Before the start of her senior year, one of the top high school volleyball prospects in the state has orally committed to Kansas University.
Dani McHenry, a 6-foot outside hitter who keyed Shawnee Heights’ run to the Class 5A state volleyball championship last fall, recently informed KU head coach Ray Bechard of her intentions.
“I grew up around here, I like the coaches and players,” said McHenry, a senior-to-be for the Thunderbirds. “I have a younger sister (9 years old) and brother (7). This way they and my parents can watch me.”
McHenry’s father, Ron, is the new head women’s basketball coach at Washburn University. McHenry is also a standout basketball player. She had been torn between volleyball and basketball until three years ago.
“Pretty much when I started high school I thought I’d play volleyball in college because I like volleyball a lot more,” said McHenry, an all-Class 5A state tournament pick and Centennial League’s most valuable player following the T-Birds’ 42-1 season last year. “My dad tried to push me sometimes to basketball, but he saw that I enjoyed volleyball more.”
McHenry considered Kansas State and Missouri before opting for the Jayhawks.
“I knew I wanted to stay in the Big 12,” McHenry said. “I’m glad this decision is over. It’s stressful because this is where I’m going to spend the next four to five years of my life. I wanted to make sure it was the right decision.”
Heights coach Kerry Kapfer, a KU graduate and former Jayhawk player, believes it was a recruiting coup for her alma mater.
“Of course I’m biased, but I think she’s the top player in the state of Kansas,” Kapfer said. “I think KU is very fortunate to have her oral commitment. I know there were a lot of great schools courting her. She’s very thrilled about it. She’ll be a great addition. KU really landed a top player, not only at the state level but at the national level.”
McHenry is a three-year starter for the T-Birds. As a junior, she had a whopping 379 digs and 318 kills with a .378 kill percentage.
With seven seniors back, Heights will remain loaded this fall.
During the summer, McHenry played for the 17 elite volleyball team at Sport 2 Sport for KU assistant Jill Jones. One of McHenry’s teammates was Ashley Bechard, daughter of the KU head coach.
