WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - Making it to the 4A state volleyball semifinals last year, McPherson was led by KU commit Rhian Swanson, who returns for her senior season hoping to finish the job before heading off to Lawrence.

Senior outside hitter at McPherson, Swanson has been planning her college career since before she even started high school.

McPherson head volleyball coach Christy Doile said, “She was recruited young. Coming into her freshman year. I’m pretty sure she committed the summer before her sophomore year.”

“Obviously my heigh and I was playing up in club, so I’d play for the sixteens team when I was fourteen,” said Swanson. “So, they just thought that was awesome that I could play at that level being so young.”

Swanson was recruited by several of the nation’s top volleyball programs; Texas, Nebraska, Florida but she chose Kansas.

“I’m a really home body person, so that was an easy decision for me to stay close,” said Swanson.

“Our job is to get her ready for KU,” said Doile. “The past three years have been prepping to make sure she’s ready for the next level whether that be the mental, whether that be the physical. Academically, she’s got to graduate in December so that she can go on to train with them this spring.”

But before Swanson heads off to college, she still has this season to get through.

“I’m sad, I love this team. I’ve grown up with all three of the seniors, we’ve played since we were five,” said Swanson. “I’ve grown a lot with coach Doile coaching me since I was five years old. So, it’s going to be sad but I’m just ready to get to college and start training there.”

Swanson has about 1,600 career kills. She’s hoping to reach two thousand by the time she hangs up her Bullpups jersey for the Jayhawk blue.

Rising Star: McPherson’s Rhian Swanson