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Our coverage of the high school season in nearing completion. But before we fully shift our attention to the new club season we have a couple remaining items. One includes our 2023 HS All-Americans. We released our list featuring Seniors and Juniors and we follow those with our HS Sophomore All-Americans featuring top performers from the Class of 2026 who excelled for their respective schools this past fall. OUTSIDE HITTERS Ashlyn Seay Bryon Nelson TXAubree Deshetsky North Branch MIAudrey Flanagan Mira Costa CAAyanna Watson Bishop Gorman NVBellamie Beus Skyview IDFinley Krystkowiak Torrey Pines CAGabby Divita Grosse Pointe South MIGigi Artiles Westminster Christian FLHalle Thompson Grand Oaks TXHenley Anderson Dripping Springs TXLaura Eichert Lake Stevens WALayla Hoying Bishop Watterson OHLayli Ostovar Mater Dei CALeah Robinson St. James Academy KSMakenna Crosson Archbishop Mitty CAMarlee Sivak Oconomowoc WIMaryKate Scheumann Bellmont INNadi’Ya Shelby Friendswood TXRiley Malloy Austin TXSadie Ross Jesuit OR *** MIDDLE BLOCKERS Amirra Bailey Bowling Green KYAudrey Dyas Notre Dame Academy KYBennett Raterman St. Pius X MOBrooke Harwood Eastmark AZKayla Nwabueze Bloomfield Hills MIKinsley Young Southlake Carroll TXLacy Tinnell College Park TXLynney Tarnow Benet Academy IL *** RIGHT SIDES Willow Weninger Blue Valley Southwest KSSarah Hickman Stratford TXHaley Robinson Bayside Academy ALRayna Christianson Lakeville North MN (S/RS)Jayla Jackson Prosper TX *** SETTERS Anna Flores Keller TXBlair Thiebaud College Station TXBrooke Baldwin Hamilton WIDaMya Mann Harlan TX (S/MB)Elena Ruble St. Pius X MOElla Florez Mill Valley KSEllie Stiernagle Benet Academy ILGenevieve Harris Cardinal Gibbons NCSarah O’Connor Briarcrest Christian TNVivian Hickman Xavier Prep AZ (S/OH) *** LIBEROS Cali Reece Grand Oaks TXEmma Adkins Mercy McAuley OHEmma Cugino Olentangy Orange OHErin Clark Corona del Sol AZEvie Huang Flint Hill VAGabby Emch Pace Academy GALexi Kedvesh Carmel INMadi Kraft Eagan MNMya Lei-Butters Ankeny Centennial IARuby McDermott Blessed Trinity GA

We are wrapping up our high school coverage with our 2023 All-Americans. We started by releasing our Senior All-Americans. Next in line is our Junior All-Americans featuring top performers from the Class of 2025 who excelled for their respective schools this past fall. OUTSIDES Abigail Mullen Liberty MOAddy Tindall Homestead INAlea Goolsby St. Thomas Aquinas KSBailey Warren Fulshear TXBella Bullington Marist ILCari Spears Prestonwood Christian TXCharlotte Vinson Yorktown INDevyn Wiest O’Connor AZHannah Leftridge St. Pius X MOIzzy Busignani Marian MIKelly Kinney King’s Academy FLLauren Hurst Cleveland TNLily Dee Davis Westlake TXLindsey Mangelson Hamilton Southeastern INLogan Bell Roncalli INMadison Quest Divine Savior Holy Angels WIMaegan Mills Seaman KSMaggie Dostic Plant FLMarin Collins Frontier NYMaya Witherspoon Lafayette MOMegan Fitch Cornerstone Christian TXReagan Ennist Shenendehowa NYSamara Coleman Grand Oaks TXSophia Thornburg Ursuline Academy TXSydnee Peterson Bryon Nelson TXSuli Davis Colleyville Heritage TXTeraya Sigler Horizon AZ *** MIDDLE BLOCKERS Addison Makun Silver Creek KYBailey Blair Assumption KYBayleigh Minor Fort Bend Christian Academy TXEllis Crawford Pope GAErika Sayer Lewis-Palmer COJordan Taylor Langham Creek TXKenna Cogill Perry AZManaia Ogbechie Oaks Christian CAShelby Burriss Lovejoy TXTara Greenberry Incarnate Word MOTatum Sharp Thompson Valley COTaylor Harvey Bountiful UT *** RIGHT SIDES Addy Horner St. Francis/Wheaton IL (S/RS)Alanah Clemente Bishop Alemany CAAnna Blamires Cheyenne Mountain COAnnabelle Groomes St. Joseph Academy OH (S/RS)Camryn Jeffery Westwood GACarly Gilk Champlin Park MNCharlotte Glass St. Andrew’s FL (S/RS)Gia McGrew Mount St. Mary OKHannah Kenny Willowbrook IL (S/RS)Isabelle Bardin Flint Hill VA (S/RS)Kirra Musgrove Lutheran South Academy TX (S/RS)Logan Parks Blue Valley North KS (S/RS)Ryan Hunter Cox Mill NCTaylor Clarke Prestonwood Christian TX *** SETTERS Abigail Li Alpharetta GAAshlyn Tafoya Thompson Valley COChloe Elarton Valor Christian COElla Craggs Northville MIIzzy Mogridge Berkeley Prep FLKassidy O’Brien Cinco Ranch TXKK Green Lake Highlands Prep FLMaya Baker Archbishop Mitty CAReese Messer St. James Academy KSTaylor Cook Prestonwood Christian TX *** LIBEROS Addison Applegate Yorktown INAniya Warren Benet Academy ILCallie Krueger Cedar Park TXGillian Pitts Prestonwood Christian TXIzzy Mahaffey Queen Creek AZJulia Grace Notre Dame Academy KYJulia Oster Lake Catholic OHKeri Leimbach Lincoln Lutheran NEKristen Simon Assumption KYLauren Lynch Sierra Canyon CALily Hayes Berkeley Prep FLMattea Casale Carrollwood Day FLMaya Evens Cathedral Catholic CAOlivia Durst Divine Savior Holy Angles WISarah Mendoza Colleyville Heritage TXSydney Black Fulshear TXTaylor Deckert Mira Costa CA

Before we shift our full attention to the upcoming club season, there is still a few items remaining to wrap up the high school season. We recently announced our Senior, Junior, Sophomore and Freshman Players of the Year. We’ll close out the high school coverage with our 2023 All-Americans, starting with the Seniors. Below, you’ll find our picks featuring top performers from the Class of 2024 who excelled for their respective schools this past fall. OUTSIDE HITTERS Asia Harvey Sandy Creek GAAva Falduto IC Catholic ILAyden Ames Prosper TXCarlie Cisneros Liberty North MOCharlotte Moriarty Assumption KYElise Marchal Kings OHElla Demetrician Appleton North WIEllie White Mother McAuley ILEmerson Sellman Academy Hold Cross MDFallon Stewart Winter Park FLFavor Anyanwu Sachse TXHannah Benjamin Fideles Christian GAIsabel Clark Mater Dei CAJillian Huckabey Olathe Northwest KSKiarrah Horne Millbrook NCLauren Harden Hamilton Southeastern INLauren Medeck Papillion-La Vista South NELevani Key-Powell Bingham UTMorgan Gaerte Angola INPayton Petersen Dike-New Hartford IASkyler Pierce Olathe Northwest KSSophia Adkins Mercy McAuley OHSophia Wendlick Divine Savior Holy Angels WISydney Barrett Kings OHTaylor Williams St. Francis/Mountain View CA *** MIDDLE BLOCKERS Anna Bjork Oconomowoc WIChelsea Sutton Ponte Vedra FLElizabeth Andrew Ridgefield WAJadyn Wilgus Rouse TXJaela Auguste Grand Oaks TXJenna Hanes Cathedral Catholic CAJulia Hunt Holy Cross KYLogan Wiley Alpharetta GAMia Tvrdy Papillion-La Vista NERyla Jones Flint Hill VAZoey Burgess Lone Peak UT *** RIGHT SIDES Calli Kenny Willowbrook IL (S/RS)Clara Gyomory North Branch MICymarah Gordon Mater Dei CAGrace Agolli Pace Academy GA (S/RS)Grace Carroll Cornerstone Christian TXGio Mason Liberty Hill TXIzzy Starck Viera FL (S/RS)Jadyn Livings Prestonwood Christian TXKamaluhia Garcia Moanalua HIRiley Whitlock Harrison IN *** SETTERS Abby Yoder Kings OHAlex Bower Skyview IDAlyssa Nelson Lafayette MOAvery Scoggins Middle Creek NCBethanie Wu Lovejoy TXCamdyn Stucky Maize South KSCamille Edwards Prestonwood Christian TXCharlie Fuerbringer Mira Costa CAErin Debiec Bishop O’Connell VAHannah Parant Mountain Brook ALJulia Kakkis Mater Dei CAKinslee McGowan Cleveland TNLilly Wagner Oconomowoc WIMalayah Long Lincoln Southwest NERella Binney Punahou HISavannah Skopal Rouse TXStella Swenson Wayzata MNTaylor Parks Calvary Christian FL *** LIBEROS Bella Lee Plant FLDakota Henry Kings OHElla Vogel Chaparral COFaith Frame Papillion-La Vista NEMalyssa Cawa Mater Dei CAMcKenna Brand Lovejoy TXMya Bolton St. James Academy KSPaisley Douglas Skutt Catholic NESamantha Falk Mother McAuley ILSophie Ledbetter Hamilton Southeastern INWhitney Wallace St. Francis/Mountain View CA

We went through an entire high school season since last checking in with the Class of 2025 and how the recruiting race is stacking up. Since first being able to commit on June 15, the action moved rapidly as 4 and 5-star recruits announced their verbal commitments. However, there were a few big stars still in the mix who have since announced their future intentions. It did manage to shake up the perceived order. Below, we take a look at where things currently stand. NEBRASKA   Comments: Nothing’s changed with the Huskers. We wrote about what the Class of 2025 means down the road for Nebraska here. The bottom line it’s an extremely talented group with arguably the top overall recruit in Teraya Sigler, as well as arguably the top recruits at their respective positions in Campbell Flynn and Ryan Hunter. At the very least, Sigler, Flynn and Hunter are in the top two at their positions. Toss in Keri Leimbach from a defensive perspective and it’s not only a talented class but a well-balanced one. *** TEXAS   Comments: One of the 5-star holdouts from when we first checked in was Cari Spears, a 6-3 slugging outside. She has since verballed to the Longhorns, which was a game-changing announcement. Spears could be considered the No. 1 overall prospect and gives Texas two of the best outsides in the class along with Abby Vander Wal, who is also 6-3. At 6-5, Addison Gaido fills at a class stacked with size and length. Callie Krueger is a lights-out defenders. About the only thing keeping Texas from surpassing Nebraska is balance, as the Huskers landed a top-level setter too. *** WISCONSIN   Comments: The Badgers’ incoming group remains the same as well and you can read what we wrote earlier. Like Nebraska, Wisconsin landed a slew of coveted recruits. It’s such a powerhouse class it’s tough to say which player is the best of the bunch. Kristen Simon is among the top three or four defenders in the class. Madison Quest has huge upside on the outside with her length. Natalie Wardlow, at 6-4, is a future presence in the middle. And Addison Horner is a 6-3 setter/right side who is going to bring both size and versatility. *** USC   Comments: The Trojans received a big boost by adding Abigail Mullen to the mix of commits. USC already had a verbal from Reese Messer, who is among the top two setters in the class. USC also had one from Taylor Deckert, who could be the top libero in the class. That was strong in its own right, but adding Mullen vaulted the Trojans up a few notches. *** TEXAS AM Megan Fitch OH Alamo (5-star)Kirra Musgrove S/RS Houston Skyline (5-star)Taryn Morris MB TAV (4-star)Addison Applegate L/DS Munciana (4-star)*Mackenzie Collins MB Houston Skyline (3-star)* Comments: We were already high on Texas AM’s incoming class back in August. Since then, the Aggies landed a solid defender in Addison Applegate and a high-flying hitter in Mackenzie Collins. Collins, at 6-1, can play both in the middle and on MINNESOTA   Comments: It’s the same four as previously mentioned for the Gophers. A 6-5 middle, Jordan Taylor has the potential to special and the biggest difference-maker among the quartet. Kelly Kinney is a springy outside with a strong arm. Carly Gilk and McKenna Garr are home state talents who help fill out a balanced incoming class. the pin. This is a very strong class and one that should signal the Aggies being on the rise. *** PENN STATE   Comments: The Nittany Lions are another program that climbed the ranks with a more recent addition. That was 4-star outside Alexis Ewing. At 6-4, she adds more size and length to the class in joining Marin Collins, a 6-3 outside. *** DUKE   Comments: There was no shift with the incoming class for the Blue Devils. You can read more about the class here. Obviously, the big gets were Charlotte Glass and Zoe Gillen-Malveaux. Both are 5-star talents who should push Duke up the competitive ranks when they arrive. *** INDIANA   Comments: The Hoosiers were not on our check in back in August. However, since then they brough aboard 5-star recruit Jaidyn Jager. She adds to the outside position, which also includes Charlotte Vinson. That’s two smart attackers coming down the road. Indiana also has a pair of scrappy defenders coming too in Aniya Warren and Avery Freeman, as well as the versatility of Isabela Haggard. It’s certainly among the top recruiting classes in the country. *** OREGON   Comments: The Ducks had no change in regards to their incoming class. While Oregon doesn’t currently have any 5-star commits, they have a trio of talented 4-star recruits who all play at a high level in club. *** KENTUCKY   Comments: The Wildcats, who have a smaller class compared to others mentioned, had no changes. However, what helps Kentucky is bringing aboard Kassidy O’Brien, a lengthy setter who has enjoyed a lot of success in both club and high school. *** VANDERBILT   Comments: This is another class that didn’t see any change. You can read about the incoming players here. It’s a huge initial class for the Commodores, who showed they can recruit high-level talent right out of the gate.

We featured Lydia Chinchar as our Player of the Week just weeks after she led Carrollwood Day to the Florida 3A state championship. We learned how she got her start in volleyball, the team’s approach to the season, the emotions of winning a state title and lots more. You can read all about it here. Given the freshman right side’s terrific season, she not only emerged as a top Freshman Player of Year contender, but she proved herself as more than worthy of earning our award for Freshman Player of the Year. The 4-star recruit’s powerhouse season featured a team-leading 573 kills, nearly 250 more than the next leader. She averaged a whopping 6.3 kills per set while hitting a remarkable .428. On top of that, she was second in digs (266) and blocks (67) and third in aces (37). If that wasn’t enough, she had her best match with a season-high 37 kills in the state championship match. It was one of two times she had at least 31 kills. She also had nine additional matches with at least 20 kills or more. “There are a lot of great freshmen and it’s really an honor to have this award,” Lydia said. “It’s absolutely amazing that you picked me as the top freshman. It’s really cool.” The state championship campaign was a family affair. Lydia’s sister, Naomi, is a senior and the starting setter. Their dad, Douglas, is the head coach. The foundation of success was laid down a season ago, when Lydia was able to play varsity as an eighth-grader. The Patriots’ run, however, ended in the regional quarterfinals. Naomi feels that played a role in Lydia’s improvement her freshman season. “I think she started taking volleyball a little more serious,” said Naomi, who is committed to West Point. “She saw me being recruited and I think that drove her to saying yes, I really want to do this. She started working out more. She practiced with more confidence and more strategy.” Lydia grew up setting and hitting. She was part of a 6-2 this past club season for No Name 16 Sarah. Yet, she’s strictly been a right side in high school. For her dad, it was an easy choice to keep her on the right and resist the urge to put his best player on the left side. “A lot of people ask that question,” Douglas said. “She’s always set a 6-2 in club, so she’s comfortable on the right side. There are very few players in college who are great right side players and I feel she can be a great right side player instead of just another outside. Another huge advantage in that decision is Naomi can get her the ball. She can set behind her with the best of them. A lot of setters can’t get them the ball. Naomi can find Lydia on bad passes. She can get her swings. She can get her into a rhythm.” Since Lydia has been playing up two age groups in club, Douglas didn’t feel being a young player on varsity mattered too much since Lydia was used to playing with girls older than her. Still, his daughter was shouldering a huge load, especially with opponents game planning to stop her every match. “Of course, I love Lydia,” Naomi said. “She’s a great person and a great teammate. I admire her so much with the pressure she’s had. Everyone relied on her. If Lydia had a bad game we were going to struggle. I know she felt that pressure in the state playoffs, but she continued to carry herself with such confidence. I know I couldn’t have done that my freshman year.” Selecting the Freshman of the Year was not an easy process. Lydia was hardly alone with turning in a fabulous season, one deserving of major recognition and respect. She beat out talented players such as Peyton Heatherly and Gentry Barker. Heatherly ran a 5-1 and helped Mother McAuley repeat as the Illinois 4A state champion. Barker led Lovejoy in kills as the Leopards brought home the Texas 5A state title. However, the decision in selecting Lydia over them came down to the fact she was the undisputed best player on her team and arguably the most dominating player in the state of Florida regardless of class. That she produced a season-high 37 kills in the state championship victory over Westminster Christian only solidified her being named vballrecruiter.com’s Freshman Player of the Year. “It was incredible,” Naomi said. “She kept finding new spots to hit and switching it up. She was reading the block so well. She even tipped on certain balls. It’s amazing how smart she is and her court awareness. It was great to cheer her on in such a big moment.”

When Ayanna Watson suffered a late-season injury right before the start of the state playoffs a year ago, it not only provided extra motivation for this season but sparked a change in how the 6-4 outside and 5-star recruit approached her sophomore campaign. “I was way more motivated to stay healthy,” Watson said. “I would tell myself I was always going to stretch when I wake up and make sure I iced and do the things I needed to help my team so there wasn’t a reason to fall short again.” With Watson healthy and in the lineup, Bishop Gorman downed Coronado in the 5A state championship match to prove themselves as the best team in the state of Nevada this fall. It also capped an enormous season for her. She supercharged the offense with a team-leading 605 kills, averaging 5.7 per set while hitting .392. On top of that, she was second in both blocks (52) and aces (56), as well as third in digs with 373. If there’s a need for any more evidence as to what exactly she brings to the court, all one has to do is look at the way she ended the season. She delivered a season-best 32 kills and hit .348 in the state final. It was the first time all season she had 30 or more kills. “We she got injured last year and she was out, you saw a change in her determination and her demeanor,” Bishop Gorman coach Gregg Nunley said. “She really started to turn it on then. Having that taken away from her and not being able to participate in the state playoffs made her push herself harder. She wants to be the best out there. She has the inner drive and determination to meet that goal.” For her efforts, Watson is vballrecruiter.com’s 2023 Sophomore Player of the Year. Weeks before earning the state championship, we featured Watson as our Player of the Week. She shared how she started in volleyball, as well as her aspirations for this season and much more. You can read all about it here. As for the Player of the Year honor, it was a gut-wrenching selection process, including a few finalists who stood out above the rest. There was Halle Thompson from Grand Oaks, an outside who helped the Grizzlies capture the Texas 6A state championship. There was also Ella Florez, a setter who guided Mill Valley to the Kansas 6A state title. Like Watson, both are 5-star recruits who had dominate campaigns. There was no going wrong among the trio. “I think it’s really great,” Watson said. “I wasn’t expecting to get it. There are so many really great players. Halle, I know her and I love her. She’s a really great player and there were so many more that it was really hard to pick from.” In selecting Watson, Bishop Gorman’s strength of schedule played a role. The school traveled to the Nike TOC Southeast tournament, attended the Durango Fall Classic and headed to the Redondo Power Classic. “The numbers speak for themselves,” Nunley said. “We played a dozen teams in the Top 100 and she still put up those numbers. It was great to see her not only wanting to be the best physically, but also emerging as a leader on the team.” Coming into her sophomore season, Watson made it a point to be more of a leader and more consistent in communicating with her teammates. She said she worried less about what anyone thought and focused more on what she needed to do to get Bishop Gorman back on top. She not only did that, but proved herself of being well-deserving of earning our Sophomore of the Year award. “Ayanna and senior Leilia Toailoa led this team with not only how they play but in getting everyone to buy in to what we were doing,” Nunley said. “They called this ring season. This is ring season and they got everyone to buy into it during summer workouts. It was really great to see.”

Coming off back-to-back Arizona 5A state championships a season ago, there was going to be a major change with the Horizon volleyball program heading into 2023 after long-time coach Valorie McKenzie stepped down. She had been the Huskies’ head coach since the school opened in 1980. While McKenna Skaggs taking over signaled a new era, one important piece remained in place and her name was Teraya Sigler. Sigler – a 5-star outside and Nebraska commit – was coming off a USAV 16 Open gold medal playing with Arizona Storm 16 Thunder. Any team with Sigler on the court stands a puncher’s chance against any opponent, but the junior wasn’t exactly thinking of a three-peat as she headed into the high school season. “Our former coach for 40-plus year, the only coach who has been in the program, was gone and this was our first year with a new coach,” she said. “It was kind of a rebuilding year with making new traditions and keeping the old ones as we moved forward. No one thought we were going to win state. We had to work out rough patches at the beginning of the season but the main goal was to work as hard as we possibly can at every practice and every game.” Fast forward to the state playoffs. Hardly the favorite, Horizon opened as the No. 4 overall seed behind teams like Millennium, Casteel and Notre Dame Prep, all schools Horizon lost to during the regular season. Even No. 5 seed Sunrise Mountain owned a victory over Horizon heading into state. The Huskies’ two-year run seemed destined to come to an end. But like we said earlier, any team with Sigler on it always has a chance. She ripped down 16 kills and hit .652 as Horizon swept Buckeye to advance to the quarters. In that round, playing against Sunrise Mountain, Sigler put down 15 kills and hit .412 in another sweep. Then the magic happened. In a showdown against rival and top-seeded Casteel in the semis, Sigler exploded for a season-high 33 kills while hitting .452 as the Huskies prevailed in four. “In the semifinals and playing a team like that, we had to fight as a team,” Sigler said. “After that it felt like we could totally win state. Casteel is a pretty big rival, especially in volleyball. We knew it was a big match after losing to them in the regular season. I just needed to get my mind right with my teammates and myself. It was a full team effort. My teammates, they worked so hard to get me the ball and I wouldn’t be here without them. I want to win for this team and for this program and we worked so hard to push through it.” Millennium swept Horizon in the regular season and represented another giant hurdle standing in the way of a three-peat. But there was no stopping Sigler at that point. In a dramatic five-set victory, Sigler lifted Horizon to the state title after pounding down 30 kills in her second-biggest output of the season. For her efforts this fall, Sigler is vballrecruiter.com’s 2023 Junior Player of the Year. “She was a powerhouse in that match,” Skaggs said. “Her leadership qualities, she was really locked in. She made eye contact with every single person and made it a point to let them know she was all in. That made them want to be all in. Her drive, her passion, her skill other players want to be good for her. She talks about how this isn’t her team. Everyone knows how good she is because of club, but she would tell her teammates nobody knows how good they are.” Selecting the Junior Player of the Year was a rigorous process. Arguments could be made for difference-maker players like Addy Horner from St. Francis/Wheaton IL, Cari Spears from Prestonwood Christian TX, Chloe Elarton of Valor Christian CO, Maya Witherspoon of Lafayette MO and even Sigler’s club teammate Devyn Wiest, who helped O’Connor to the Arizona 6A state championship. Sigler’s case came with the undeniable impact she had on Horizon, even beyond her impressive numbers. Those included a team-leading 614 kills, which was 400 more than the next closest leader. She averaged 5.2 per set and hit .337. She also finished as the dig leader, making 358 saves and averaging 3.0 per set. Furthermore, she was second in blocks (58) and fourth in aces (40). What those stats can’t measure is what her presence meant and what her intangibles did for those around her. “There is no denying her skill wise,” Skaggs said. “She is very, very advanced and our team would not have performed the way we did without her. My favorite thing about her more than just her being an athlete is what I saw in her leadership quality. “She is one of the most humble athletes ever. She doesn’t ever tell anyone she is good or she is the best. She always thinks she needs to get better. It’s not about herself. She wants to show up for her team and it’s really her humility that makes me so proud of her.”

As the last point of the season concluded and Lincoln Southwest officially made history, Malayah Long looked at her mom and sister in the stands and that’s when the tears of joy started flowing. The Silver Hawks had never captured a state championship until that moment when they swept past Papillion-La Vista in the Nebraska Class A final and in the process becoming the first Lincoln school since 1998 to accomplish the feat. “Volleyball means so much to me,” said Long, a 4-star senior setter and Marquette signee. “Growing up my father passed away when I was 10 and I want to make him proud. I’ve spent so much time and effort. I’m always in the gym with (club coach) Blake (Rawlins). I wanted this goal. This was my final chance at it and making history by winning state. Just thinking about it I can’t even express to my school, my community and everyone around me what it means.” Until last season, Lincoln Southwest hadn’t even advanced as far as the semifinals in the state playoffs. It was quite the achievement but with the team’s two best attackers graduating the roster wasn’t necessarily shaped for a deeper run in 2023. One thing was for sure though, no matter what happened this fall, Long was going to be the centerpiece. “I think the success this year stemmed back to last season,” Lincoln Southwest coach Jessica Kirkendall said. “This was my second year as head coach and after losing last year there was a bit of doubt in general losing the seniors we did but Malayah was not going to let people say that. “It was her motivation for this season that we are not done, we are not ending like that. She had everyone realizing that we could do better than what we did before and that’s exactly what they did.” Long ended the year with 1,067 assists, averaging 10.7 per set. She was also second in both digs (290) and aces (36), as well as fourth in blocks (38). She had seven matches of 40 assists or more, including a season-best 44 in a five-set loss to Lincoln East as the Silver Hawks finished the year 33-4. However, the reason Long is the vballrecruiter.com 2023 Senior Player of the Year goes well beyond the numbers. “I definitely think Malayah is every coach’s dream,” Kirkendall said. “She was our floor captain for that reason. She has a high IQ that goes both ways. She knows what is going on on the other side of the net. She also knows our side of the net and her teammates. If this person has an error she can tell them they need to take responsibility. Or she knows to give this person her space. She really understands her teammates and really wanted the team to come together. She’s the first one to say what are we doing this weekend or what are we doing after practice. She knows in order to play really good volleyball there has to be chemistry and good relationships. These past two years the girls are genuinely friends with each other in and out of volleyball.” Becoming a better leader was one of the main focuses for Long this fall. She made it a goal to learn and connect with her teammates in a way that was going to make them better and get the most out of their talent. It meant something as simple as making eye contact or knowing what teammates like physical contact. It meant telling her middle that she needed to swing on the next ball or pumping up another player who needed lots of energy and encouragement. “For me personally I wanted to change my role as a leader,” Long said. “As the setter, they all look at my leadership. I’m very intense. I want to win. I’m super competitive. I want to win every single point. This year I looked at each player to see how they work and how I can impact each of them. It was figuring out each player and working to focus on that this year.” For Long, the turning point this fall came with the five-set loss to rival Lincoln East on Senior night. Her team had controlled the first two sets but was unable to close out the match and dropped the next three. It’s the type of loss that can derail a season as it’s easy in that situation to lose confidence. Instead, it fueled Long and her teammates. “Looking back, if we would have won that match I think we would have stayed complacent and taken reps off in practice and not giving it our all,” Long said. “After that game, we came to practice and our coach held us accountable. We knew we had to work for every point and that it started in practice. If we wanted to be the team we wanted to be we had to hold ourselves to a different standard. That was a wake-up call.” As Long moves on to college next year, she’ll leave her legacy behind and a void to be filled. Kirkendall said she’s obviously going to miss what Long brings to the court, but it’s the non-volleyball stuff Long did that might make her the saddest about Long’s departure. “Her personality outside of volleyball is really cool and genuine,” Kirkendall said. “I teach first grade and that’s different from other coaches at the high school level. For the past two years she has come into my classroom and volunteered and just hung out and be a face for the kids. They absolutely adore her. We had several first-graders come to the state final with signs that said Mo Long is my hero. She is so involved with the high school. She’s a teacher assistant in the life skill classroom. For the state sendoff kids had signs for her. I feel like overall she’s her genuine self and it’s not about look at me. She’s such