MaxPreps Preseason Top 25 Volleyball Early Contenders: Nos. 25-21

Join us as MaxPreps and Asics team up to bring you the Top 25 Preseason Volleyball Early Contenders. We start our countdown with Nos. 25-21.

Check back to see the rest of the Preseason Top 25 throughout the week.


Division: 3A (largest in state)
2014 Finish: 60-1 (won state 3A title)
Head coach: Barbara Campbell, who has been coaching at BHS since 1988. She has a record of 1481 wins and 276 losses. She has 10 state championships under her belt, and six state runner-ups.

Key Returnees:

Garrett Joiner: The 6-2 sophomore developed into one of the best hitters in the southeast last season and was named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American. Joiner had 529 kills (3.3 avg., 47.9 pct.) and in the Bruins' final five playoff matches, she had 66 kills.



Elizabeth Schwarz: The 5-7 all-state libero had 546 digs last season.

Other Returnees: 6-1 senior MH Kaela Massey (121 blocks) is an East Tennessee commit, 5-9 junior outside hitter Kamryn Carter, 5-6 all-around senior Anna Wilson and 5-4 junior defensive specialist Georgia Cotton.

Key Losses: All-American setter Katie Kemp (William & Mary) and all-stater Jenna Roy (Belmont).

2015 Outlook: Losing two players with the ability of Kemp and Roy might seem like a giant hole to fill. But last year's team lost five starters from the 2013 state title team that won 57 of 61 matches. And last year, the Bruins won 60 times and lost just once. The components are there again for a state title contending team with Joiner and Massey upfront and Schwarz keeping the opponents in check. The big question is if Campbell can find a setter replacement for Kemp. Last year, Kemp replaced Hunter Thompson (2013 Gatorade POY), now at Furman.

2015 Toughest Opponent: Crosstown rival Ravenswood, though Brentwood beat Ravenswood four times last season. Siegel is the last team to beat Brentwood.

Notable: Brentwood lost its first match of the season (3-2 to Siegel) then won 60 straight and the 3A state title. The Bruins have won 10 state volleyball titles.



View the entire Brentwood preseason photo shoot gallery

Coach's Comments: After hearing she was named 2014 Tennessee Volleyball Coach of the Year, Campbell said, "It's just a reflection of this year's team and the power of their determined attitude and talent. It was demonstrated all season with their 60-1 record, and I'm just very proud of the way our team grew and bonded together during this (2014) season. I'm a very lucky coach that I had a group of girls so special."

Division: 6A
2014 Finish: Won state large school volleyball title
Head coach: Amy McLeay (former Michigan State and Nebraska player who led Marian to 1999 state title).

Key Returnees:
Elizabeth Loschen (South Dakota): A 6-2 hitter, she averaged 3.1 kills per set with a 40 pct. hitting average.

Brittany Witt (Creighton): Early in the season, the 5-8 Witt should surpass 2,000 digs in her career. She had 738 (6.2) last season after 647 (5.5) as a sophomore and 475 (4.1) as a freshman. She should also surpass 2,000 server receptions and needs 56 to reach 200 in aces.

Andie Hanus (Missouri): The 5-7 defensive specialist does it all.



Sophia Terwilleger: Though only 5-9, she recorded 370 kills and also 456 digs as a junior.

Other Returnees: 5-6 setter Maren McGuire (1,095 assists in 2014, 9.2 avg.), 5-8 outside hitter Hannah Mueller (276 kills), and 6-1 Elise Duryea (MB).

Newcomers: Middle Sarah Wing transferred from Blair.

Key Loss: Kelsey O'Connell (Creighton), the lone senior on the 2014 team.

2015 Outlook: Marian will seek a three-peat this fall with the leadership of an experienced senior-dominated squad, including Witt (L), Loschen (RS) and Terwilleger (OH). Wing will also compete for court time as a middle blocker, which gives an experienced team that much more depth.

2015 Toughest Opponent: Marian lost to Papillion-LaVista (Papillion, Neb.) four times during the regular season in 2014. But Marian beat the Titans twice at the state tournament when it counted the most.



Notables: Witt, Loschen and Terwilleger were All-State picks in 2014. Coach McLeay was a member of the 3,200-meter relay team that set the Nebraska state record and won three Class A titles at the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships.

Coach's Comment: "Our strength will be the backcourt experience of Witt and Andi Hanus, who provide the stability for a versatile offense," said McLeay.

Division: 3A (largest in state)
2014 Finish: 27-3 (large school runner-up)
Head coach: Mike Dean

Key Returnees:
Lara Schultz: The 6-2 senior hitter was All-State and All-Metro as a junior and has been winning honors since she was a freshman. Extremely strong at the net with a powerful arm swing, she's an exceptional leader who came through whenever the Lakers needed a big point. She led the team with 339 kills, 73 service aces and 31 blocks.

Ella Francis: The 5-11 senior power hitter is a former gymnast and long jumper, triple jumper and pole vaulter (10-6 personal best). She is a two-time all-conference player who will play at the next level.

Other Returnees: 5-9 senior setter Ellie Veldman, 5-9 libero Olivia Spanton (Nebraska-Omaha), 5-9 sophomore outside hitter C.C. McGraw (Minnesota), 5-10 outside hitter Anna Martin and 6-3 sophomore middle Kayla Bair.



Key Losses: Brittany Luethmens (all-state libero).

2015 Outlook: Everything from height to hitting to passing to defense is in place for another state final season. With Schulz, Francis and McGraw, the Lakers have as good of hitters as you'll find in Minnesota. And in Veldman, they have an experienced setter. Expect at least a half dozen Lakers to play at the next level.

2015 Toughest Opponent: Though they beat Chaska in the preseason, the Lakers lost to the school in the state finals.

Notable: The 2014 Lakers averaged 13.6 kills per set. By comparison, 2014 MaxPreps National Champion Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.), averaged 12.1 kills.

Coach's Comment: "Our goal is to play up to our ability every time we get on the court and we feel if we do that we have a shot against any team in the section," said Dean. "We are looking forward to the challenge and hope to keep playing at a high level on the court."

Division: 5A (second largest in Texas)
2014 Finish: 45-7 (state 5A runner up, lost 3-0 to Lovejoy in finals)
Head Coach: Michael Kane



Key Returnees:

Morgyn Greer (Florida): She put up big numbers last year (4.7 kills, 1609 attempts) in earning 5A All-State, Austin American Player of Year and District 25-5A MVP honors. The 6-3 standout is a member of the USA Youth National Team.

Autumn Rounsaville (Texas): She had 709 digs with 726 serve receptions, and was named District 25-5A Defensive MVP and 5A All-State.

Ashley Waggle: She had 430 kills, a 56.1 pct., a team-high 90 blocks and was first team District 25-5A and 5A All-State. Following the state title loss to Lovejoy, the 6-foot Waggle said, "After we lost here last year (2013), we decided to work really, really hard to make it back and have the possibility of winning. After going from third place to second place this year, we're going to work 10 times harder to make it back again."

Other Returnees: Madison Green (setter with 1,178 assists, 367 digs, 56 aces and a 96 pct. serving), Alissa Johnson (73 aces, 308 digs, 617 serve rec. and first team District 25-5A), Judianne Schoenborn, Carlie Schmidl (2nd Team District 25-5A), and Reagan Kilgore (2nd team District 25-5A).

2015 Outlook: With a trio of returning all-staters (Greer, Rounsaville and Waggle) and five other returning regulars, a state title is a reasonable goal. It should be fun when Lovejoy's Sarah Langs goes up against Greer. They were members of the 2014 USA Youth Girls National Team.

2015 Toughest Opponent: Lovejoy can match up with the Tigers, and recent history will make these spotlight matches.



Key Losses: Claire Gravell, the lone senior on 2014 team.

Notable: Kane's team has won 124 matches in the last three seasons.

Coach's Comments: Following the state title game defeat in 2014, Kane was quoted in the Austin Statesman: "This is a special group of kids, and I've enjoyed every second of being their coach. It's going to take time to digest this loss because we had high expectations. But there is no doubt in my mind that they'll pick themselves off the floor and rally back."

Division: D-I (largest in state)
2014 Finish: 39-2 (won state large school title)
Head coach: Tommy Chaffins

Key Returnee:

Norene Losia (committed to Hawaii): In many circles, the 5-11 Losia is consider "THE SETTER." In others, she is simply considered the best high school volleyball player from the Class of 2016. After Iosia had 1,092 assists, 103 aces, 95 blocks and 88 kills for state title-winning Redondo in 2014, she is everyone's All-American and will head the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch List when it debuts in October.

Chaffins on Iosia: "Norene is going to go down as one of the all-time best setters in the South Bay, and probably all of California.



Other Returnees: 5-10 Megan Rice (UCSB commit), 5-11 Rhyan Theus, 5-8 Amanda Tsao, Maddie Relaz, 5-2 Liana Marin, 6-3 Kacey Baker, 5-6 Katie Barkley, 6-2 Sophia Loila and 5-7 Chloe Owens

Key Losses: Yasmeen Bedart-Ghani (Texas), Kristen Hamlin (Cal Poly Pomona) and Abril Bustamante (USC).

2015 Outlook: The loss of Bedart-Ghani, Hamlin and Bustamante upfront might seem imposing to some teams. But Chaffins reloads and this year has a dozen girls who he expects to play at the collegiate level. And 10 of those saw considerable playing time a year ago. Also remember who is running the show: THE SETTER.

2015 Toughest Opponent: Mater Dei. The rivalry intensified last year when the two met in the state semifinals and Redondo Union won, 3-2 (25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 19-25 and 20-18).

Notable: Iosia's father once played for the Samoa National Volleyball team.

Coach's Comment: Before the start of last season, Chaffins was quoted in the Easy Reader News, "We have a seasoned team with many future college athletes who are used to succeeding in their volleyball careers. When we compete against each other in practice, it helps when competing against fellow future college players on both sides. This will be the most experienced team I have had, as well. My first 11 years I have always had a freshman make varsity, but not the last two years."