Gardner Edgerton senior Cassie Wait was the most complete and also perhaps the most explosive volleyball player in metropolitan Kansas City last fall.

Wait, who signed with Kansas, wowed fans (and more than a few opponents) with her powerful hitting presence at the net, but that sometimes obscured her defensive brilliance.

Still, the numbers don’t lie.

Wait finished with 526 kills, a .402 hitting percentage and 512 digs this season for the Trailblazers, who went 37-8 and finished third at the Kansas Class 6A state tournament for the second consecutive season.

After being selected as the Gatorade Kansas volleyball player of the year, the Class 6A player of the year and earning first-team All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, Wait can add one more honor to her lengthy resume after also being chosen as The Star’s All-Metro volleyball player of the year.

“I think it’s her ability to be a six-position player that put her over the top,” said Gardner Edgerton coach and Cassie’s father, Darrell Wait, after she won the Gatorade honor. “I think because she jumps pretty well and swings so hard, people tend to gloss over how good she is defensively, but she’s a well-rounded player.”

Wait, who was a finalist for the Evelyn Gates Award, was the East Kansas League co-player of the year with Bishop Miege’s Jordan Tucker.

She finished her career with 1,704 kills and 1,635 digs.

Away from the court, Wait maintains a 4.0 grade-point average and also serves on the student council, National Honor Society and as a youth volleyball coach.

To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to tpalmer@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/todpalmer.

To reach Tod Palmer, call 816-234-4389 or send email to <a href="mailto:tpalmer@kcstar.com">tpalmer@kcstar.com</a>. Follow him at twitter.com/todpalmer.