September 21, 2023

With matches going on all the time, the high school season doesn’t pause or take a break. We are still more than a month away from the postseason and state tournaments getting underway. So there is plenty more action on the way. Yet, it also feels like so much has already happened even though some states have only been playing for a couple of weeks. It’s one reason why we checked in last week and highlighted 11 freshmen who are having standout seasons to date. This week, we move on to 15 sophomores who are making key impacts for their respective schools. Henley Anderson OH Drippings Springs TX: Anderson – a 5-star recruit and vballrecruiter.com’s Freshman HS Player of the Year in 2022 – has been a huge part of the Tigers’ 36-2 mark to begin the week. Dripping Springs is the reigning Texas 6A state champion and is built for another deep run with Anderson powering the way. She’s amassed 447 kills to date, averaging 4.8 per set. She’s also second in aces. Three times so far she’s recorded 21 kills or more, including a season-high 26 in a five-set victory over Westlake last week. Peyton Carlson OH Waupaca WI: The Comets entered the week with an 18-4 record. Carlson – a 5-11, 4-star recruit who suited up at libero for FC Elite 18 Navy during club season – has been the featured part of the attack by a long shot. She came into the week with 309 of the team’s 607 total kills. She’s averaging 5.4 per set. She exploded for a season-best 42 kills in a five-set victory over Oconto Falls at the end of August. She also leads the roster in aces and is second in digs, averaging 3.6 per set. Gunny Brock OH Cleveland TN: Brock, a 6-1 outside, has been a reliable scorer for the Blue Raiders. She’s second on the team in kills behind junior Lauren Hurst. Brock entered the week with 293 kills, averaging 3.3 per set. She’s also been a key contributor on defense, as she’s second in digs with 268 and averaging 3.0 per set. She’s also second in aces with 54 and has stepped in to set off balls, as she’s racked up 93 assists. She put up a season-best 19 kills in a five-set loss to East Hamilton last week. Danielle Whitmire S/RS Walnut Grove TX: Walnut Grove is in its first year of existence and because of re-districting rules in the state of Texas Whitmire was forced to move from Prosper to the new high school. A 6-2, 5-star recruit, she’s been an integral part with her ability to set and hit. She came into this week leading her squad in kills with 280, averaging 3.6 per set. As a setter, she was one set behind junior J’Leigh Larra for the team lead with 311 assists, averaging 4.0 per set. On top of that, she’s also second in both digs and aces. Kayla Nwabueze MB Bloomfield Hills MI: We featured Nwabueze – a 5-star recruit – as a Player of the Week back in August and spoke to her about the high school season. It’s not surprising at all to see her putting together the year she has so far. She entered the week leading the Black Hawks in kills with 246. She’s averaging 4.1 per set. She’s also been a force at the net with her blocking, leading the team in that category as well with 59 in 60 sets played. She’s playing all the way around and is also third in digs with 145, averaging 2.4 per set. Nwabueze posted a season-high 17 kills last week in a victory against St. Mary’s Prep. Gabby Divita OH Grosse Pointe South MI: Divita – another 5-star recruit and a teammate of Nwabueze this past club season for Legacy 15-1 Adidas – is shining as well. She has over half of the team’s total kills, putting up 263 and averaging 5.3 per set. She’s been effective from the service line too, leading the roster in aces with 26. She’s also second in digs, averaging 2.7 per set. She’s had impressive outings, including dropping a season-best 20 kills and hitting .621 in a sweep of Sterling Heights. Blair Thiebaud S College Station TX: Thiebaud – a 6-0, 4-star recruit – is following up her rookie campaign with almost an identical season to date. She finished her freshman year averaging 8.1 assists per set. That’s the same average she has so far this year in racking up 735 assists through 91 sets. She’s also contributed in other ways, especially from the service line where she leads the team with 74 aces. That’s nearly double of the next closest leader. She’s also second in blocks, as well as third in both kills and digs. She recorded a season-high 13 kills in a victory over Concordia Lutheran in late August. She’s eclipsed the 40-assist mark twice thus far, including a season-best 42 dimes in a four-set victory over Magnolia. DaMya Mann S/RS Harlan TX: A 3-star recruit, Mann has played an integral role in Harlan starting off the year 30-5. She does it all for the Hawks in showcasing her versatility. She’s second in kills (201/2.5 per set), assists (423/5.2), digs (244/3.0) and blocks (65/.8). She’s also third in aces. Her best match came in a four-set victory over Warren, when she put up 13 kills, hit .435 and dished out a season-best 23 assists. It was one of three times she’s recorded 20 assists or more. She also had 17 digs in that contest. Her season-high was 18 against O’Connor, when she also had a season-high five blocks. Ellie Hepler L Warsaw IN: Hepler – a 4-star recruit – has been starring in her defensive role. She’s among the country’s top dig leaders for sophomore liberos. She’s made 313 saves so far, averaging 4.7 per set. She’s also been the team’s most efficient server, leading the way with 38 aces.