In its 41st year celebrating the nation's best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community, Gatorade announced last week Sophee Peterson of Byron Nelson is the 2025-26 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year. Peterson was selected from more than half a million other student-athletes who play high school volleyball nationwide, joining an elite legacy of former Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year athletes who have combined for more than 91 gold medals and 13 National Championships.
Peterson was honored as the MaxPreps National Player of the Year earlier this month during a ceremony at the school, giving her consensus acclaim as the nation's best.
Three-time Olympic medalist and former Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year April Ross surprised Peterson with the award at school surrounded by her teammates, family and friends. Following the surprise, Peterson got a taste of the pro athlete experience with a styling session, photoshoot, media interviews and more.
Sophee Peterson was surprised with the Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year trophy by Olympian April Ross on Thursday at Byron Nelson High School. (PHOTO: Michael Horbovetz)
"Joining the elite group of Gatorade Player of the Year alumni means being part of a community of athletes who have gone on to define their sports," said Jennifer Schmit, Sr. Director, Gatorade Brand Marketing. "Sophee has proven that she belongs in this group of greats, and we can't wait to watch her continue on to greatness in the years to come."
Peterson recorded 1,459 assists, 274 digs, 161 kills, 70 blocks and 44 aces during the 2025 season. The junior Texas A&M commit was a first team MaxPreps All-American.
She dished up 30 or more assists in 27 matches — with a high of 57 — despite Byron Nelson never being pushed to a deciding set in a best-of-five contest. She will enter her senior season with 3,660 assists.
Byron Nelson finished 42-0, winning its second straight state championship. The Bobcats are 82-1 over the past two seasons and have won 78 straight matches.
Championing The Next Generation Receiving the honor of Gatorade Player of the Year is more than a trophy. It's a celebration of the whole athlete and opportunity to propel their future career through support and opportunities only Gatorade can provide because of its legacy in sport culture, product superiority and expertise in sports science.
Starting this year, Gatorade will provide the National Player of the Year athletes with ongoing support from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) so they can perform and recover at their best. The athletes will work with a team of GSSI scientists and have the opportunity to undergo testing at a GSSI Lab, equipping them with personalized hydration and fuel plans – built to unlock their full potential and fuel success for years to come.
The brand will also elevate these athletes by including them in brand moments, events and community initiatives throughout the year – amplifying their journey, celebrating their achievements and providing ongoing opportunities to inspire others.
All-Around Excellence
Gatorade Player of the Year athletes are not only the best of the best in their respective sports, but they also serve as role models for the next generation of greats.
• Community: Peterson is a member of her school's prestigious BioMedical Academy and earned her "white coat" rating this year. She has donated her time extensively to the Byron Nelson Youth Volleyball Camp as a program leader throughout the year and particularly during the summer.
• Academics: Peterson has maintained a 4.64 weighted GPA in the classroom. She has made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play volleyball at Texas A&M University beginning in the fall of 2027.
"What stands out for me about Sophee Peterson is her competitive fire," said Chris Tobolski, Chief Editor for Vballrecruiter.com. "She exhibits the same level of intensity, excitement and enthusiasm in a one-sided match as she does in a state final with everything on the line. That type of energy, combined with her skillset, elevates the play of everyone around her. As a setter, she's unparalleled in making Byron Nelson's offense go. She can be 12 to 14 feet off the net when running down a ball and, somehow, still get up a perfect set. At the same time, a ball can be super tight on the net and with one hand, she can deliver a great set. Factor in her blocking production this season and I'd say no one had a greater impact on her team's success than she did."
As part of Gatorade's commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations.
To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit
playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
About The Gatorade Portfolio The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Propel, Evolve and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 60-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit
www.gatorade.com.
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