St. James Academy setter Jenna Gray is one of only two sophomores to make the MaxPreps Preseason All-American Volleyball Team.
Photo by Sam Soliday
Six members of the U.S. Girls Youth National volleyball team were named to the 2013 MaxPreps Preseason All-American volleyball team.
Of the 28 players chosen, U.S. team members were seniors Simone Lee and Tia Scambray; juniors Jordyn Poulter, Haley Hodson and Mikaela Foecke and sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris.
In addition to the Team USA members, MaxPreps 2012 Junior of the Year (Alyssa Goehner), Sophomore of the Year (Catherine Carlson) and Freshman of the Year (Jenna Gray) were also named to the team that included 11 outside hitters, five middle blockers, seven setters, one libero and four players chosen as all-around athletes.
The preseason team represents 17 states, with California landing the most players with four, followed by Indiana, and Kansas with three each. There are 19 seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores.
Only one team has two players named to the preseason squad — St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.) which features Gray and Fitzmorris, both sophomores.
Of the 28 players, 16 are over six feet tall with four players at 6-4 and Cat McCoy the shortest at 5-7.
MaxPreps 2013 Preseason All-American Volleyball TeamOH – Tia Scambray, Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.), 6-0 SeniorScambray was a member of the U.S. Girls Youth National volleyball team that took silver in the World Tournament. As a junior, Scambray totaled 347 kills and 48 blocks, with 165 digs and 55 aces. She has committed to Washington.
Hayley Hodson, Corona del Mar
Photo by Heston Quan
OH – Hayley Hodson, Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.), 6-2 JuniorHodson led the Sea Kings to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section DI-AA playoffs. She finished with an area-best 453 kills. She was a member of the U.S. Girls Youth National team.
OH – Azariah Stahl, Elkhart Central (Elkhart, Ind.), 5-11 SeniorStahl followed her sensational sophomore year with 411 kills, 158 digs, 47 aces and 27 blocks. As a sophomore, she had 710 kills. She will attend Purdue.
OH – Alyssa Goehner, Lakeville North (Minn.), 6-2 SeniorGoehner, who has committed to Nebraska, had 536 kills, 244 digs and a .906 service percentage in leading the Panthers to a 32-1 season and a state title. Her power, finesse and athleticism have helped guide the Panthers to the state tournament for three consecutive seasons (they've won twice). The only loss during the 2012 season was by forfeit. Goehner was the MaxPreps 2012 Junior Volleyball Player of the Year.
OH – Reily Buechler, Torrey Pines (San Diego), 6-2 SeniorBuechler was the top player on a talented 31-5 Torrey Pines team when she recorded 424 kills, 267 digs and 30 aces and has committed to UCLA.
OH – Courtney Schwan, Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.), 6-4 SeniorSchwan was Washington's top player and led the Lions to the state 4A title and 31-2 record. In four tourney matches at state, Schwan amassed 82 kills, 16 aces and 42 digs. She has committed to Washington.
OH – Simone Lee, Menomonee Falls (Wis.), 6-1 SeniorLee led the Indians to a 40-9 record and a state finals appearance as she totaled 667 kills, 77 aces, 352 digs, 65 blocks and 558 serve receptions. Another member of the U.S. National Junior team, she has committed to Penn State.
OH – Carli Snyder, Dakota (Macomb, Mich.), 6-2 SeniorSnyder led Dakota to Michigan's Class A state title and a 43-3 record. She had 931 kills on the season. She has committed to Florida.
OH – Katherine Carlson, Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 5-10 JuniorCarlson amassed 923 kills in leading NDP to a 52-10 record. She totaled 403 digs, 45 aces and 62 blocks. Carlson was MaxPreps 2012 Sophomore Volleyball Player of the Year.
OH – Beth Prince, Avon (Ind.), 6-3 JuniorPrince led Avon to a 34-5 record and second-straight state title. She totaled 505 kills, 45 aces, 192 digs and 57 blocks. She has verbally committed to Illinois.
OH – Carly Skjodt, Carmel (Ind.), 6-0 JuniorIn leading Carmel to a 39-2 record and state runner-up finish, Skjodt compiled 527 kills, 74 blocks, 41 aces, 463 digs and 366 serve receptions with only 12 errors. She has committed to Michigan.
Audriana Fitzmorris, St. James Academy
Photo by Sam Soliday
MB – Audriana Fitzmorris, St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 6-4 SophomoreDespite missing six weeks of the 2012 season, Fitzmorris totaled 86 blocks (53 solo) and had 152 kills in helping the Thunder win the state title and 40 of 44 matches. She was the youngest member of the U.S. Girls Youth National team and was named the top blocker at the World Championships.
MB – Brittany Abercrombie, La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, Calif.), 6-2 SeniorThe 6-2 Abercrombie led the Mavericks to the Division II state semifinals and totaled 455 kills, 74 blocks, 98 digs and 40 aces. She is a future USC Trojan.
MB – Christina Ambrose, Winter Park (Fla.), 6-4 SeniorAmbrose put up impressive numbers in every category in leading Winter Park in 2012. She totaled 363 kills, 67 aces, 60 blocks, 281 digs, and 459 serve receptions. She has committed to Purdue.
MB/MH – Haleigh Washington, Doherty (Colorado Springs, Colo.), 6-4 SeniorWashington led Doherty to the state title and a 29-0 season. She had 346 kills, 101 blocks and 35 digs. She has committed to Penn State.
MB – Mikaela Foecke, Holy Trinity Catholic (Fort Madison, Iowa), 6-3 SeniorThe most prolific hitter in the state in kill efficiency and kills, with 601. She also recorded 208 digs, 106 blocks (45 solo) and served 95 percent with 60 aces as Holy Trinity went 42-4 and won another state title. Foecke was a member of the U.S. Girls Youth National team. She has committed to Nebraska.
S – Kylie Pickrell, Coppell (Texas), 5-11 JuniorA playmaker for Texas 5A champions, as she tallied 1,352 assists, 85 kills, 54 blocks and 282 digs. A 2012 MaxPreps All-American, she was named Prep Volleyball Magazine's Sophomore of the Year.
S – Rachel Koop, Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa), 5-10 JuniorKoop helped lead Dike-New Hartford to a 45-0 season and a 2A Iowa state title. The Northern Iowa commit recorded 1,155 assists, 129 digs and 43 aces.
S – Jenna Gray, St. James Academy (Lenexa, Kan.), 5-8 SophomoreGray, a 5-9 setter, helped lead St. James to a state title and 40-4 record. She totaled 1057 assists, 66 blocks, 256 digs and had 86 kills. Gray was MaxPreps 2012 Volleyball Freshman of the Year.
S – Maggie Scott, Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.), 5-11 SeniorScott was a key component in Lafayette going unbeaten (40-0) and winning the state title as she averaged 10.9 assists per set (872). Tallied 42 blocks, 263 digs and 38 kills. She has committed to Oregon.
Alexa Filley, Assumption
Photo Jann Hendry
S – Alexa Filley, Assumption (Louisville, Ky.), 5-8 SeniorFilley was first team All-State with 845 assists, 50 kills and 184 digs as the Rockets repeated as state champions and won 38 of 40 games. She has committed to Auburn.
S – Sydney Chandler, Bayside Academy (Daphne, Ala.), 5-8 SeniorChandler helped Bayside win its 11th-straight state title as she recorded 147 aces, 54 blocks, 233 digs and 1686 assists. A starter as an eighth grader, Chandler earned her fourth state title.
S – Jordyn Poulter, Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.), 6-0 JuniorNamed the top setter at the World Tournament for the silver winning U.S. Girls National Team. As a sophomore at Eaglecrest, she dished out 823 assists and recorded 108 blocks, 70 aces, 174 digs and 138 kills. She has signed with Illinois.
L – Cat McCoy, Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 5-7 SeniorPlayed key role as Carroll went 46-4 and is considered one of top defenders at the high school level. She has committed to Texas.
ATH – Jo-Leigh Vervelde, Oostburg (Wis.), 5-10 SeniorVervelde led Oostburg to a 44-4 record and its third D-3 state championship. She recorded 520 kills, 210 aces (93.6 percent on 626 serves), 371 digs, 801 assists and 113 blocks. With Vervelde doing a lot of everything, Oostburg won 115 games and lost 13. She has committed to Western Carolina.
ATH – Nia Reed, Immaculate Heart Academy (Washington Township, N.J.), 6-2 SeniorReed led IHA to the state title and an 18-2 record. Reed, who led the state in kills with 525 and also totaled 100 blocks, 122 digs and had 42 aces, was named New Jersey Player of the Year. She has committed to Penn State.
ATH – Sarah Sponcil, Veritas Prep (Phoenix), 5-10 SeniorSponcil led 28-4 Veritas Prep to the state title in Arizona's smallest division as she recorded 438 kills, 530 assists, 220 digs, 69 aces and 39 blocks. Sponcil had a hand in 89 percent of Veritas Prep's 1,091 kills this season. A two-time Arizona Small Schools Player of the Year, she has committed to Loyola Marymount for hardwood and sand.
ATH – Kali Eaken, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), 5-9 SeniorEaken led Bishop Miege to the state semifinals with 1,073 assists, 244 digs, 54 blocks and 177 kills. She has committed to Kansas State.