MaxPreps All-America picks Jordan Middleton, Carly Hendrickson, Averi Carlson headline look across the country.
While high school volleyball was a mixed bag in terms of cancellations, postponements and states forging ahead in 2020, this year appears to be back on track. MaxPreps is again spotlighting the best high
school volleyball player in each state.
From All-Americans to up-and-comers, players were identified based on last year's statistical data provided to MaxPreps,
as well as local, state or national honors from multiple media outlets. In some cases, 2019 stats were used to help quantify things.
You
could make the case that some, if not all, states could list out
multiple players deserving of the honor. However, we've attempted to
narrow it down to just one player per state set to serve, bump or spike
it up this year.
Jordan Middleton, Hamilton
Photo by Mark Jones
Rya McKinnon, HooverShe pounded 599 kills with 284 digs in 121 sets for the 52-1 Buccaneers.
The Gatorade state player of the year guided Hoover to last year's 7A
crown.
Alaska
Hanna Henrie, South Anchorage (Anchorage)The senior posted 178 kills (3.9 per set) and 87 digs as a junior for the Wolverines.
Arizona
Drove home 20 kills in the state finals win. She finished with 286 kills and 141 digs as the Huskies went 17-2.
Arkansas
The junior dished up 800 assists as the Bulldogs went 21-1 in 2020 with 6A title. The Florida State commit posted 1,072 assists in 2019.
California
Claire Little, Vista Murrieta (Murrieta)The Cal-Hi Freshman of the Year in 2019, she helped the Broncos to the
CIF Division I title that year with 416 kills and 247 digs.
Colorado
Carter Booth, Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village)Headed to Minnesota, the 6-foot-7 senior hammered 199 kills at a 47 percent rate last year for the 15-2 Bruins.
Connecticut
Aerin Bowman, DarienThe lone junior on last year's LL all-state team, she posted 197 kills in games for the Blue Wave. .
Delaware
Julia Yurkovich, St. Mark's (Wilmington)She was first team all-state and all-conference in 2020 for the 12-0 Spartans, recording 17 kills and 13 digs in the title match.
Florida
Jordyn Byrd, Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota)Totaled 315 kills and 151 digs last season for the 19-9 Cardinals. Named to the ACVA phenom list, she's deciding between Florida, Purdue, Texas, Wisconsin and Penn State.
Georgia
Alexa Markley, McIntosh (Peachtree City)Hit at a 36 percent clip with 405 kills as the 33-1 Chiefs won the AAAAA title
Hawaii
Devin Kahahawai, Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu)Selected to the United States U18 National Team, she had 124 kills in a 23-set season for the Warriors. Kahahawai stood out two seasons ago for the Warriors and should be a force when paired with
Maui Robins.
Idaho
Eden Bower, Skyview (Nampa)The BYU commit is one of seven girls and the third to play collegiately for the Cougars. The 6-3 hitter's parent also went to BYU (her mom played volleyball and father played basketball).
Illinois
Ella Wrobel, Plainfield North (Plainfield)An alternate on the U18 National Team, the future Badger posted
373 kills in 2019 along with 217 digs as the Tigers were 31-7.
Indiana
Emma Halter, Roncalli (Indianapolis)The future Texas Longhorn has 349 serve receives along with 680 digs for the 22-9 Royals.
Iowa
Hayden Kubik, Valley (West Des Moines)Headed to Nebraska, she pounded 342 kills, adding 193 digs as the 41-8 Tigers fell in the 5A finals.
Kansas
Brooklyn DeLeye, Washburn Rural (Topeka)A MaxPreps All-American and recent Kentucky commit, she's been an all-state selection in each of
her first two seasons. She pounded 511 kills as a freshman for the
Blues.
Kentucky
Sydney Helmers, Assumption (Louisville)The next Rocket star had 282 kills in 59 sets in a 16-3 COVID shortened season. Ryle's
Lucy Trump also deserves a nod from the Bluegrass State.
Louisiana
Kate Baker, St. Mary's Dominican (New Orleans)The Bayou State is looking for its next great player with Cicily Hidalgo graduated and Baker could be it. She compiled 957 assists, 357 digs and 173 kills last season.
Maine
Evelyn Dagan, Stevens Academy (Blue Hill)She tallied 159 assist and 59 kills in limited action for the 11-0 Eagles.
Maryland
Kelenna Onukwugha, Howard (Ellicott City)The junior had 194 kills as a freshman in a state that played sparingly last year.
Massachusetts
The Mayflower League Player of the Year in 2019, transferred after Sacred Heart closed. She piled up 350 kills as a sophomore.
Michigan
Alyssa Borellis, Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac)Pounded 447 kills, hitting at a 43 percent clip, with 239 digs as the
37-10 Fighting Irish made the Michigan Division 2 Final Four.
Minnesota
Julia Hanson, Prior LakeThe future Gopher had 212 kills last season and landed on the Class AAA all-state first team.
Mississippi
Transferred from Clinton and has more than 1,500 kills in her
career. She hammered 427 kills and 338 digs for the Arrows in 2020.
Missouri
Sydney Golden, NixaShe dished up 1,163 assists in 109 sets for the Class 5 runner-up. She should surpass 3,000 assists in her career this season.
Montana
Lauren Lindseth, Russell (Great Falls)The Montana State commit and first-team all-state pick had 23 kills and 21 digs in last year's five-set title match loss.
Nebraska
Mya Larson, WahooEnters her final season with 1,580 kills and 1,156 digs for the
Warriors. The future Bobcat logged 532 kills and 400 digs as Wahoo went
35-0 and won the Class C1 title.
Nevada
Caroline Edgeworth, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)The Gaels went 7-0 last season in a COVID-shortened year, but Edgeworth posted 1,474 assists and 294 digs in 2019.
Caroline Edgeworth, Bishop Gorman
File photo by Jann Hendry
The two-time Division I first-time pick led the Bulldogs to a 13-0 mark with nearly 400 assists. She enters her senior year with more than 1,300 career assists.
New Jersey
Bella Craig, Camden Catholic (Cherry Hill)Though only 5-3, the No. 1 recruit in the Garden State can play a handful of positions including outside hitter. She logged 93 kills and 87 digs in 2019.
New Mexico
Erin Jones, La Cueva (Albuquerque)The 5-9 setter dished up 275 assists as the Bears went 6-1 in a shortened season and failed to add a third straight 5A title. With 1,100 career assists, 260 digs and 243 kills, Jones looks to cap her four years with a title.
New York
Carlie Rzeszotarski, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (Burnt Hills)Headed to Colgate, she finished last season with 290 kills and hitting percentage of .493, she added 141 digs in 60 sets as the Spartans went 20-0.
North Carolina
Riley Buckley, North Raleigh Christian Academy (Raleigh)In 48 sets, the future Missouri Tiger logged 136 kills, 136 digs and 235 assists as the Knights went 17-1 with an NCISSA 4A title.
North Dakota
Logan Nissley, Century (Bismarck)A two-sport standout, she led the Patriots to titles in volleyball and basketball and was the state's MaxPreps Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2020-21.
Ohio
Carly Hendrickson, Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati)The future Florida Gator had 512 kills, hitting at 35 percent with 93 digs as the Cougars 23-2 Cougars won the Ohio Division 1 title.
Oklahoma
Bella Wakley, Victory Christian (Tulsa)Pounded 566 kills, adding 437 digs as the Conquerors won their fourth straight state title.
Oregon
Sophia Gregoire-Salagean, NewbergThe AVCA Phenom List posted 172 kills with 132 digs as a freshman. Another Oregonian worth mentioning is West Linn's
Emily Warmenhoven.
Pennsylvania
Brynn Dreisbach, Parkland (Allentown)On the ACVA Phenom List, the 5-10 senior posted 213 kills and 123 digs last year. Her 2019 numbers: 515 kills and 342 digs.
Rhode Island
Sophie Breitenbach, Rogers (Newport)The Florida transplant and two-time all-state pick helped the Vikings to a 2018 state title as a freshman.
South Carolina
Marianna Singletary, Porter-Gaud (Charleston)U18 National Team alternate and future Texas Longhorn bashed 240 kills in 65 sets for the 18-5 Cyclones.
South Dakota
Bergen Reilly, O'Gorman (Sioux Falls)The U18 National Team member finished last year with 400 kills,
260 digs and 131 assists as the Knights went 26-0 with an AA title.
Tennessee
Liv Gravatt, MaryvilleTransferred from California's Vista Murrieta when COVID delayed the sport and turned in a first-team all-state performance with 881 assists and 238 digs as a junior.
Texas
Averi Carlson, Lovejoy (Lucas)An all-state pick and past MaxPreps Freshman of the Year, the three-time All-American dished
up 679 assists last season as the 25-0 Leopards won the 5A crown.
Utah
Jordyn Harvey, BountifulIn 77 sets, she drilled 351 kills and added 200 digs as the 18-7 Redhawks reached the 5A semifinals.
Vermont
Juliette Rackohn, Essex (Essex Junction)The libero helped the Hornets in a shortened, outdoor season learning from last year's Gatorade player of the year Molly Arden.
Virginia
Kaitlyn McNeel, Godwin (Richmond)The Dayton commit pounded 95 kills in a shortened season in 2020, but impressed with 303 kills and 141 digs in 2019 making the Richmond Times-Dispatch All-Metro team.
Washington
Hailey Brockway, Graham-Kapowsin (Graham)Burst on the scene as a freshman, hammering 578 kills, 246 digs and 62 blocks while being named the 4A player of the year. The junior is now 6-1 and poised for a repeat of two seasons ago.
West Virginia
Skylar Yates, HedgesvilleLed the Eagles to the AAA semifinals with 513 kills and 321 digs while earning state Gatorade honors.
Wisconsin
McKenna Wucherer, Brookfield Central (Brookfield)With 421 kills and 201 digs, the US Girls U18 National Team selection helped the Lancers to a 15-4 mark.
Wyoming
Alexis Stucky, LaramieU18 National Team selection pounded 419 kills with 371 digs in 74 sets as the 25-0 Plainsmen won the 4A title.
Averi Carlson, Lovejoy
File photo by Freddie Beckwith
