We have the holidays and then a full club season before the next high school season arrives. However, why wait that long to start talking about it? Even though it’s way too early to determine any sort of rankings of schools, it’s still possible to get an idea of how the 2024 high school campaign might stack up. Below, we look ahead and dive into where the Top 10 programs from this season might stand next year.
MATER DEI CA: The Monarchs are certainly going to take a hit, as they lose their top-two kill leaders in Isabel Clark (San Diego) and Cymarah Gordon (Michigan), as well as setter/right side Julia Kakkis (Brown), libero Malyssa Cawa (Stanford) and defensive specialist Tessa Hurley. Mater Dei does have pieces to rebuild around in sophomore outside Layli Ostovar, freshman middle Emma Kingston, sophomore middle Addison Coady and junior setter Ayva Ostovar. It’s going to be next to impossible for Mater Dei to repeat as national champion and put together another season like this one. But it’s very possible the Monarchs remain as Top 20 program.
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN IN: The Royals will enter 2024 as the two-time Indiana 4A state champs and riding a 67-match winning streak. It’s a mixed bag as to who stays and who goes. The big loss is outside Lauren Harden (Florida). Also graduating is setter Macy Hinshaw (Santa Clara) and libero Sophie Ledbetter (Ball State). However, among the returning players is junior outside Lindsey Mangelson (Mississippi State), who finished second on the team in kills behind Harden. It also stands that sophomore outside Madison Miles will take on a bigger role offensively next year, as will sophomore outside Merritt Sliwa. Junior setter Ava Hunter (Loyola-Chicago) is also coming back. Another undefeated season might be unlikely, but a three-peat in 4A is not.
PRESTONWOOD CHRISTIAN TX: All eyes were on the Lions to begin 2023, as they returned every starter from a year ago. That won’t be the case going into 2024, but Prestonwood Christian brings back enough talent and will play a schedule worthy of a national champion. Seniors Jadyn Livings (USC), Mikala Young (TCU), Camille Edwards and Kennedy Washington will leave a void. Yet, the Lions are set up to absorb most of it. Kill leader and junior outside Cari Spears (Texas) is back. She’s joined by junior right side Taylor Clarke, junior setter Taylor Cook and junior libero Gillian Pitts. The younger Livings in Nyla and Naomi figure to take on much larger roles next season as sophomores too. Together, it’s likely to keep Prestonwood Christian near the top of the national rankings.
GRAND OAKS TX: Could the Grizzlies open the season as the No. 1 team in the country next August? With the talent that is returning it’s possible. The Texas 6A state champs do lose a few key pieces in middle Jaela Auguste (Florida) and right side Caelyn Emmerling (Texas State), as well as one half of the setting duo in Audrey Terry. But the good news is the top-two kill leaders are back in sophomore outside Halle Thompson and junior outside Samara Coleman (Pitt). They combined for nearly 1,000 kills this fall. Sophomore libero Cali Reece returns, as does sophomore setter Samantha Sampson. It leaves the Grizzlies enough that they could have another season in store like this one, when they went 50-1.
CATHEDRAL CATHOLIC CA: The Dons surprised in a major way this fall. After capturing the national championship in 2022 and losing a ton of talent, they were right back in the national championship picture in 2023. Cathedral Catholic is going to see more roster turnover next fall as it loses three of its top four kill leaders in Jenna Hanes (Michigan), Tiona Owens and Ayva Moi (Hawaii beach). Also graduating is senior setter Amanda Saeger (DePaul). The Dons are going to have to retool around sophomore outside Madyson McCarthy, freshman setter Kale’a Lee, junior libero Maya Evens (Maryland) and junior outside Mae Kordas (Yale). Freshman outside Jojo Wilson also figures to take on a bigger role next fall. It’s hard to see Cathedral Catholic remaining a Top-10 program in 2024, but we said the same thing about 2023, so we’ll see.
WAYZATA MN: There is going to be big changes in the Trojans’ lineup next season. Key pieces in setter Stella Swenson (Minnesota), outside Olivia Swenson (Minnesota), right side Avery Jesewitz and libero Bianca Nistor. One of the biggest returners is junior middle Katie Kelzenberg (George Mason). Wayzata has big challenges to remain in the upper half of the national rankings.
MIRA COSTA CA: The Mustangs are going to take a big loss with setter Charlie Fuerbringer (Wisconsin) graduating. They lose other parts in middles Bryn Shankle (TCU) and Rachel Moglia, as well as right sides Nora Williams (UCR) and Chloe Hynes (NYU). It’s going to create a new look, but the returning players could keep Mira Costa in the Top 10 in 2024. The top-two kill leaders are sophomore outsides Audrey Flanagan and Simone Roslon. Also back is junior libero Taylor Deckert (USC). That provides a great building block. Sophomore setters Milly McGee and Reese Stringer are also going to be part of the mix that should keep Mira Costa churning along.
ASSUMPTION KY: This is a program that always finds a way to be competitive and typically finishes in at least the Top 20 in national rankings. Next season should be no different despite key seniors in outsides Charlotte Moriarty (Xavier) and Chloe Smith (Wofford). That’s an area that’s going to need to get sorted out. However, there are other pieces in place like junior middle Bailey Blair (Ohio), junior libero Kristen Simon (Wisconsin), junior outside Emma Barnett, junior setter Emilee Fuller and sophomore defensive specialist Emily Keiran.
MOTHER MCAULEY IL: The Macs were among the schools who returned a bunch in 2023. That won’t be the case in 2024. Outside Ellie White (Michigan), middle Ellery Rees (Alabama) and libero Samantha Falk (Loyola-Chicago) are going to be missed. The key pieces back are junior outside Sydney Buchanan and freshman setter Peyton Heatherly. It’ll take work for the Macs to stay in the Top 20.
BENET ACADEMY IL: The Redwings are set up nicely for next season. Compared to other teams in the Top 10, they return almost everybody. Among them are four of the top five kill leaders in sophomore middle Lynney Tarnow, junior Audrey Asleson, junior Gabby Stasys and sophomore Sophia Chinetti, as well as sophomore setter Ellie Stiernagle and junior libero Aniya Warren. After finishing as the Illinois 4A state runner up, Benet Academy could be in a for a huge season next fall and figures to be among the top teams in the nation.
