along with her beach teammate and All-Metro selection Ella Larkin of Bishop Carroll.
“We’ve grown up playing volleyball together, and now it’s the final step, finishing together,” Shank said.
Ryen Wilkens - Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Libero, Sr.
It’s hard to get onto an All-Metro team, and when your team doesn’t reach state, it’s hard to stay on, but Wilkens has.
Wilkens, Kapaun’s emotional and organizational leader, earned her second straight All-Metro bid. She was nominated the best libero in the Wichita area this season.
She signed with Denver University this fall after serving as part of the resurgence effort of Kapaun volleyball.
“Our coach got hired our freshman year, so going out together is really nice and having all four years together was super cool,” Wilkens said. “It’s sad that we’re all leaving, but I know she’ll do a great job with them once we’re gone.”
Sara Walkup - Cheney, Coach of the Year
Last year, Cheney reached its Class 3A sub-state championship game but missed out on a state tournament berth for the third time since 2014.
In 2019, the Cardinals brought back no All-Metro selections and placed none on this year’s team. Yet, Cheney reached the Class 3A semifinals and finished with a 33-11 record.
Walkup said she lost six seniors from last year’s team and six more from the 2017 team.
“From the beginning to the end, these girls were awesome,” Walkup said. “They worked hard. They picked it up. They knew what they had to do, and the girls did everything. I just go to go along for the ride.”
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 5:00 AM.