As the 2024 high school volleyball season enters its final weeks, some of the nation's top players continue to shine and strengthen their resume for postseason accolades.
The MaxPreps National Player of the Year will be announced Dec. 3. Past winners include Elia Rubin, Paige Flickinger, Kenzie Knuckles and Lauren Harden (see the complete list below). Today, we narrow the list of candidates to join that list and capture the nation's highest honor to five.
See the complete list below. Finalists are listed in alphabetical order.
Logan Bell, Roncalli (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Outside hitter | 5-10 | Class of 2025 | OregonResume: The Royals are in the Class 3A final Saturday behind Bell's leadership and talent. She has 319 kills, 274 serve receptions, 239 digs and 62 aces as No. 3 Roncalli looks to cap an unbeaten season.
Resume: Davis has 729 kills on the season as the Panthers opened the Class 5A Division 1 playoffs with a win Monday. She averages 6.5 kills per set while hitting at 37 percent. She has also added 630 serve receptions and 547 digs for 34-6 Colleyville Heritage.
Kylie Kleckner, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
Outside hitter | 6-0 | Class of 2026 | WashingtonResume: Leads the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 with 495 kills entering Class 6A Division 2 postseason play. She is averaging 5.2 kills per set while hitting at 35 percent and provides a 1-2 punch for 34-1 Byron Nelson with fellow junior Ashlyn Seay.
Macaria Spears, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
Outside hitter | 6-3 | Class of 2025 | Texas
Resume: Perhaps the most dominant hitter in the game, Spears has pounded 568 kills for the No. 3 Lions as they seek their fourth straight TAPPS Class 6 title. She is averaging 6.2 kills per set while hitting at 41 percent. She also leads the team with 75 blocks.
Outside hitter | 6-2 | Class of 2025 | Indiana
Resume: After
returning from a near-fatal illness in the spring, she has 344 kills in 80 sets as the Tigers look to win a Class 4A state title Nov. 9. She is averaging 4.3 kills per set while hitting at 34 percent for the No. 17 Tigers.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year
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)
2022 — Julia Blyashov, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
2023 — Lauren Harden, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
