The MaxPreps National Player of the Year watch list is comprised of 15 high school volleyball standouts in the midst of outstanding seasons, both on an individual and team level.
Players included on the watch list are vying to join Lexi Sun (2016), Kenzie Knuckles (2018), Paige Flickinger (2019), Elia Rubin (2021), Lauren Harden (2023) and Macaria Spears (2024) among others as winners of the nation's highest honor.
Players are listed in alphabetical order. Those not included are not excluded from consideration.
Bellamie Beus, Skyview (Nampa, Idaho)6-0 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Committed to Kentucky
Looking for her fourth straight state title, Beus has 284 kills (5.8 per set), 169 serve receptions, 90 digs, 23 blocks and 22 aces. The Hawks are 14-4 and ranked No. 22 in the latest MaxPreps Top 25.
Makenna Crosson, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Minnesota
A six-rotation player equally adept at the net or in the back row, she has 213 kills, 176 serve receptions and 100 digs as the No. 14 Monarchs are 14-2 and looking for a return to the Open Division state final.
5-8 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Uncommitted
The No. 3 Trailblazers have hitters galore but offense runs adeptly through their setter. Fasavalu has 579 assists (8.3 per set) with 135 digs and 57 kills along with 33 aces and 17 aces.
Audrey Flanagan, Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.)
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Wisconsin
The outside hitter's stats are a little skewed after missing the start of the high school season playing for USA Volleyball. But she is as dominant as any hitter in the game with 150 kills in 35 sets (4.3 per set) for the No. 18 Mustangs.
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Washington
Leading the No. 1 team in the nation with 335 kills (4.9 per set) with a kill percentage of 51. She also has 329 serve receptions, 246 digs, 25 blocks and 24 aces. Teaming with fellow outside
Ashlyn Seay (325 kills) has proven lethal for Byron Nelson, which has won 66 straight matches
6-3 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Penn State
The daughter of former NBA player Larry Krystkowiak draws so much defensive attention that others benefit as junior
Jaycee Mack leads the team in kills with 187. Still, the future Nittany Lion is a prime-time performer with 163 kills (3.0 per set), 271 serve receptions, 144 digs and 18 aces.
Tessa Larkin, Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)
6-1 | Junior (Class of 2027) | MinnesotaPlays bigger than her 6-foot-1 frame with tremendous leaping ability. She leads the No. 5 team in the country with 226 kills (4.0 per set), 222 serve receptions, 129 digs, 38 blocks and 24 aces.
Westley Matavao, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
6-0 | Junior (Class of 2027) | UCLARanked No. 2 nationally, the Monarchs are loaded and led by the future Bruin with 255 kills (4.9 per set), 254 serve receptions, 95 digs, 20 aces and 19 blocks. Fellow senior
Layli Ostovar also has been dominant for Mater Dei after missing some early-season action.
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Illinois
The latest in a line of dominating hitters at Hamilton Southeastern, she leads the No. 8 team in the country with 340 kills while hitting at 35 percent. Miles also has 276 serve receptions, 155 digs, 36 blocks and 35 aces at HSE is 23-2.
5-10 | Junior (Class of 2027) | Texas A&MLast season's MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year has picked up where she left off for the Bobcats with 905 assists (13.7 per set) with one error in 1,728 attempts. Peterson also has 149 digs, 92 kills, a team-high 52 blocks and 31 aces.
Bailey Sinish, Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
5-11 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Indiana
The school's all-time kills leader with 1,579, she has 328 kills (5.5 per set) for the 23-0 Chargers. She is hitting at 44 percent along with 175 serve receptions, 111 digs, 34 aces and 27 blocks.
6-5 | Senior (Class of 2026) | Wisconsin
One opposing coach described the middle blocker as a brick wall. Tarnow is hitting .480 with 112 kills, 23 blocks and nine aces as Benet is 21-2 and No. 19 in the latest MaxPreps Top 25.
6-5 | Senior (Class of 2026) | SMU
Another dominating middle blocker, Vandeweghe stands out out on a Sailors squad with equal parts great offense and stout defense. She has 168 kills and 60 blocks as 32-4 Marymount is No. 4 in the nation.
Gabi Zachariasen, Harrisburg (S.D.)
6-0 | Senior (Class of 2026) | South Dakota A MaxPreps All-American, Zachariasen had a national coming-out party at the Durango Fall Classic as the Tigers knocked off three ranked teams. She has 213 kills (5.1 per set) 166 serve receptions, 85 digs, 27 aces and 20 blocks for the 13-2 Tigers.
Abby Zimmerman, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
6-1 | Senior (Class of 2026) | California Quiet and calm at the net, she can terminate with the best of them. Zimmerman has 15 kills for the 20-5 Sea Hawks while adding 135 digs, 36 blocks and 25 aces. The future Golden Bear has helped Redondo to wins over seven ranked teams thus far this season.
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year2008 — 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, Calif.)
2022 — Julia Blyashov, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.)
2023 — Lauren Harden, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.)
2024 — Macaria Spears, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas)
