"She is the total and complete package," Groth said. "As good as she is now, I
can't imagine what she's going to be like as a junior or senior in
college. She is by far the best setter I will ever coach. I was a good setter, but I will never come close to her."
After leading Byron Nelson to a 42-0 record and No. 1 national
ranking, Peterson has been named the 2025 MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
"I'm probably biased because I was a setter, but what she's capable of
doing at her age is insane," Groth said. "The decisions she makes and her consistency
are off the charts. It's not just the skill of setting, it's her
hitting, scoring, serving and defense."
On the season, the 6-foot Texas A&M commit totaled 1,459 assist (13.9 per set), 274 digs, 161 kills, 70 blocks and 44 aces. 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 enters her senior season with 3,660 assists.
"We call her 'The Surgeon.' She cuts everyone up. Her decisions are so good," Groth said. "She is the heart of the machine."
And that machine has won 78 straight matches and produced MaxPreps All-Americans
Kylie Kleckner and
Ashlyn Seay in addition to Peterson. Kleckner, headed to Washington, and Rice pledge Seay combined for 1,042 kills on the year.
"Kylie and A.J. (Seay) get the eyes (with their kills) but I don't know if either is as successful without her dishing the ball up," Groth said of
Peterson's mother played volleyball at the University of Central Arkansas and father was a standout basketball player at Oklahoma State.
"Every game there's a moment when I would look to my coaches and ask 'How, how is she doing that?'" Groth said. "We have so much trust in her. We might get stuck in rotation and she will just walk out and say 'It's time.' She'll dump or switch things up. There are very few times when I have to coach her on something. She knows and she gives the others that confidence."
Byron Nelson setter Sophee Peterson celebrates during the UIL Conference 6A Division 1 final. The Bobcats junior is the MaxPreps National Player of the Year after guiding Byron Nelson to its second straight state title and No. 1 finish in the final MaxPreps Top 25. (PHOTO: Robbie Rakestraw)
2008 — Lauren Cook, Pius X (Lincoln, Neb.)
2009 — Rachel Williams, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
2010 — Tiffany Baker, Hebron (Carrollton, Texas)
2011 — Nicole Dalton, Chaparral (Parker, Colo.)
2012 — Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
2013 — Courtney Eckenrode, The Woodlands (Texas)
2014 — Alexis Smith, Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.)
2015 — Nicole Peterson, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
2016 — Lexi Sun, Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, Calif.)
2017 — Erin O'Leary, Novi (Mich.)
2018 — Kenzie Knuckles, Yorktown (Ind.)
2019 — Paige Flickinger, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
2020 — No award due to pandemic
2021 — Elia Rubin, Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.)
2022 — Julia Blyashov, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.)
2023 — Lauren Harden, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
2024 — Macaria Spears, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
