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. She’s reached double-digit digs in 18 of 22 matches, including surpassing 20 or more four times. She had a season-high 27 digs in a four-set victory over Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran in mid-August.
Lexi Kedvesh L Carmel IN: Kedvesh is another sophomore libero who is having an impressive season. The 3-star recruit leads the Greyhounds with 225 digs, averaging 3.4 per set. She’s also third in aces. She’s been hot of late, turning in her two best matches in the past two weeks. She had a season-high 22 digs in a five-set loss to Yorktown and 20 digs in a three-set defeat against Lawrence North.
Amirra Bailey MB Bowling Green KY: The Purples have benefitted from Bailey’s production. The 6-4, 5-star recruit leads the team in kills, blocks and aces. She has 291 kills, averaging 4.2 per set while hitting .379. She’s registered 72 blocks, averaging 1.0 per set. And she’s delivered 50 aces. She had a season-best 20 kills in a four-set loss to Greenwood in late August. She had a season-high eight blocks in a beating West Jessamine in four earlier this month. And she put up a season-high seven aces in topping McCracken County in mid-August.
Audrey Flanagan OH, Simone Roslon OH Mira Costa CA: The Mustangs have climbed to the top spot in our Top 50 Rankings having won the Ann Kang Invitational and also defeating Mater Dei, the Volleypalooza champion, as well as Cornerstone Christian, the Nike TOC Southeast champ. It’s been a pair of sophomore outsides bolstering the attack in Flanagan and Roslon. Flanagan – a 5-star recruit – entered the week leading the team in kills, averaging 3.8 per set. Roslon – a 3-star recruit – is next averaging 2.2 per set. Roslon is also second in digs, with Flanagan third. The duo is also tied for second in aces. Flanagan has been clutch in the biggest matches, dropping a season-best 18 kills in a five-set victory over Torrey Pines. She also had 16 kills in Mira Costa’s sweep of Mater Dei. Roslon had her best match in a sweep of Marymount, posting 11 kills and hitting .435.
Layli Ostovar OH Mater Dei CA: A 5-star recruit, Osotvar has been part of what’s proven to be a balanced attack so far this season for Mater Dei. She’s third in total kills with 138, and tied for second in average at 3.1 per set. She turned in her best performance to date in a four-set victory over Redondo Union. In that outing, she totaled 16 kills and hit .368.
Makenna Crosson OH/RS Archbishop Mitty CA: The Monarchs have started the season cooking, entering the week a perfect 14-0. That mark is going to be challenged this weekend at the Durango Fall Classic, but for now Mitty is flying high. Crosson – a 4-star recruit who played up on NorCal 17-1 Black this past club season – transferred in this season and is making an immediate impact. She’s currently leading the team in kills with 158, averaging 4.0 per set. She’s also second in digs and tied for second in blocks. She’s twice recorded a season-high 18 kills, once in a sweep of Valley Christian and once in beating St. Ignatius in five.
