High school volleyball has tossed up the first serve on the 2025 season
as several states are underway with more on the way in the coming weeks.
MaxPreps begins its coverage by spotlighting the best player in each
state.
From All-Americans to up-and-comers, players were
identified based on last year's statistical data provided to MaxPreps as
well as local, state or national honors from multiple media outlets.
You
could make the case that some, if not all, states could list out
multiple players deserving of the honor. However, we narrowed it down to
just one player per state.
5-8 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Setter
The Class 7A champions were fueled by Wood's 1,431 assists as the Yellowjackets went 45-9. The Kansas State commit was a first-team All-State selection and has a trio of hitters returning in McGill-Toolen's repeat bid.
Alaska6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
She had 21 kills in a five-set victory over eventual Class 4A champion Wasilla. That victory snapped a 48-match win streak and sent the bracket to a one-set winner-take-all finish. For the season, Kmet posted 504 serve receptions, 407 kills, 391 digs and 60 aces.
Arizona 6-1 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Not the tallest hitter, but had power and ferocity with her kills. A MaxPreps All-American, Larkin dropped 474 kills as the 32-4 Gators won the Class 6A state title.
Arkansas 6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
An all-around threat, she had 378 serve receptions, 377 assists, 265 kills, 248 digs, 50 aces as the Bulldogs went 21-8 and reached the Class 6A semifinal round.
California 6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Wisconsin commit had 478 kills last season as the Mustangs went 27-8 and finished No. 35 in the expanded MaxPreps Top 25. Flanagan spent time this summer helping the US team take silver at the U19 World Championship.
Colorado 6-2 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
The top-ranked player in her class by PrepDig, she dropped 361 kills with 276 receives, 159 digs and 62 aces as the Red Tailed Hawks went 20-9 with a Class 4A semifinal berth.
Connecticut 5-10 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
A CHSCA All-State first team, she tallied 906 assists, 297 digs, 116 kills, 72 aces and 30 blocks as the Guardians went 23-7-2 before falling in five sets in the Class LL final.
Delaware 5-9 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Setter
Helped the 19-1 Hillers to a second title in three seasons as she finished the season with 580 assists and 159 digs in 20 matches, capping the season with 39 assists and 11 digs in the final.
District of Columbia 5-7 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Setter
She posted 703 assists (9.1 per set) as the Grasshoppers went 25-1 and grabbed their third straight DCSAA title. She'll be looked to for leadership as the program looks to fill the void of losing its top two hitters.
Florida 6-4 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
The Texas A&M commit led the Wildcats to a 28-1 mark with the Class 7A title and a No. 15 final ranking. Incinelli dropped 282 kills and could miss the start of the season if she makes the USA Volleyball U21 squad.
Georgia 5-8 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
The Rhode Island commit helped the 36-5 Greyhounds to the Class AAAAA title with 1,111 assists (9.4 per set). She added 248 digs, 96 kills and 51
aces. In the championship match, she had 43 assists and had a high of 62
in a five-set match early in the season.
Hawaii 6-0 | Sophomore (Class of 2028) | Outside hitter/setter
Earned MaxPreps Freshman All-American honors last year after 273 kills, 252 serve receptions and 191 digs for the 24-10 Raiders in their Division 1 runner-up finish. She helped USA Volleyball take gold in the U19 Pan American Cup, earning best setter honors.
Idaho Bellamie Beus, Skyview (Nampa)
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Kentucky commit posted 595 kills (5.2 per set) as the Hawks went 27-8. She had 11 matches with more than 20 kills as Skyview moved up to the state's highest classification after four straight titles.
Illinois 6-5 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Middle hitter
The Wisconsin commit piled up 252 kills, 89 blocks and 35 aces earning MaxPreps All-America honors as the Redwings finished No. 10 in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Indiana 6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Mizzou commit led the Royals in kills with 394 as they laid claim to a Class 3A state title. She benefited from attention to Logan Bell (Kansas), but looks to run it back with setter Addie Haberthy.
Iowa Isabelle Kremer, Pleasant Valley6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Spartans' leading hitter dropped 348 kills for the Class 5A champions. She had 24 kills in the title match. Kremer added 148 digs and 40 aces at PV went 35-2.
Kansas 6-0 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Another state with multiple candidates (including Jaguar teammate Ella Florez), Riggs gets the pick after leading Mill Valley to its second straight state title. The Jags went 30-5 with a Class 6A title as the South Carolina commit pounded 403 kills.
Kentucky Emily Keiran, Assumption (Louisville)
5-6 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Libero
Behind
MaxPreps All-American libero Kristen Simon, Keiran shined as a defensive specialist. An Auburn commit, she put together a great season
with 423 receptions and 358 digs as the Rockets once again claimed the
Kentucky state title.
Louisiana 5-8 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
Second in the state in assists, she led the Tigers (40-4) to the
Division I title, the program's seventh and the first for a public school since 2011. Labat had 1,302 assists (12.5
per set) and dished up 42 in the four-set win over St. Mary's Dominican
in the title match. She fed a quartet of hitters this season who
finished with more than 220 kills.
Maine 6-0 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Setter
The catalyst for a second-straight Class A title for the Rams. After
losing 10 seniors to graduation, Edwards served up 240 assists with 105 digs and 97
kills as Gorham went 13-4.
Maryland 6-1 | Sophomore (Class of 2028) | Outside hitter
While the Rockets' engine ran through the hard-hitting of UMBC commit Ema Djordjevic, Mitchell posted 184 kills in her ninth-grade year. She added 184 receptions as Richard Montgomery went 24-1 and grabbed its second Class 4A banner.
Massachusetts 5-10 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
While teammate Devon Burke earned MaxPreps Player of the Year honors last season with 222 kills, Selivan delivered the goods with 515 assists as the Tigers went 27-1 and grabbed the Division 1 title.
Michigan 6-1 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Another talent-rich state is led by the Marlins' hitter who dropped 317 kills with 171 serve receptions, 154 digs and 28 blocks. Mercy (29-3) had an early exit from the Division 1 postseason after spending much of the season in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Minnesota 6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Middle blocker
Committed to the home state Gophers, Hoecke had 368 kills, 255 digs, 248 serve receptions and 69 blocks last season as the Cougars went 19-12.
Mississippi 6-2 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Dropped 638 kills for the Raiders, who reached the MAIS Division I final. The Loyola Marymount commit added 567 receptions, 360 digs and 86 aces while she looks to surpass 1,500 kills this season and get Jackson Academy back to its title-winning ways.
Missouri Shaye Witherspoon, Lafayette (Wildwood)
6-3 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Hammered a team-high 49 kills for the Lancers as they won the Class 5 title. Daughter of former NFL player Will Witherspoon, she added 160 digs and 95 blocks and has already committed to Nebraska.
Montana 6-2 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The first-team all-state for the Class AA runners-up, she has 212 kills on the season. The West Virginia commit added 83 digs and 21 blocks as the Hawks went 30-5/
Nebraska 6-2 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
In the volleyball-mad Cornhusker State there are more than a handful of players who could fill this slot. But West gets the nod after posting 476 kills (4.4 per set) and 314 digs as the 32-10 Skyhawks reached the Class B final. In the five-set title loss, a defeat that snapped Skutt's eight-season title streak, West hammered 32 kills.
Nevada 6-4 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Gaels won the Class 5A state title last season as the Pittsburgh commit pounded 705 kills. She will team with senior setter Trinity Thompson as Gorman travels to Hawaii and Arizona before competing in the Durango Fall Classic and looking for the repeat.
New Hampshire 6-2 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Middle hitter
The Astros made a run to the Division 1 final behind 167 kills and 41 blocks from Gooden. They finished 17-5 and runner-up in the state's highest classification.
New Jersey 5-10 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Braves' hitter had 205 digs and 192 kills while leading the team to a Group 4 title and 33-1 record.
New Mexico 6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
Led the Bulldawgs to a 27-0 season capped with a second straight
Class 5A title. She finished the season with 516 kills along with 267
serve receptions and 236 digs. The Kansas State commit had 16 kills and 11 digs in the state final victory.
New York 5-6 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
While it might be early to anoint sophomore Hadley Ennist, whose sister Reagan tallied more than 2,000 career kills, her teammate Macken will help her progressions. The second team all-state setter dished up 1,247 assists as he Ennist sisters combined for nearly 1,000.
North Carolina 5-11 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
The Texas commit posted 578 assists despite missing time playing for USA Volleyball. Nonetheless, she helped the Crusaders to a 22-0 record and a Class 4A championship.
North Dakota 5-9 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Maryland
A second-team All-State nod last season, the Packers' defensive captain notched 595 digs, 82 assists and 63 aces while reaching the Class A state final.
Ohio
5-8 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Libero
The Texas commit helped the Pioneers to a 21-5 mark and Division I regional final berth last season, posting 385 digs along with 189 assists and 59 kills.
Oklahoma Ella Hale, Mount St. Mary (Oklahoma City)
5-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
Tallied 587 kills (5.2 per set) for the Rockets as they went 39-1 with a state title and No. 13 finish in the MaxPreps Top 25. She will pass 1,000 career kills this season and teams with sophomore Isabella Williams as Mount St. Mary looks to run it back this year.
Oregon
6-2 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The uncommitted standout blasted a team-high 466 kills while leading the Crusaders for a second straight Class 6A title. She was a first-team All-State nod last year by The Oregonian.
Pennsylvania 5-10 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Outside hitter
Led the Tigers with 391 kills as a sophomore last season while adding 250 digs as North Allegheny went 21-1 and won a Class 4A title.
Rhode Island 5-9 | Senior (Class of 2026) | All-around
A first-team All-State selection by the coaches association, she helped the Townies to a 14-5 record and Division 1 semifinal berth. She had 241 assists, 203 kills and 182 digs.
South Carolina 6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Auburn commit helped the Cavaliers to a Class 5A Division 1 title with 464 kills (4.7 per set) and 261 digs.
South Dakota Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg6-0 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The MaxPreps All-America pounded 403 kills (4.6 per set) as the Tigers went 31-0, won the Class
AA title and finished No. 16 in rankings. The South Dakota commit added 229 digs
and 185 serve receptions.
Tennessee5-9 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State nod led juniors in the state with 588 kills as the Bruins went 39-12 and fell in the Division I Class AAA state final.
Texas6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The top-ranked player in her class by most of the major publications, she had 549 kills for the 46-3 Tigers. The Texas commit was named the Best Opposite in the U19 World Championship as the United States earned silver.
Utah6-2 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Right Side
Sophomore helped the Knights (29-3) win their fifth-straight state title
with 274 kills (4.0 per set) along with 152 digs and 23 aces. The
Deseret News Class 5A Player of the Year had 24, 22 and 20 kills in the
three playoff matches.
Vermont 5-7 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The Offensive Player of the Year by the Vermont Volleyball Coaches Association, she tallied 175 kills and 152 digs as the Hornets went 18-0-2 and won their third straight state title.
Virginia 5-10 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
The Columbia commit quarterbacked the Saxons to 38-2 record and Class 6 title. She tossed up 967 assists with 214 digs and 49 aces.
Washington6-0 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
She'll pass 2,000 career kills this season after dropping 746 last season for the 29-7-1 Vikings who reached the Class 4A semifinals. The WSVCA first-team All-State selection reopened her recruitment over the summer.
West Virginia 5-11 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The first-team All-State selection led the Eagles in kills with 504 while adding 407 digs for the Class AAAA champions.
Wisconsin 6-0 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Setter
The Rutgers commit and top-ranked setter in the state had 898 assists (8.6 per set) as the Chargers went 38-8 and finished as Division I runners-up.
Wyoming
6-4 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Outside hitter
The University of Kansas commit led the 32-2 Plainsmen last season with 382 kills, 295 serve
receptions, 289 digs and 60 aces. She was the Class 4A MVP in a runner-up season for Laramie.
