BY CONNOR NICHOLL
SUNFLOWER SPORTS SOLUTIONS
HOISINGTON -- Hoisington’s Sofia Simic was expected to enjoy a huge freshman season.
Her mother played collegiate volleyball at University of Alabama. Simic was part of high-level club teams. The experienced Hoisington senior class embraced Simic and recognized her talent.
Hoisington had five seniors, Jordyn Boxberger, Kylee Hahn, Mallory Mooney, Shellamae Farmer and Mollie Steiner, for the ’23 volleyball team. All were prolific multi-sport athletes.
Boxberger signed with Dodge City Community College volleyball. State pole vault champion Farmer signed with Wichita State track. Farmer placed third in 3A pole vault in May. Hahn signed with Colby Community College basketball. Steiner is an excellent softball player.
Hoisington posted a 28-11 record, while Boxberger and Hahn were each honored for a career milestone in front of the Cardinal crowd at the last home football game in ’23.
Boxberger cleared 1,000 digs and 700 kills in her career. Hahn went over 200 blocks. Last fall, Hoisington coach Mykela Riedl told S3 that HHS’ senior leaders did a “great job” of leading.
“My seniors lead the pack on supporting the team as a whole,” Riedl said. “…They are setting a great example for the teammates below them and hopefully for many years of Cardinal volleyball players to come.”
Hoisington enjoyed its most wins in a decade and a five-win improvement from 2022. The Cardinals hosted sub-state, though took a tough loss to 3A state qualifier Goodland.
The 6-foot Simic paced Hoisington in multiple stat categories – and was top-five for Kansas freshmen in a couple of numbers. Simic earned second team All-Central Kansas League.
She delivered 339 kills, 4.4 kills per set and hit .301. Her 73 aces easily paced the squad. The Cardinals deliver a .186 hitting percentage, an improvement from .111 the year prior. Per S3’s database, it marked the largest hitting percentage jump for any program from 2022-23.
Simic finished fourth in Kansas among freshmen for kills and hitting percentage, per MaxPreps statistical lists. The three ahead of her for hitting all came from 1A schools.
Simic is among the state’s top returning players and a key factor for Hoisington this fall. Additionally, Barton County has two of the state’s top recruits for the Class of 2027.
Great Bend setter Kya Behr is currently ranked No. 1, per PrepDig. For the Class of 2025, Ellinwood’s Kennedy Behnke, another Barton County product, is top-5 for players who don’t reside in KC/Topeka/Wichita, per Prep Dig.
Behr hit .255 with 159 kills, 589 assists and 309 digs for a GBHS team that set a school record for victories at 31-5. Behr helped Panther softball to a big improvement, several school marks and a 5A state tournament appearance.
