High school volleyball: Lauren Harden, Macaria Spears, Ellie White headline Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team

By Aaron Williams Aug 22, 2023, 8:00am

Sixty players from Arizona to Wyoming comprise the nation's best.

The high school volleyball season is nearing full swing in all 50 states and the District of Columbia after a thrilling year in 2022 that saw Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) finish as MaxPreps National Champion and its senior standout Julia Blyashov earn the nod for MaxPreps National Player of the Year.

With Blyashov now at Stanford, it's time for a new group of stars to step up and lead their teams on a quest for conference, state and perhaps even national glory.

The 60 players recognized shined during competition a year ago or showed enough promise to be mentioned alongside the game's best. Read on for a complete look at the Preseason MaxPreps All-America Team.
Graphic: Ryan Escobar
Graphic: Ryan Escobar
First Team

Hitters

Izzy Busignani, Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
6-1 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The dynamic hitter led the team with 531 kills, averaging more than four per set while hitting at 30 percent. Busignani added 403 digs, 49 aces and 45 blocks for the three-time Michigan D1 champion.

Carlie Cisneros, Liberty North (Liberty, Mo.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Arizona

One of the top-rated hitters in her class dropped 534 kills and added 425 digs in 2022 as the 31-6 Eagles reached the Class 5 semifinals. She tallied a .391 kill rate and is a three-time all-state nod. She enters her senior season with 1,237 kills.

Suli Davis, Colleyville Heritage (Colleyville, Texas)
6-1 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

Powered the Panthers to the Class 5A title with 506 kills (4.0 per set) and 369 digs in her sophomore season. She tallied 21 kills in the four-set title win over Reedy.

Megan Fitch, Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas)
6-2 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Warriors went 55-2 against a national schedule and Fitch was a big part of that success. She was second on the team behind All-American Nayeli Gonzalez with 495 kills, averaging 3.9 per set while adding 299 digs and 65 blocks.



Lauren Harden, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
6-3 | Junior (Class of 2024) | Florida

A two-time MaxPreps All-American, Harden helped the Royals go 34-1 and win the Indiana 4A title. She hammered 337 kills during the season, hitting at 32 percent.

Sophie Katherine Harvey, Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Helped the Greyhounds to the AAAAAA title with 536 kills, 328 digs and 39 aces. She passed the 1,000-kill career mark and has 739 digs as Pope finished No. 13 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Jenna Hanes, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Michigan
The Durango Fall Classic MVP last season, Hanes stepped into a starring role in last season's CIF final (Blyashov was out with an ankle injury) and pounded 24 kills in the straight sets victory.

Evan Hendrix, Notre Dame Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
5-8 | Senior (Class of 2024) | TCU

With one more season before becoming a Horned Frog, Hendrix hammered 557 kills in 2022 for the 27-15 Saints, who fell in the Arizona 5A semifinals.

Lauren Hurst Cleveland (Tenn.)
6-3 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The younger sister of fellow All-American Lauren led the team in kills with 659 as the Blue Raiders went 49-5 with a Division I Class AAA state title. In two seasons, Lauren has 1,163 kills.

Kylie Kleckner, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
5-10 | Sophomore (Class of 2026) | Uncommitted

The Bobcats went 38-6 and Kleckner was a major contributor to that with 412 kills and 440 digs. She averaged 3.2 kills per set alongside MaxPreps All-American Samantha Hoppes.

Summer Kohler, Venice (Fla.)
5-11 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The team leader in kills with 332, she helped the Indians to a 7A state title, 22-4 record and No. 20 spot in the final MaxPreps Top 25. She added 203 digs, 23 blocks and 26 assists.

Lauren Medeck, Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | South Dakota

The future Coyote led the Titans in 2022 with 461 kills as they repeated as Class A champions. She enters her final prep season with 1,147 kills.

Charlotte Moriarty, Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Stepped into the leading role when Sydney Helmers left the team prior to the season. Moriarty didn't miss a beat, pounding 383 kills with 353 digs for the Rockets, who went 34-8 against a grueling national schedule.

Payton Petersen, Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa)
6-0 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Louisville

The hard-hitting twin (her sister Jadyn is committed to Northern Iowa) hammered 515 kills with 298 digs, 51 blocks and 64 aces for the 45-3 Wolverines.



Skyler Pierce, Olathe Northwest (Olathe, Kan.)
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Nebraska

Hammered 488 kills as the Ravens went 26-9 in a competitive Kansas field. Pierce added 248 digs, 44 blocks and 44 aces.

Macaria Spears, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
6-0 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Bryant University

One of two non-senior hitters on the first team, Spears was brilliant with 544 kills for the TAPPS 6A champions. The Lions, who finished No. 7 in the MaxPreps Top 25, also got 225 digs, 65 blocks and 50 aces from their sophomore. She's the daughter of former Dallas Cowboy and led Virginia's Flint Hill to a title in her freshman year.

Izzy Starck, Viera (Fla.)
6-2 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Penn State

A stat sheet stuffer for the 24-6 Rams, Starck had 501 assists (4.6 per set) along with 424 kills, 332 digs and 51 aces.

Ellie White, Mother McAuley (Chicago)
6-0 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Michigan

An electrifying hitter, the future Wolverine may very well add another state title to the one the Mighty Macs claimed this season, the program's 16th overall. White had 542 kills, 289 digs, 103 blocks and was the go-to option whenever McAuley needed a sideout.

Setters

Cooper Abney, Pope
5-8 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Tossed up 1,132 assists with 319 digs and added 78 kills as her squad went 45-5 with a Georgia AAAAAA title and a No. 13 rank.

Camille Edwards, Prestonwood Christian
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Michigan

Helped the Lions to a TAPPS 6A title with 756 assists, nearly seven per set. She added 173 digs and 57 aces as Prestonwood went 40-1 and finished No. 7 in the MaxPreps Top 25.



Sade Ilawole, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Tossed up 1,197 assists, more than 10 per set, as Sierra Canyon grabbed the CIF Southern Section Division I title and reached the Southern California Open Division semifinals. Ilawole also added 45 aces, 39 kills and 259 digs for the No. 9 team in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Blakeley Robbins, Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

The captain of the Admirals' 21st straight title team dished up 1,479 assists and added 150 kills as Bayside went 48-14. She will look to add to her legacy and give Bayside a 32nd title in 2023.

Lilly Wagner, Oconomowoc (Wis.)
6-0 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Maryland

The Raccoons went 39-2 and spent much of the season in the MaxPreps Top 25 thanks in part to Wagner's setting. She dished up 1,075 assists, more than 10 per set. She also added 247 digs, 114 kills and 40 aces.

Libero

Maya Evens, Cathedral Catholic
5-7 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Maryland

Had 16 digs in the CIF Open Division final, keeping seemingly unstoppable balls alive.

Malyssa Cawa, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
5-6 | Junior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Two-time All-American helped the Monarchs to a 29-9 mark against a crowded field in Southern California. Cawa had 322 digs with 501 serve receptions.

All-around

Campbell Flynn, Mercy (Farmington Hills, Mich.)
6-3 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Nebraska

USA Volleyball U19 gold medalist tossed up 666 assists while adding a team-leading 344 kills as Mercy went 31-11 in a stacked Division 1 field.

Charlie Fuerbringer, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Wisconsin

The top-rated setter in her class, the daughter of two college All-Americans is paving her own path now. She was the primary setter for the Mustangs, who finished 38-5 and No. 8 in the MaxPreps Top 25. She also had 119 kills, 24 blocks and 284 digs.

Janelle Green, Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.)
5-9 | Junior (Class of 2024) | Cincinnati

The Mustangs went 27-11 and Green had a hand in a lot of their success. The setter — daughter of former NFL quarterback Trent Green — had 564 assists, 237 digs and 138 kills.



Macy Hinshaw, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
5-8 | Junior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

The Royals grabbed the Indiana Class 4A title and Hinshaw was in the middle of the action, tossing up 1,231 assists while adding 463 digs and 59 aces. HSE went 34-1 and finished No. 4 in the MaxPreps Top 25.

Charlotte Vinson, Yorktown (Ind.)
6-2 | Sophomore (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Tigers' hitter followed up a sensational freshman year with 466 kills as her team went 34-3 and reached the 4A title game. She has 820 kills in two seasons.

Second team


Hitters

Ayden Ames, Prosper (Texas)
6-4 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Nebraska

Hammered 560 kills with 91 blocks as the Eagles went 38-8 and reached the 6A region I final. She was part of the USA Volleyball U19 squad that brought home gold at the beginning of August.

Henley Anderson, Dripping Springs (Texas)
6-2 | Sophomore (Class of 2026) | Uncommitted

The lone underclassman on the 6A all-tournament team, Anderson hammered 540 kills for the Tigers on their path to the state title. She added 369 digs and 74 blocks.

Clara Briley, Buford (Ga.)
5-10 | Sophomore (Class of 2026) | Uncommitted

The newcomer to the Wolves' AAAAAAA three-peat party played a big part in the team's success with 266 kills and 29 blocks. She was third in kills as Buford went 38-5 and finished No. 10 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Danielle Brown, Puyallup (Wash.)
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Santa Clara

Showed out all year with 301 kills, 83 solo blocks and 113 overall blocks to help the Vikings go 36-1 and reach the state semifinals.



Camryn Chatellier, St. Mary's Dominican (New Orleans)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Leading hitter on a team that captured its third straight Division I state title, Chatellier posted a team-best 402 kills with 32 blocks and 281 digs. She had 21 kills in the state finals win as St. Mary's Dominican went 36-3.

Erin Curtis, Saint Francis (Mountain View, Calif.)
6-0 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Part of a 1-2 punch that helped the Lancers to a 34-1 season and CIF Open Division finals appearance. She tallied 340 kills with 250 digs.

Kaci Demaria, Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.)
6-4 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

A big hitter who was virtually unstoppable in the CIF Division I finals, she pushed eventual champion Branson to five sets with a match-high 29 kills. The Sea Kings went 23-9 as Demaria went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest hitters in Southern California.

Alea Goolsby, Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)
5-11 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Saints marched to a 5A title and the second-year varsity player had a big hand in the 40-3 mark. She dropped 345 kills with 35 blocks, 27 aces and 148 digs for Aquinas.

Kaira Knox, Nolensville (Tenn.)
5-9 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Knights went 35-5 as Knox helped the team with 360 kills and 196 digs. She averaged 3.2 kills per set and was the leading hitter.

Jadyn Livings, Prestonwood Christian
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | USC

Part of a 1-2 punch with Spears that helped the Lions to a 40-1 mark and a TAPPS 6A title. She dropped 397 kills and looks to be as dominant this season with a Prestonwood lineup that is as stacked as any in the nation.

Grace Nelson, Oak Park-River Forest (Oak Park, Ill.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Kansas

Had 445 kills, 32 aces and 261 digs last season. The Huskies fell to state champion Mother McAuley in the sectional finals but Nelson can go toe-to-toe with any defense in the state.

Layli Ostovar, Mater Dei
5-11 | Sophomore (Class of 2026) | Uncommitted
The freshman had 172 kills last year and will be part of trio of Monarch hitters (Isabelle Clark and Babi Gubbins) that should position them to compete in a loaded Southern California field. She added 50 blocks in 2022.

Danica Rach, Sierra Canyon
6-2 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Boston College

The Trailblazers went 35-5 and snagged the Southern Section Division 1 title as Rach played a big role. She was third on the team with 323 kills and 269 digs along with 30 blocks.



Alec Rothe, Dublin Scioto (Dublin, Ohio)
6-2 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Florida

A three-sport standout (basketball and lacrosse), led the 20-5 Irish with 341 kills (4.3 per set) while grabbing second-team All-State honors from the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association. She also sent back a team-high 80 blocks.

Sydney Shearer, Mauldin (S.C.)
5-9 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

The captain dished up 968 assists with 42 aces, 189 digs and 142 kills as the Mavericks went 32-7 and won the Class 5A title.

Leilia Toailoa, Bishop Gorman
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Alabama

Had 434 kills with 55 blocks and 356 digs as Gorman went 25-13 in 2022.

Lynney Tarnow, Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)
6-4 | Sophomore (Class of 2026) | Uncommitted

A first-year varsity player with tremendous upside, Tarnow can swing and pounded 172 kills for 26-4 Benet, which reached the Illinois 4A finals.

Taylor Williams, Saint Francis
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Led the Lancers with 343 kills, including 15 in the state final.

Setters

Erica Dellesky, Tompkins (Katy, Texas)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Helped the Falcons to a Class 6A final berth as the team spent much of the season in the MaxPreps Top 25. She dished up 645 assists along with 305 digs as Tompkins went 42-5.

Chloe Elarton, Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
5-11 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Georgia

Notched 784 assists, 205 digs, 77 kills and 59 aces for the Colorado 5A champion. She tallied double-digit assists in all but two matches as her squad went 29-0.

Julia Owens, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.)
5-6 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

Dished out 1,282 assists as the Aztecs went 39-5 and won the 6A title to finish No. 23 in the MaxPrep Top 25. She had 57 assists in the five-set state finals against Hamilton.

Allie Shondell, McCutcheon (Lafayette, Ind.)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Purdue

Has topped 940 assists each of her three seasons and posted 950 in 2002 as McCutcheon went 33-2 and were ranked the MaxPreps Top 25 for a large part of the season.

Bethanie Wu, Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Yale

The Leopards' next great setter had 1,130 assists as they went 27-15 and reached the 5A Regional Semifinals. She added 56 aces, 229 digs and 49 kills.

Libero

Gillian Pitts, Prestonwood Christian
5-9 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

Back row specialist helped the Lions to a TAPPS 6A title with 588 digs and 615 serve receptions. She averaged 5.2 digs per set as Prestonwood finished 40-1 and No. 7 in the country.

Kaylee Lowther, Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.)
5-3 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Southern Mississippi

The libero transferred from Germantown and helped the Raiders to their fourth straight MAIS 6A title. The All-MAIS Division I selection tallied 593 digs, 552 receives, 96 aces, 93 assists on the season. Coach Melissa Denson said she has Power 5 talent but chose to stay close by committing to the Golden Eagles.

All-around



Alex Bower, Skyview (Nampa, Idaho)
5-10 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Uncommitted

The Skyhawks won their third straight title and fifth in seven years behind Bower in 2022. Her favorite target was Alex Acevedo, who left early to play at Oregon, as Bower tossed up 578 assists and added 94 digs and 66 kills.

Reese Messer, St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.)
5-11 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Thunder's setter could also deliver the thunder as she had 145 kills to go with 824 assists and 167 digs. St. James Academy went 37-4 and reached the 5A title game.

Maddy Stucky, Laramie (Laramie, Wyo.)
5-11 | Junior (Class of 2024) | Wyoming

Dished up 892 assists and added 261 digs and 143 kills for the 27-8 Plainsmen.

Stella Swenson, Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2024) | Minnesota

The Trojans grabbed a second straight Class AAAA title in their 30-4 2022 campaign behind the setter's 888 assists. She added 223 digs, 138 kills, 74 blocks and 49 aces. The future Golden Gopher is a three-time first-team all-state pick.

Madison Quest, Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.)
6-3 | Junior (Class of 2025) | Uncommitted

The Dashers went 43-6 and won the Wisconsin Division 1 title over Oconomowoc in five sets. Quest led the team in hitting 514 kills, adding 303 digs and 49 blocks.