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After releasing our Senior, Junior and Sophomore 2023 HS All-Americans, last in is the Class of 2027. Below, you can find our list featuring top-performing Freshmen who excelled for their respective schools this past fall. PIN HITTERS Allie Hudgins Westlake TXAva Burgess Lone Peak UTCalli LeFevre Marian MICaroline Ward Tri-West Hendricks INCarson Caraway Jackson Academy MSGentry Barker Lovejoy TXHanna McGinest Sierra Canyon CAKate Kalczynski Mercy MILauren Forelli Liberty AZLydia Chinchar Carrollwood Day FLMcKenna McIntosh St. Mary’s CAMia Ray North Gwinnett GANafanua Alofipo Skyline UTNatalie Norton Pantego Christian TXOlivia Henry Fieldston NYPeyton Kubik Blue Valley West KSRiley Riggs Mill Valley KSShaye Witherspoon Lafayette MOSophia Puleo Academy Holy Names FLTessa Larkin Xavier Prep AZWestley Matavao Orange Lutheran CA *** MIDDLE BLOCKERS Camille Presley Austin TXDestinee Chukelu Blessed Trinity GAEmma Kingston Mater Dei CAIsabel Incinelli Winter Park FLKendall Omoruyi Sunnyslope AZKylee Evans Union Grove GAMariah Akinsola Reedy TXNyla Livings Prestonwood Christian TXReagan Wallraff Elkhorn North NE *** SETTERS Anabelle Schembra Center Grove INKendall Hubbard Mount Notre Dame OHLauren Garcia Reagan TX (S/RS)Malorie Boesiger Norris NEMarissa Jones Woodward Academy GAMarlie Smith Clarkston MI (S/RS)Peyton Heatherly Mother McAuley ILSophee Peterson Bryon Nelson TX (S/RS)Sophia Dostic Plant FLZamari Christensen Woods Cross UT *** LIBEROS Ali Strange Archbishop McNicholas OHGraceyn Shepard Middle Creek NCKailey Leonard Alpharetta GAKaitlyn Vogel Foothill CASiena Ebert Hockaday TX

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.”