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See who's tops in the country this week.
Sixteen players who have led their teams to outstanding won-loss records top the MaxPreps midseason Volleyball Player of the Year Watch List.
The list includes 15 players who previously have received MaxPreps All-American honors and three players who were members of the U.S. Women's Junior National Team — Thayer Hall, Nicklin Hames and Brooke Nuneviller.
The Player of the Year watch includes three statistical leaders: Bailey Keith with 702 kills, Shannon Williams with a 13.4 assists per set average and Emma Funk, the national kill percentage leader.
Players not on this midseason list are not excluded from postseason honors consideration. However, these 16 players are receiving the most recognition as teams begin their regular season stretches and prepare for the postseason.
MaxPreps National High School Volleyball Player of the Year Watch List
MB — Ellie Holzman, Mt. Carmel (New Orleans), 6-2 Jr.Named MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year, Holzman averages six kills per set with a 52.9 hitting percentage as Mt. Carmel is 25-5. She has 27 aces and is serving 93.5 percent, has 63 blocks and is averaging 3.9 digs. Holzman has committed to Illinois.
MH — Alana Hruska, RHAM (Hebron, Conn.), 6-2 Sr.Hruska is leading RHAM to 17-0 season with a 5.8 kill set average (60.5 percent kill percentage). She also averages a block per set. Intimidating in the middle, RHAM has not lost a set this season and is working on a 40-plus match winning streak.
OH — Gabby Gonzales, Walton (Marietta, Ga.), 6-4 Jr.Gonzales, an Ohio State pledge, has led Walton to a 36-1 record and averages 5.5 kills (54.8 kill percentage). She has blocked 32 shots, served 27 aces and averages 2.3 digs per set. Gonzales also has 5.6 serve receptions per set (484) with just 19 errors. She had 27 kills in three-set win over Buford earlier this season.
OH — Charley Niego, Mother McAuley (Chicago), 6-1 Sr.Niego's stats are up despite one of the toughest schedules in the country. She has a 5.7 kill average, one block per set, 34 aces on 98.6 per serving and is averaging 4.8 digs. A Notre Dame commit, Niego has averaged more than eight kills per set four times this season.
OH — Alli Papesh, Minooka (Ill.), 6-1 Sr.Committed to Dayton, Papesh has led Minooka to a 25-1 record while averaging 4.4 kills per set (49.1 kill average). She is serving 91 percent with 38 aces, blocked 48 shots and averages better than two digs and two reception returns per set.
OH — Thayer Hall, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.), 6-3 Sr.A member of the U.S. Junior Women's National team, Hall has led Dorman to a 36-1. Her stats speak for themselves: 5.4 kills (50.7 kill percent), 40 aces, 27 blocks and she averages 4.0 per set on serve receptions and 3.1 digs. In three matches this season, she has averaged over eight kills per set. Hall has committed to Florida.
S — Shannon Williams, Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Broadview Heights, Ohio), 5-8 Sr.The Bees are averaging 13.5 kills per set and Williams is the main reason. In 56 sets, she has dished out 754 assists with only 21 ball-handling errors. Williams, committed to North Carolina State, also averages two digs per set with a 92.2 serving percentage. In 10 matches this season, she has averaged better than 14 assists per set.
A-A — Nicklin Hames, Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.), 5-11 Sr. The do-it-all Hames has led Webb to four-straight 2A state titles and is averaging 2.6 kills (50.2 kill percent), 2.6 digs and 5.1 assists per set. She has committed six ball-handling errors. A member of the USA Junior Women's National team, she has committed to Nebraska.
A-A — Brooke Nuneviller, Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 5-11 Sr.Another member of the U.S. Junior Women's National team, Nuneviller leads 33-2 Corona del Sol. She averages 5.2 kills (48.7 kill percentage) and 4.3 digs per set. Nuneviller also is serving better than 96 percent with 32 aces. She has committed to Oregon.
OH — Paige Jones, New Bremen (Ohio), 6-0 Sr.New Bremen is 19-1 record and Jones averages 6.7 kills (51.2 kill percentage) per set with 82 (1.4 per set) aces, serving an ace more than 25 percent of the time. Add 26 blocks and 2.8 digs and it's to see why New Bremen is winning. She accounts for more than half of New Bremen's points. She has committed to Michigan.
OH — Kenzie Knuckles, Yorktown (Ind.), 5-9 Jr.A MaxPreps National Sophomore Player of the Year finalist in 2016, Knuckles is doing it all again. She averages 4.7 kills, 4.4 digs and serves at 96.3 percent and in leading Yorktown to a 31-2 record. She has committed to Nebraska.
A-A — Madison Ladner, Hancock (Kiln, Miss.), 5-11 Sr.Few have as much overall impact — with stats to back it up — as Ladner. She averages 4.3 kills (59.7 kill percentage) and has 107 aces (92.5 percent) serving. Ladner serves an ace nearly 40 percent of the time and averages 1.1 block per set, 1.5 digs, 1.4 serve receptions and 4.5 assists as her team is 23-7.
S — Devon Chang, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 5-10 Sr.Chang's consistent and standout play might get overlooked by some. She averages 8.9 assists, nearly three digs per set and has 38 blocks as the Eagles are 23-6 playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. She has committed to UCLA.
S — Lily Heim, Marian (Omaha, Neb.), 6-2 Sr.Heim has been a sensation for four seasons at Marian and in leading the Crusaders to a 25-1 season. She averages 11.6 assists, has 43 aces on 93 percent serving and averages 2.6 digs per set. Heim, committed to SMU, has averaged better than 14 assists per set in Marian's last four victories.
A-A — Emma Funk, Our Lady Academy (Bay St. Louis, Miss.), 5-10 Sr.The national hit leader with a 71.9 kill percentage averages 6.1 kills, 1.2 blocks, 2.9 digs and 3.2 serve receptions per set. She also has served 50 aces with a 98.2 serving percentage. Funk has averaged eight or more kills in a set in six matches this season.
OH — Bailey Keith, Live Oak Classical (Waco, Texas), 6-2 Sr.The national kills leader with 701 (7.3 per set average with a 61.7 kill percentage), Keith has led Live Oak to 27 wins. She also is among the national leaders with aces at 128 (1.4 per set) and comes up with one on early one-third of her serves. In 11 matches, she has averaged eight or more kills in a set. She accounts for 60 percent of Live Oak's offense. Add a 4.0 serve reception average and 2.9 digs and you have a Player of the Year candidate. She will attend Air Force.
