The McPherson Bullpup volleyball team is looking to keep their strong tradition alive in 2026. Christy Doile has led her team to the 4A State Tournament the past three seasons, finishing as a state runner-up in 2023, 4th in 2024 and as a state qualifier in 2025. The Bullpups lost two of their top players from 2025 but will return key seniors that look to keep the run of success going to another trip to Hutchinson in late October.
Ava Romero and Brooke Doile are gone from last season’s team that went 35-7 and made it to the state tournament. Romero led the Bullpups in kills (390), blocks (28), digs (337) and service aces (61). She is now playing across town at McPherson College. Doile moved on to Johnson County Community College. She was second on the team in kills (332) and digs (315). Despite the loss of those key players, McPherson returns two seniors this season that filled the stat sheet in 2025. Running the offense, setter Rylie Whitfield is back after an outstanding junior season in which she tallied 1,004 assists and was named first team all-AVCTL III. Whitfield added 211 digs and 28 service aces last season. She has 1,712 assists as the setter the past two seasons combined. Senior outside hitter Carmin Pavlovich is also back. She registered 194 kills with a .218 hitting percentage. She added 17 blocks, 37 service aces and 209 digs while being selected second team all-league.
While Whitfield and Pavlovich will be looked at to lead the group, other players will look to step up in 2026. Junior defensive specialist Jersey Alexander is back after adding 82 digs last season. Outside of those three players with varsity experience, the Bullpups have worked to get their rotation ready in practices leading into the season opener.
McPherson will take the court for the first time on Saturday at the AVCTL Preseason Tournament at McPherson High School. In a round robin, they will face Maize South, Goddard, Derby, Buhler and Garden City. The opening match against Maize South will be at 9:00 on the south court of the Roundhouse.
