With the high school season underway this week, teams are taking their first steps toward their championship aspirations. Below, we check in on nine state champions from last fall and see where they stand in hopes of finishing on top of their respective divisions once more.
Assumption KY
Coming off their 23rd state title last fall, the Rockets are going to be right back in the mix in hopes of adding to the program’s collection. Gone is last year’s kill leader in outside Charlotte Moriarty, as well as outside Chloe Smith, who finished third in kills. However, Assumption has plenty back, including 5-star Wisconsin commit and libero Kristen Simon. Joining her is three more seniors in 3-star setter Emilee Fuller, 3-star right side/middle Bailey Blair (Ohio) and pin hitter Emma Barnett. For Assumption to bring home another state title though, it’s likely going to have to rely on underclassmen to contribute. Among them is a pair of freshmen outsides in 4-star Brooke Codey and 3-star Taylor Price. Codey played up on KiVA 15 Red this past club season, while Price was part of KiVA 14 Red. Another underclassman who could play a contributing role is sophomore Emily Poteraj, a 3-star middle who was also on KiVA 15 Red.
Bishop Gorman NV
The defending 5A state champions from Nevada return the best player in the state in junior Ayanna Watson. The 5-star outside is a Pitt commit and was Vballrecruiter’s Sophomore Player of the Year last fall. Watson averaged 5.7 kills per set and hit .392. Watson is joined by another Pitt commit in 3-star setter Trinity Thompson. The junior directed the attack a year ago and averaged 10.6 assists per set. Another returner the Gaels are expected to lean on is senior middle Brooklynn Williams, who was third in kills and led the team in blocks. Two spots Bishop Gorman will need to fill are at outside and libero with seniors Leilia Toaloa and Tatum Thompson having graduated. Sophomore Allie Breitling, a 3-star outside, could be one to help fill in offensively.
Carrollwood Day FL
Last season’s 3A state champs in the state of Florida, the Patriots went 31-2 and return a lot to position themselves to once again be a top contender. The main loss was setter Naomi Chinchar but that’s about the only area of need. The top four kill leaders are back, including 5-star right side and sophomore Lydia Chinchar. She was Vballrecruiter’s Freshman Player of the Year a season ago after averaging 6.3 kills per set and hitting .428. She’s joined by senior MB/OH Sarah Dibbs-Frantz – a VCU commit – junior RS/OH Elena Dibbs-Frantz and senior middle Lorelei Church. Also returning is senior libero Mattea Casale, a 3-star Purdue commit. One big change to the schedule for the 2024 season includes Carrollwood Day set to attend the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas in September.
Cleveland TN
One thing Cleveland needs to overcome if it hopes to capture another Division 1 Class 3A state championship is the loss of setter Kinslee McGowan and libero Addison Brock. The good news though is the Blue Raiders return a pair of outsides who combined for nearly 1,200 kills a season ago. One is senior outside and 4-star recruit Lauren Hurst. The other is junior Gunny Brock, a 3-star recruit. They’ll once again power the attack.
Grand Oaks TX
It’s a mixed bag for the Grizzlies in terms of departures and returners. However, working in Grand Oaks’ favor as the program chases a repeat bid in 6A is having arguably the top outside duo in the country. The pair features senior Samara Coleman – a 5-star Pitt commit – and junior Halle Thompson – a 5-star Wisconsin commit. They teamed up for more than 1,000 kills in 2023. The overall attack, however, doesn’t figure to be as potent as 5-star middle Jaela Auguste (Florida) graduated, as did 3-star right side Caelyn Emmerling (Texas State). Another player who is back though is junior Cali Reece, a 3-star defender who led the team in digs as last year’s libero. One half of the setting duo in junior Samantha Sampson also returns.
Mater Dei CA
Last season’s national champions as well as the CA Open Division state champions saw its share of talent graduate. It includes losing senior pin hitters Isabel Clark (San Diego) and Cymarah Gordon (Michigan), as well as libero Malyssa Cawa (Stanford) and setter Julia Kakkis (Brown). Not all is lost however. Among the returners is junior outside Layli Ostovar, a 5-star USC commit. She’s joined by older sisters and L/DS Kayla Ostovar and setter Ayva Ostovar. Other contributors from last season who are returning feature junior 3-star middle Addison Coady, sophomore 4-star middle Emma Kingston, senior 3-star pin Preslie Saunders and senior L/DS Sydney Raszewski. While Mater Dei is facing turnover, working in its favor is depth. Though she won’t be eligible until the halfway point, the Monarchs picked up sophomore transfer Westley Matavao, a 4-star outside who helped Forza1 North 16 One to a fifth-place showing in 16 Open at USAV nationals. The team can alos use junior setters Sam Capinpin and Soraya Dennis, as well as freshman Abby Moffett, a 3-star S/RS who suited up for Tstreet 14 Tara.
O’Connor AZ
Like others, the Eagles have things to overcome as well as components working in their favor. The defending 6A state champions welcome back last year’s kill leader in senior Devyn Wiest, a 4-star outside committed to Utah. Both starting middles also return. One is junior Leylah Duran. The other is 4-star sophomore Kristen Sheehy. Also back is senior middle Maggie Paulsen who missed most of the season last year with injury. While one half of the setting duo is gone in Shannon Sheehy, O’Connor does bring back 3-star senior S/RS Addison France. One area of work is replacing graduated libero Kinsley Singleton.
Plant FL
The Panthers went 25-3 a season ago en route to finishing on top of the Florida 7A state playoffs. That bad news for opponents is Plant isn’t going anywhere in 2024. The top four kill leaders are back, as is 3-star sophomore setter Sophia Dostic who led the team in assists last fall. Her older sister, Maggie, led the team in kills and is a 3-star outside committed to Tennessee. Joining them is Mercer commit and senior outside Lara Matta, who finished second in kills last season. Also back is both starting middles in senior Kaylee Peper and junior Samantha Karjala. Peper is a 3-star Florida State commit who led the team in blocks last fall. Karjala is a 3-star recruit who finished fourth in kills and second in blocks. If there is one area Plant needs to fill it’s at libero with the loss of Bella Lee, a 3-star defender who is at Florida now. However, the Panthers do have 3-star defender and sophomore Ella Horvick in the mix and likely to take over.
Skutt Catholic NE
The Skyhawks have one of the most impressive streaks in the nation going on. They have captured nine consecutive Class B state championships. And by the looks of it it’s going to be difficult to keep them from stretching it to 10 in a row. The biggest loss comes at libero with Paisley Douglas (USC). After that, Skutt returns everyone. Among them is Addison West. She’s a 3-star outside and North Carolina commit who finished five kills shy of being the kill leader. That honor went to now-senior Abbie Hagedorn (Sacred Heart). Leading the attack is returning setter and senior Meghan Anderson. Like Carrollwood Day, Skutt Catholic is also attending this year’s Durango Fall Classic.
