Last week we presented our list of the vballrecruiter.com Senior Player of the Year Candidates. This go around, we have narrowed the list down to 25 Player of the Year Finalists. It’s a select list, one that was difficult to make given the criteria we were looking for.
It’s not totally impossible to be considered as a finalist if a player didn’t lead their team in a statistical category, but the contributions have to be significant and undeniable. It’s one way of gauging a player’s impact for the season. Another determining factor was overall team success. Given the number of seniors listed as candidates, to be chosen as a finalist their respective team needed to win a state championship or the equivalent of given some programs can be independent. It’s a tough standard, one that eliminated plenty of talented players who are headed to top Division 1 programs. At the same time, it’s a team sport and using winning a state championship as a measure is one way to honor it.
We’ll select the eventual Senior Player of the Year winner from the list of finalists below, presented in alphabetical order by first name.
Abby Yoder S Kings OH: A 3-star Ohio State commit, Yoder was a key player as Kings took home the Ohio Division 1 state championship. She racked up 1,057 assists, averaging 10.7 per set while finishing second in aces with 76. She had her share of monster performances, including a season-best 61 assists in a five-set victory over Seton in late September. Twice more she surpassed 55 assists and had five more outings of at least 40 assists. She’s one of 11 setters in the running for our Senior Player of the Year award.
Alex Bower S Skyview ID: Bower orchestrated the offense as Skyview finished the year as the Idaho 4A state champion. Bower – a 5-star BYU commit – is a high IQ setter who ended her senior campaign with 862 assists, averaging 8.6 per set. She was also second in both blocks and aces. She set her season high of 40 assists in a five-set loss to Maple Mountain UT in late August. She had an additional 12 matches of at least 30 assists or more.
Alyssa Nelson S Lafayette MO: Nelson is another setter who proved herself worthy of being a Senior Player of the Year finalist. The 3-star Villanova commit had an impressive year, totaling 1,036 assists and averaging 10.1 per set as Lafayette claimed its second consecutive Missouri 4A state championship. She also led the roster with 61 aces. She had her biggest performances in October, including a season-high 48 assists in a five-set victory against Marquette. Her best match was arguably dishing out 44 assists in a three-set victory over Eureka a week prior.
Avery Scoggins S Middle Creek NC: With Scoggins running the show, Middle Creek captured its first-ever North Carolina 4A state championship. The Arizona signee registered 919 assists. She averaged 9.9 per set while finished second in blocks and third in digs. Scoggins had six matches with at least 43 assists or more. It included her season-best 49 dimes in a four-set victory over Apex Friendship in October. She also had 48 assists in the state semifinal triumph against Green Hope and 33 in the state final sweep of Cox Mill.
Bethanie Wu S Lovejoy TX: The Leopards proved themselves the best in 5A as they claimed the state championship. Wu – a 4-star Yale commit – directed a balanced attack in amassing 1,317 assists. She averaged 10.1 per set while also leading the team in aces. Wu’s best outing was a season-high 61 assists in a four-set victory over Whitehouse in early November. She had two more matches of at least 54 assists and six more of at least 41.
Charlotte Moriarty OH Assumption KY: Moriarty played a vital part of Assumption going 37-5 and earning the Kentucky state championship. The Rockets also finished first at the LIVT tournament. As for Moriarty, a 3-star Xavier commit, she led the squad with 413 kills. She averaged 3.5 per set as well as ending first in aces, second in digs and third in blocks. She recorded a season-high 20 kills in a three-set loss to eventual national champion Mater Dei CA in the quarterfinals of the Durango Fall Classic. She delivered 18 kills in Assumption’s four-set victory over Notre Dame Academy in the state final.
Clara Gyomory RS North Branch MI: It’s difficult to be a Player of the Year finalist without leading your team in kills as a hitter. However, Gyomory was just two kills shy of that accomplishment. The Northeastern commit tallied 513 winners while hitting an impressive .407. She was also one block shy of tying for the team lead while finishing second in aces. It’s clear to see the impact she made as North Branch repeated as the Michigan Division 2 state champ. Gyomory put away a season-best 28 kills in a five-set victory against Marysville in November.
Delaney Russell OH Valor Christian CO: The Eagles finished as the Colorado 5A state champ with Russell leading the charge offensively. She totaled 383 kills while hitting .395. She was also second in aces and third in digs. The 3-star Montana commit had two of her three biggest matches in the state semifinals and finals. She had a season-high 30 kills in a five-set victory over Legend in early September and managed to put away 24 kills against the same opponent in the state semis. She followed that up with 24 more kills in the championship-clinching victory over Fossil Ridge in the final.
Ellie White OH Mother McAuley IL: White – a 4-star Michigan commit – is among the favorites for Player of the Year. After all, she took home the award last year as a junior and once more powered the Macs to the 4A state championship. She finished with 484 kills, averaging 5.1 per set while also leading the team in aces. She was second in digs and third in blocks as well. Three times she recorded 20 kills, including twice in three-set victories. One came against rival Marist during the Asics Challenge.
Emerson Sellman OH Academy Holy Cross MD: Sellman – a 5-star Ohio State commit – lifted the Tartans to a perfect 29-0 season, including the Western Catholic Athletic Conference championship. On the year she recorded 336 kills, averaging 4.9 per set and hitting .396. She also led the roster in aces and blocks and was second in digs. She had five matches of 21 kills or more, including a season-high 25 twice. One of those times was against Bishop O’Connell in the WCAC championship.
Grace Agolli S/RS Pace Academy GA: Agolli is our first two-way player in the running for the Player of the Year award. The setter/right side played a fundamental role in helping the Knights capture the Georgia 4A state title and end the season 37-3. A 3-star Cal commit, Agolli finished first in kills with 389, averaging 4.7 per set and hitting .307. She was second in assists with 362, averaging 4.4 per set. Additionally, she was second in blocks and third in aces.
Hannah Benjamin OH Fideles Christian GA: A 5-star Kentucky commit, Benjamin had a huge season as the Rangers claimed the GAPPS Division 1-AAA state championship. She racked up 453 kills, averaging an impressive 7.1 per set and hitting a massive .504. She also led the roster in digs and aces. She posted a season-high 44 kills in a state semifinals victory over Lanier Christian.
Hannah Parant S Mountain Brook AL: A 3-star Alabama commit, Parant was at the center of the Spartans’ run to the Alabama 6A state title. She racked up 1,142 assists, averaging 8.2 per set. She also finished second in kills at 221 and hitting .337. Parant dolled out a season-best 47 assists in the team’s state semifinals victory over Bayside Academy.
Hannah Pattie S Lake Catholic OH: The Cougars had a memorable season, going 29-0 and claiming the Ohio Division 3 state championship. A 3-star Campbell commit, Pattie showed her prowess in leading the attack. She dished out 848 assists, averaging 11.8 per set. She had three matches of 56 assists or more, including a season-high 59 in a four-set victory over St. Joseph Academy in August. She had 56 in the state championship victory over Crestview.
Isabel Clark OH Mater Dei CA: It’s easy to see why Clark would be a Player of the Year finalist. The 4-star San Diego commit led national-champion Mater Dei in kills. She registered 402, averaging 3.7 per set. She was also second in aces, third in digs and fourth in blocks. Beyond that, she was one of the more clutch players as she posted her four biggest outputs of the year during the sectional playoffs, including tying a season-high 18 kills in sweeping Mira Costa in the sectional final.
Jaela Auguste MB Grand Oaks TX: Auguste was not the same factor on offense as other finalists. The 5-star Florida commit actually finished fourth on the roster in kills, but she did hit a ridiculous .551. However, she was a force defensively at the net. She sent back 142 blocks, averaging 1.4 per set. Three times she matched her season high with nine blocks.
Kinslee McGowan S Cleveland TN: McGowan added senior leadership to a Cleveland squad that brought home the Tennessee Division 1 3A state championship. The 3-star North Alabama commit recorded 1,236 assists, averaging 9.0 per set. She was also second in both digs and aces. She put up a season-best 46 assists in a five-set loss to East Hamilton in mid-September. It was one of two times she had at least 40 assists.
Lauren Harden OH Hamilton Southeastern IN: The Royals finished No. 2 in our Top 50 national rankings after going 33-0 and earning the Indiana 4A state title for the second year in a row. Harden – a 5-star Florida commit – is a top contender for Player of the Year. She racked up 371 kills, averaging 3.7 per set and hitting .323. She sent down a season-high 19 kills in HSE’s five-set victory over Homestead in the regional championships. It was the only time all season HSE went five sets.
Logan Wiley MB Alpharetta GA: Wiley’s hands were all over Alpharetta’s success this fall. The Raiders went 38-3 and captured the Georgia 6A state title. The 4-star Georgia Tech commit was a force on both sides of the ball. She led the team in kills with 417 kills. She averaged 3.8 per set and hit .387. She also finished as the block leader with 91. One of her best outings had her deliver 22 kills and hit .457 with six blocks against North Forsyth in October.
Malayah Long S Lincoln Southwest NE: The Silver Hawks rose to the top of the Nebraska Class A playoffs after beating Papillion-La Vista in the championship match. Long – a 4-star Marquette commit – was at the helm and leading the way. She amassed 1,067 assists, averaging 10.7 per set while finishing second in digs and aces too. She registered a season-high 44 assists against Lincoln East in October. It was one of seven times she had 40 assists or more.
Maria Drapp S Mercy McAuley OH: Drapp ran a balanced attack, one that helped the Wolves claim the Ohio Division 2 state championship. The 3-star Bradley commit capped her career with 1,169 assists. She averaged 10.7 per set while also leading the roster in aces. She had a season-high 60 assists in an early October victory over Seton. Five other times she delivered 50 assists or more, including 55 in a state semifinal triumph against Marlington.
Payton Petersen OH Dike-New Hartford IA: A 4-star Louisville commit, Petersen is a well-deserved finalist for the season she put together this fall. She tallied 616 kills, averaging 5.6 per set and hitting .463, as the Wolverines went 50-0 and captured the Iowa 2A state championship. She also finished two digs shy of leading the team in that category. Petersen finished the season in style, recording a season-high 24 kills in the state semifinals against Denver. She then had 20 kills in the state finals against Hinton. That was the only two times she had 20 or more kills all season.
Sophia Wendlick OH Divine Savior Holy Angels WI: Wendlick – a 3-star Creighton commit – was instrumental in DSHA repeating as the Wisconsin Division 1 state champs and ending the year 47-1. She led the squad with 585 kills, averaging 4.8 per set and hitting .333. She had a season-best 29 winners against Hamilton in late September. It was one of five times she had at least 20 kills or more, including 22 in the state championship match against Oconomowoc.
Stella Swenson S Wayzata MN: The Trojans claimed the Minnesota 4A state title for the fourth straight season with Swenson – a 5-star Minnesota commit – directing the attack. She totaled 877 assists, averaging 9.9 per set. Her season-best 40 assists came in a victory over Lakeville South in early September. She also had another 10 matches of at least 30 assists or more.
Zoey Burgess MB Lone Peak UT: A 5-star Kansas commit, Burgess finishes off our list of finalists. She was the most impactful player on a team that captured the Utah 6A state championship. She led in both kills (279) and blocks (65) and was second in aces (45). She recorded a season-high 18 kills and hit .571 in a five-set victory over Bingham in October. It was one of five times she had 15 kills or more.
