By Mike Miazga and Chris Tobolski
If there’s one thing 2019 taught us, it’s that the level of play in girls high school volleyball in America is mirroring that of its club counterpart — it continues to soar.
This year’s VolleyballMag.com girls high school All-Americans presentation is proof of that and then some with a total of 54 players representing the best of the best across the land.
In Michigan, Mercy High School’s Jess Mruzik, an early enrollee at the University of Michigan, followed up a club season where she was named the VBM girls club player of the year with a stellar high-school run that ended with her snaring VBM’s top girls high school individual honor.
We’ve already written in great detail about San Diego-based Torrey Pines’ run to the 2019 VBM national-champion honor in a state once again loaded with high-caliber talent. (click here).
And speaking of state’s with high-caliber talent, Brad Baker helped direct west-suburban-Chicago-based Benet Academy to a state title in Illinois’ annual 4A pressure-cooker classification. It’s Baker’s fourth state title at Benet since 2011 — no easy feat — especially when No. 4 had a major roadblock to overcome in the form of fellow perennial state power Chicago Marist — winner of the 2017 and 2018 titles — and standout double-duty (boys and girls) coach Jordan Vidovic.
Player of the year: Jess Mruzik (Mercy, Farmington Hills, Michigan)
Coach of the year: Brad Baker (Benet Academy, Lisle, Illinois)
Team of the year/VBM national champion: Torrey Pines (San Diego, California)
First-Team All-Americans
Anna DeBeer
Height: 6-0
Position: OH
Year: Senior
School: Assumption (Louisville, Kentucky)
DeBeer finished with 409 kills and 287 digs and helped Assumption win yet another state title. “Anna was invaluable to our team this past season,” Assumption coach Ron Kordes said. “Along with her phenomenal volleyball skills, she provided the leadership and energy that enabled us to close our season with another state championship.”
Carly Diehl
Height: 5-11
Position: Setter
Year: Senior
School: Torrey Pines (San Diego, California)
Diehl was at the controls of a Torrey Pines team that won CIF San Diego Section and state Open Division titles, and was named the 2019 VolleyballMag.com national champion. “Carly created opportunities for all our hitters to be in a better position to attack every set,” Torrey Pines coach Brennan Dean said. “Her strong leadership and level-headedness make her one of the best.”
Madison Endsley
Height: 6-2
Position: OH
Year: Senior
School: Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, California)
Endsley, a University of Washington signee, racked up 469 kills and 197 digs, while hitting .367 for a Cathedral team that played in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division final.
Paige Flickinger
Height: 5-11
Position: OH
Year: Senior
School: Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
Flickinger accumulated kills and digs like they were going out of style this past season. She registered 797 kills and 813 digs, for a 50-2 Bobcats team that won the Texas 6A state title and was in the discussion for national-champion honors. A repeat VBM first-team selection.
Camryn Hannah
Height: 6-2
Position: RS-S
Year: Senior
School: Marist (Chicago, Illinois)
Hannah hit triple digits in four categories with 410 kills, 271 assists, 208 digs and 107 blocks for a Marist team that made Illinois 4A semifinals. “Camryn is one of the most versatile and impactful high school players in the country,” coach Jordan Vidovic said. “She is a physically explosive hitter at the net and also became a full-time setter in the back court for us. She hits and blocks from different positions and has become a full-court player. Her leadership is equally as valuable and she represented what our program is all about.” The Clemson-bound Hannah won two state titles and was part of Marist teams that went 128-7 during her time there. A repeat VBM first-team pick.
Nalani Iosia
Height: 5-7
Position: Libero
Year: Senior
School: Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, California)
Longtime Redondo Union coach Tommy Chaffins pulls no punches when talking about Iosia’s abilities on the court. “There is no other player in the country who can set and play libero at the level Nalani can,” he said. “I would argue she is the best libero in the country and would be a top 15 setter nationally, even though she has rarely set since her freshman year. That is how much skill and talent she has.” Iosia finished the year with 291 digs and 94 service aces en route to sharing the CIF Southern Section Division I player of the year honor with teammate Kami Miner. A second-team VBM pick in 2018.
Jess Mruzik
Height: 6-1
Position: Outside hitter
Year: Senior
School: Mercy (Farmington Hills, Michigan)
Mruzik, the 2019 VolleyballMag.com girls high school player of the year and an early enrollee at the University of Michigan, finished with more than 400 kills and hit over .500, earning the 2019 Michigan Miss Volleyball award. She helped Mercy to the Division I state title.
Hattie Monson
Height: 5-6
Position: Libero
Year: Senior
School: Benet Academy (Lisle, Illinois)
Monson’s strong back-row play helped Benet Academy win its fourth Illinois state title since 2011. The Notre Dame signee finished the season with 370 digs on a Red Wings team that went 41-1.
Iman Ndiaye
Height: 6-2
Position: OH-RS
Year: Senior
School: Plano (Texas) West
Ndiaye, headed to UCLA, was a force for Plano West, registering 465 kills and 68 blocks while hitting .346.
Kennedi Orr
Height: 6-0
Position: Setter
Year: Junior
School: Eagan (Minnesota)
The versatile Orr, a Nebraska recruit, helped Eagan reach the Minnesota AAA championship match this past season and was named the Minneapolis Star-Tribune metro player of the year. “Kennedi is so valuable on many levels,” Eagan coach Kathy Gillen said. “She is known for making a beautiful set out of anything that’s given to her. In high school she is asked to hit and pass/serve-receive, which she happily says, ‘Sounds good,’ and does a great job. Above all, she is a born leader. She pushes in practice, but finds the perfect balance of having fun as well. For this, her teammates love her and respect her tremendously.”
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