We continue on with the individual award portion of the high school season. It kicked off with our Senior Player of the Year Candidates. Next in line is our Junior Player of the Year Candidates.
When it comes to selecting Player of the Year Candidates, it’s a subjective list. There are determining factors used in order to provide parameters to choosing the players below. We looked at the talent level of the player, their impact on the team and overall team success. The first is very subjective, because not everyone will agree on a player’s talent level. Judging a player’s impact on a team usually falls under being among the top kill leaders or if a setter running a 5-1, or even major contributions as both a setter and hitter. Overall team success is judged based on how a team fared in their respective state playoffs. Depending on the competitiveness of the state and division, teams needed to reach at least the Round of 16 or quarterfinals to be considered.
We’ll next narrow down the list of candidates to the Player of the Year Finalists, where we’ll highlight each finalist and the reason why they are up for the Junior Player of the Year award before eventually selecting the Player of the Year.
Lastly, we are releasing a separate list for our Libero of the Year Candidates, so you won’t find any defenders below.
Junior Player of the Year Candidates (alphabetical order)
Abigail Li S Alpharetta GA
Addy Horner S/RS St. Francis/Wheaton IL
Addy Tindall OH Homestead IN
Alanah Clemente RS Bishop Alemany CA
Alea Goolsby OH St. Thomas Aquinas KS
Alyssa Koerkenmeier MB Mater Dei IL
Amaria King OH Trinity Christian Academy FL
Anna Blamires RS Cheyenne Mountain CO
Anna Jelinek OH Norris NE
***
Anya Schmidt OH Rogers MN
Ashby Zubchevich OH La Canada CA
Ashlyn Paymal OH Omaha Westside NE
Ashlyn Tafoya S Thompson Valley CO
Asia Harvey OH Sandy Creek GA
Ava Durgan MB Mead WA
Ava Jo Berry S Wenatchee WA
Ava Tilden OH Notre Dame Academy KY
Bailey Warren OH Fulshear TX
Bella Bullington OH Marist IL
***
Camryn Jeffery RS Westwood GA
Cari Spears OH Prestonwood Christian TX
Charlotte Glass S/RS St. Andrew’s FL
Charlotte Vinson OH Yorktown IN
Chloe Elarton S Valor Christian CO
Danielle Moore OH Howell MO
Delaney Miller OH Ankeny Centennial IA
Devon Burke OH Newton North MA
Devyn Wiest OH O’Connor AZ
***
Ella Craggs S Northville MI
Ella Rogers S Dowling Catholic IA
Ellis Crawford MB Pope GA
Erika Sayer MB Lewis-Palmer CO
Evie Morrissette S/RS Sprague OR
Georgia Terrell OH Lake Washington WA
Gracie Furlong OH Galena IL
Halle Horton OH Davidson Day NC
Hannah Kenny S/RS Willowbrook IL
***
Hannah Leftridge OH St. Pius X MO
Hannah Pearce OH Saraland AL
Isabelle Bardin S/RS Flint Hill VA
Izzy Busignani OH Marian MI
Izzy Mogridge S Berkeley Prep FL
Jada Aksu OH Georgetown Day DC
Jessica Costlow OH Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central MI
Kaira Knox OH Nolensville TN
Kamden Mitchell S Crescent Valley OR
Kassidy O’Brien S Cinco Ranch TX
***
Kate Stewart OH Chiles FL
Kelly Kinney OH King’s Academy FL
Kenna Cogill MB Perry AZ
Kennedy Vaughn OH Bob Jones AL
Kirra Musgrove S/RS Lutheran South Academy TX
KK Green S Lake Highlands Prep FL
Lauren Hurst OH Cleveland TN
Lauren Lopez OH Bishop Miege KS
Leni Stanton-Parker OH Langley VA
Lilly Howell MB Muncie Burris IN
***
Lindsey Mangelson OH Hamilton Southeastern IN
Logan Bell OH Roncalli IN
Logan Parks S/RS Blue Valley North KS
Lucy Chertock OH Amador Valley CA
Lydia Pitts MB/S Southside AR
Maddie Evans S Bingham UT
Madison Emery S Bellevue West NE
Madison Quest OH Divine Savior Holy Angels WI
Maegan Mills OH Seaman KS
Maggie Dostic OH Plant FL
***
Maija Howse OH Eagle ID
Mallory Reck OH Northville MI
Maria Nix OH Cannon NC
Marin Collins OH Frontier NY
Marlie Davis OH Gilmour Academy OH
Maya Witherspoon OH Lafayette MO
Megan Fitch OH Cornerstone Christian TX
Meghan Anderson S Skutt Catholic NE
Molly Reck OH Northville MI
Maya Baker S Archbishop Mitty CA
***
Paige Thies OH Oregon City OR
Paris McQuirter OH McGill-Toolen AL
Peyton Sasse OH Lincoln IL
Reagan Ennist OH Shenendehowa NY
Reese Messer S St. James Academy KS
Riley Greene MB Cardinal Mooney FL
Ryan Hunter RS Cox Mill NC
Samara Coleman OH Grand Oaks TX
Shelby Burris MB Lovejoy TX
Shelby Ignash MB Cass City MI
***
Suli Davis OH/S Colleyville Heritiage TX
Tara Greenbury MB Incarnate Word MO
Tatum Sharp MB Thompson Valley CO
Taylor Gaines OH Liberty Hill TX
Taylor Harvey MB Bountiful UT
Teraya Sigler OH Horizon AZ
Tyler Peluso S Winter Park FL
Zoey Matias OH Westminster Christian FL
