The 2025 NCCAA Division II Volleyball National Champion Thunder volleyball staff have completed their 2026 recruiting class and have signed six newcomers, all from Kansas, who will all be incoming freshman this upcoming season. The newest Thunder volleyball student-athletes are:

FRESHMAN

Kinley Edgerton - 5'10, Freshman, Middle Hitter - Crest High School (KS)

Led the Lancers to 16 wins as a senior. As a senior, Edgerton appeared in all 102 sets for the Lancers. Had 63 service aces (0.62 per set). Led the Lancers in total blocks with 62 (16 assists, 42 solo). Totaled 98 kills (0.96 per set) while hitting at a 0.233 percentage. Finished with 34 digs (0.33 per set) and a team-leading 276 assists (2.71 per set).Three time All-League Second Team selection. As a senior, she was named All-League First Team and made the All-Academic Team all four years. Finished her career with 337 kills, 1,147 assists, 130 blocks, and 198 service aces. Also lettered in basketball, track, and softball at Crest High School.

Shaliah Ensley - 5'6, Freshman, Setter - Marion High School (KS)

Led the Warriors to 12 wins as a senior. As a senior, Ensley appeared in 67 sets for the Warriors. Had 14 service aces (0.21 per set). Collected 20 total blocks (18 assists, two solo). Second on the team in kills with 121 (1.81 per set) while hitting at a 0.170 percentage. Finished with 130 digs (1.94 per set) and a team-leading 265 assists (3.96 per set). Finished her career with 202 kills, 1,133 assists, and 413 digs. Member of the KSHSAA Student Advisory Board as a senior. Also lettered in basketball at Marion High School.

Abby Hands - 6'0, Freshman, Middle Hitter - Pawnee Heights High School (KS)

Led the Tigers to 12 wins as a senior. As a sophomore and junior, Hands was named All-League Second Team. As a senior, she was named All-League First Team. Also lettered in basketball and track at Pawnee Height High School.

Jordan Miller - 5'8, Freshman, Outside Hitter - Anderson County High School (KS)

Led the Bulldogs to 17 wins as a senior. As a senior, Miller appeared in 76 sets for the Bulldogs. Had 36 service aces (0.47 per set). Collected 63 total blocks (three assists, 60 solo). Totaled 334 kills (4.39 per set). Finished with 287 digs (3.78 per set) and seven assists (0.09 per set). As a junior, Miller was name Second Team All-League. As a senior, she was name All-League First Team and made the All-Academic Team in both her junior and senior year. Also lettered in track at Anderson County High School.

Jadence Stewart - 5'9, Freshman, Outside Hitter - Greeley County High School (KS)

Led the Jackrabbits to 29 wins as a senior. As a senior, Stewart appeared in 95 sets for the Jackrabbits. Had 47 service aces (0.49 per set). Led the Jackrabbits in blocks with 24 (three assists, 21 solo). Led the team in kills with 700 (7.37 per set). Second on the team in digs with 336 (3.54 per set) and 27 assists (0.28 per set). Four time First Team All-League selection. First Team All-State as a junior and senior and named to the All-State Tournament team as a senior. Competed in the Kansas Volleyball Association All-Star Game. Finished her career with 1,927 kills, 1,095 digs, and 238 service aces. Also letter in basketball at Greeley County High School.

Makenna Stover - 5'8, Freshman, Opposite Hitter - Abilene High School (KS)

Led the Cowgirls to 18 wins as a senior. As a senior, Stover appeared in 85 sets for the Cowgirls. Had 32 service aces (0.38 per set). Collected 17 total blocks (16 assists, one solo). Led the team in kills with 227 (2.39 per set). Finished with 190 digs (2.24 per set) and 25 assists (0.29 per set). Three time First Team All-League selection. Finished her career with 423 kills and 357 digs. Also lettered in basketball at Abilene High School.

Head coach Lauren Sanders had this to say about her most recent recruiting class, "We are incredibly excited about this 2026 recruiting class and what this team can become. We return a solid core of eight players who understand our culture and our expectations, while adding six freshmen who bring new energy, talent, and perspective to our program. That combination gives us a great foundation to build on! The success of our 2025 National Championship team set an incredible standard for MCC Volleyball, and we want to honor what that group accomplished while understanding that this team has a story of its own to write. Our goal is for these athletes to become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the court! We believe this group has the opportunity to leave its own mark on Thunder Volleyball. We are excited to see what they will accomplish together and how they will use their talents to glorify the Lord."

The Thunder will kick off their season at their invitational on Friday, August 28th at 7:00PM against Dallas Christian.

Check out the volleyball schedule here: 2026 Thunder Volleyball Schedule

Tickets for the 2026 season have been posted to the SidelineTix website and app. To purchase tickets, fans can visit www.mccthunder.com and click the "Get Tickets" tab.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Volleyball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on X and Instagram.