The MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year is
Kari Knotts of
Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.). Knotts carried considerable hype into the season after being named MVP at the
2025 NORCECA Girls U19 Pan American Cup and she backed it up leading the Lions to a 42-3 record and Private School state championship.
Cheryl Weaver, Lovett's first-year coach, said she has never seen a player so young that is so physical. High praise coming from a three-time collegiate All-American, eight-year pro and national team representative from 2002-12.
"She plays with such a presence," Weaver said. "She's tall and jumps high, but a lot of players can do that. She has this court awareness and ability to hit on top of a ball no matter where she is and she can do it at 15. She has all these intangibles that are just gifts."
Knotts led Lovett with 631 kills, including 37 in the five-set state championship victory, while hitting at 50 percent.
In the final, Knotts' ability to carry out the game plan, despite being double- and triple-blocked, impressed Weaver.
"I don't know if I ever saw her rattled," Weaver said. "I know she feels the pressure, but she never let it show. She's proven that the stage is never too big for her and plays better when the competition is tougher."
5-6 | Setter
Pressed into service for the Royals following an ACL injury to senior Addie Haberthy, Bell helped Roncalli to a repeat Class 3A title with 1,214 assists along with 288 digs and 44 aces.
6-0 | Outside hitter
Dropped 300 kills as her squad went 30-6 with a No. 22 ranking and Class 5A state title. She added a team-high 506 serve receptions as well as 266 digs and 44 aces.
6-0 | Outside hitter
A dominating force for the Cougars (42-8-1), Coleman hammered a team-high 634 kills while adding 270 digs and 37 blocks.
5-11 | Outside hitter
The Tigers (44-3) received 534 kills from Crutcher, who hit 37 percent. Added 456 serve receptions, 318 digs, 93 aces and 54 blocks
6-0 | Setter
The Raiders (38-2) spent more than half the season ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 as Dai guided the offense with 541 assists, 163 digs and 65 aces.
5-11 | Setter
Posted 1,159 assists with 326 digs and 104 kills as the Rockets went 31-12 with a berth in the Class 5A state title match.
5-11 | Setter
A Division 1 state title was how she ended her season with 41 assists in the final. On the season, she posted 1,123 assists, 320 digs, 79 kills and 61 aces.
6-2 | Setter
Piled up 342 assists, 303 kills, 192 digs, 46 blocks and 36 aces, leading Orangewood Christian (26-5) to a Class 3A state semifinal appearance.
6-0 | Setter
Directed the offense to the tune of 938 assists. She added 225 digs, 56 blocks for the No. 7 team in the final MaxPreps Top 25 rankings.
5-9 | Outside hitter
The Falcons (36-5) reached the Conference 6A Division 1 regional semifinals behind 427 kills from their newcomer. She added 494 serve receptions, 378 digs, 66 blocks and 53 aces.
5-6 | Setter
All-State selection had 516 assists as her squad reached the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. She added 187 digs, 114 kills, 44 aces and 22 blocks.
6-0 | Outside hitter
The Redhawks (35-13-6) benefited from her 729 kills (5.5 per set) while hitting 30 percent on the season. She added 511 digs and 66 aces.
5-5 | Setter
The youthful Tigers (26-8) reached the Class 4A state semifinal. Johnson tallied 1,292 assists as she supplied five hitters with more than 140 kills. She added 264 digs and 38 aces.
5-9 | Outside hitter
First team All-State pick tallied 378 kills for the Class AAAAA Division 1 state runner-up. She added 280 serve receptions, 257 digs, a team-high 75 aces and 51 blocks.
MAXPREPS NATIONAL FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
6-3 | Outside hitter
The Lions grabbed the Private School title behind 631 kills from Knotts. She added 221 digs and 84 aces.
6-2 | Setter
An all-around threat, she had 263 assists, 226 kills, 114 digs and 59 aces as the Knights (22-3) reached the VISAA Division 1 semifinal.
6-0 | Setter
The Cougars reached the Conference 6A Division 2 state semifinal as she distributed 1,121 assists. Ortmeier also tallied 300 digs, 109 kills and 39 aces for Tomball (41-7).
5-8 | Outside hitter
Another piece of Yorktown's youth movement, Rowray had a team-high with 577 kills while also posting 363 digs, 59 aces and 57 blocks.
6-0 | Outside hitter
Second in the nation in kills in her class behind only Brynn Johnson, she totaled 721 while hitting 33 percent. Additionally, she notched 419 digs, 58 aces and 35 blocks as the Pantherettes went 39.7
