Editor’s note: This is John Tawa’s list of the top performers, state-by-state, throughout the country before championship season gets into full swing. Think of it as a Player of the Year Watch List. Today, Alabama through Massachusetts. Thursday, Michigan through Wyoming. As the playoffs descend on the country and teams work towards being crowned state champions, VolleyballMag.com presents its ION List, the top high school performers in each of the 50 states plus D.C. to this point in the 2023 fall season. It’s like a “watch list,” but with a cuter name. These are players to keep an eye on … ION … get it?
While we’ve been paying attention since first serve in mid-August, the task of identifying the top players began in earnest two weeks ago. More than 200 high school coaches and media sources were consulted and asked: “Who are the best players in your state, based on their play so far in 2023?”
Opinions varied, but eventually a consensus emerged of the players most deserving of recognition. In smaller states or those still trying to find their volleyball footing, the ION List only goes five players deep. In powerhouse states like Ohio, Florida, Texas and California, the ION List exceeds 15 players. If coaches couldn’t choose between two or three on the margin, we included all of them. That’s why some lists, which should be five players, are six. Or eight. The more the merrier.
At the end of the year, VolleyballMag.com will choose a Player of the Year from every state. We’re not saying that the winners will come from the ION List, but it certainly is a good first resource.
Enjoy.
ALABAMA Alexis Belarmino, 5-11 Sr. S, Spanish Fort Jadyn Britton, 5-9 Jr. OH, Enterprise Meg Jarrett, 5-8 Sr. libero, Bob Jones Elle McBride, 5-10 Jr. OH, Montgomery Academy Paris McQuirter, 5-10 Jr. OH, McGill-Toolen Hannah Parant, 6-1 Sr. S, Mountain Brook Blakeley Robbins, 6-0 Sr. S, Bayside Academy Reece Varden, 6-0 Sr. MB, Spanish Fort Kennedy Vaughn, 5-11 Jr. OH, Bob Jones Addi Vinson, 5-7 Jr. S, Montgomery Academy ALASKA Emma Beck, 5-10 Sr. MB, Kenai Central Allison Devine, 5-10 Jr. OH, Wasilla Reese Luke, 5-10 Sr. MB, Chugiak Rylee Pitney, 6-3 Sr. MB, Wasilla Eleasha Sapon, 5-0 Jr. libero, Dimond ARIZONA Alyssa Aguayo, 6-0 Jr. OH, Corona del Sol Kenna Cogill, 6-4 Jr. MB, Perry (Gilbert, Arizona) Brooke Harwood, 6-3 Soph. MB, Eastmark Evan Hendrix, 5-8 Sr. OH, Notre Dame Prep Tessa Larkin, 6-0 Fr. OH, Xavier College Prep Izzy Mahaffey, 5-4 Jr. libero, Queen Creek Kaia Pixler, 6-0 Jr. S, Sunnyslope Teraya Sigler, 6-2 Jr. OH, Horizon Avery Stones, 6-2 Jr. OH, Perry Devyn Wiest, 6-2 Jr. OH, O’Connor
Regan Harp
ARKANSAS Gabriella Dupree, 5-10 Jr. OH, Southside Regan Harp, 6-1 Sr. OH, Fayetteville Lauren Lathan, 5-9 Jr. S/RS, Lakeside Myia McCoy, 5-10 Sr. OH, Greenwood Tori Otter, 6-2 Jr. MB, Bentonville Chloe Rodriguez, 5-11 Jr. S, Brookland
CALIFORNIA Maya Baker, 5-9 Jr. S, Archbishop Mitty Paige Bennett, 6-0 Sr. OH, Foothill (Pleasanton) Kendall Brashear, 6-0 Sr. OH, Palos Verdes Malyssa Cawa, 5-4 Sr. libero, Mater Dei Isabel Clark, 6-0 Sr., OH, Mater Dei Alanah Clemente, 6-2 Jr. RS, Alemany Ximena Cordero, 5-10 Sr. OH, Otay Ranch Taylor Deckert, 5-8 Jr. libero, Mira Costa Maya Evens, 5-8 Jr., libero, Cathedral Catholic Audrey Flanagan, 6-2 Soph. OH, Mira Costa Charlie Fuerbringer, 5-11 Sr. S, Mira Costa Jenna Hanes, 6-3 Sr. MB, Cathedral Catholic Julia Kakkis, 6-0 Sr. S, Mater Dei Finn Krystkowiak, 6-3 Soph. OH, Torrey Pines Hailey La Fontaine, 6-0 Sr. OH, Huntington Beach Lauren Lynch, 5-6 Jr. libero, Sierra Canyon McKenna McIntosh, 6-1 Fr. OH, St. Mary’s (Stockton) Manaia Ogbechie, 6-3 Jr. MB, Oaks Christian Taylor Williams, 6-2 Sr. OH, Saint Francis (Mountain View) Taylor Yu, 6-0 Sr. OH, Temple City
COLORADO Anna Blamires, 6-2 Jr. RS, Cheyenne Mountain Julia Bohlinger, 5-11 Sr. MB, Windsor Paityn Chapman, 6-2 Sr. OH, Castle View Emerson Deferme, 5-11 Sr. OH, Grandview Chloe Elarton, 6-0 Jr. S, Valor Christian Regan Kadel, 5-10 Sr. S, Legend Grace Langer, 6-2 Sr. MB, Valor Christian Delaney Russell, 5-10 Sr. OH, Valor Christian Erika Sayer, 6-2 Jr. MB, Lewis Palmer Ella Vogel, 5-8 Sr. libero, Chaparral CONNECTICUT Lani Fecho, 5-10 Sr. OH, RHAM Aubrey Moore, 5-9 Sr. S, Darien Ellie Moore, 5-9 Sr. OH, Darien Selina Torstere, 5-11 Sr/ RS/S, Fairfield Ward Cami Wessels, 5-8 Sr. OH, Southington
DELAWARE Taylor Holly, 5-3 Sr. libero, Saint Mark’s Katherine Kuehl, 5-11 Sr. OH, Archmere Elaina Millaway, 5-9 Jr. OH, Delmarva Christian Alexis Parkinson, 5-7 Sr. S, Appoquinimink Molly Pietlock, 5-6 Sr. S/OH, Tower Hill Anna Richardson, 6-0 Sr. OH, Smyrna DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Jada Aksu, 6-0 Jr. RS, Georgetown Day Racquel Frazier, 6-0 Jr. OH, St. John’s College HS Rori Gray, 6-3 Sr. MB, Jackson-Reed Gigi Wigglesworth, 5-10 Soph. MB, Georgetown Day Clara Yu, 5-10 Sr. S, Georgetown Day
Brighton Ferguson
FLORIDA Gigi Artiles, 6-2 Soph. MB/ OH, Westminster Christian Mija Bendziute, 6-3 Jr. OH/RS, Boca Raton Sam Bowron, 6-0 Sr. OH/S, Lake Brantley Adrianna Bridges, 6-2 Sr. MB, Westminster Academy Sarah Brodner, 6-5 Sr. OH, Jupiter Lydia Chinchar, 6-1 Fr. OH/RS, Carrollwood Day Maggie Dostic, 6-1 Jr. OH/RS, Plant Brighton Ferguson, 5-6 Jr. libero, Venice Charlotte Glass, 6-1 Jr. S, Saint Andrew’s Riley Greene, 6-1 Jr. MB, Cardinal Mooney Amaria King, 5-10 Jr. OH, Trinity Christian Academy Kelly Kinney, 6-2 Jr. OH, King’s Academy Zoey Matias, 5-7 Jr. libero, Westminster Christian Isabella Mogridge, 5-10 Jr. S, Steinbrenner Cate Palmi, 5-7 Soph. OH, Osceola Taylor Parks, 5-11 Sr. S/RS, Calvary Christian (Clearwater) Izzy Starck, 6-0 Sr. S/OH, Viera Fallon Stewart, 6-3 Sr. OH, Winter Park
GEORGIA Cooper Abney, 5-8 Sr. S, Pope Grace Agolli, 6-2 Sr. S/RS, Pace Hannah Benjamin, 6-2 Sr. OH/RS, Fidelis Christian Isa Boyd, 5-8 Sr. S, St. Pius X Ellis Crawford, 6-3 Jr. MB, Pope Emma Duffield, 6-1 Sr. OH, Lovett Asia Harvey, 6-0 Jr. OH, Sandy Creek Sophie-Katherine Harvey, 6-1 Sr. OH, Pope Sophia Jo, 5-4 Sr. libero, Westminster Olivia Miller, 6-0 Jr. MB, Oconee County Kaitlyn Moran, 5-10 Sr. S, Mt. Paran Christian Gracison Saylors, 6-2 Soph. MB, Calhoun Ellie Siskin, 5-11 Sr. OH, Pace Academy Olivia Siskin, 5-10 Soph. S, Pace Academy Logan Wiley, 6-2 Sr. MB, Alpharetta
ILLINOIS Bella Bullington, 6-3 Jr. OH, Marist Catholic Ava Falduto, 5-8 Sr. OH/libero, IC Catholic Prep Samantha Falk, 5-4 Sr. libero, Mother McAuley Addie Horner, 6-3, Jr., OH/S, St. Francis Calli Kenney, 5-11, Sr., OH/S, Willowbrook Jenna Meitzler, 6-1, Sr., OH/S, Barrington Grace Nelson, 6-1 Sr. OH, Oak Park-River Forest Emersyn Robbins, 6-0, Sr., OH, Fairfield Abby VanderWal, 6-3, Jr., OH, Timothy Christian Aniya Warren, 5-8 Jr. libero, Benet Ellie White, 5-11 Sr. OH, Mother McAuley INDIANA Logan Bell, 5-11 Jr. OH, Roncalli Raegen Durbin, 5-10 Jr. OH, Western Boone Morgan Gaerte, 6-4 Sr. OH, Angola Lauren Harden, 6-3 Sr. OH, Hamilton Southeastern Josie Imes, 5-10 Soph. OH, Zionsville Sophie Ledbetter, 5-9 Sr. libero, Hamilton Southeastern Taylor Lewis, 6-1 Sr. OH, Cathedral Keira Lucas, 5-10 Jr. OH, Northview Lindsey Mangelson, 6-2 Jr. OH, Hamilton Southeastern Izzy Masten, 5-7 Soph. OH, Tri-West Hendricks Lilly Merk 6-0 Sr. MB/OH, Terre Haute South Vigo Lola Schumacher, 5-4 Sr. OH, Brebeuf Jesuit Ava Utterback, 5-10 Sr. OH, Plainfield Charlotte Vinson, 6-2 Jr. OH, Yorktown Mackenzie Wagner, 5-10 Sr. RS, Providence IOWA Bliss Beck, 6-2 Sr. MB, Clear Creek Amana Bailey Boeve, 6-0 Soph. OH, Hinton (Iowa) Kenzie Dean, 6-3 Sr. OH, Dowling Catholic Isabelle Elliott, 6-1 Sr. OH, Sumner-Fredricksburg Abbey Hayes, 6-2 Jr. OH, North Scott (Eldridge, Iowa) Chloe Meester, 6-1 Jr. OH, Mount Vernon (Iowa) Reese Naeve, 5-9 Soph. OH, Regina Catholic Jadyn Petersen, 5-8 Sr. OH, Dike-New Hartford Payton Petersen, 5-11 Sr. OH, Dike-New Hartford Kate Shaefer, 5-9 Jr. S, Eddyville-Blakesburg Carlie Willis, 6-0 Sr. OH, Grundy Center
KANSAS Mya Bolton, 5-3 Sr. libero, St. James Academy Alea Goolsby, 5-10 Jr. OH, St. Thomas Aquinas Janelle Green, 5-9 Sr. S, Blue Valley North Jillian Huckabey, 6-0 Sr. OH, Olathe Northwest Ryan McAleer, 5-5 Sr. libero, Blue Valley Reese Messer, 5-11 Jr. S, St. James Logan Parks, 5-11 Jr. S/OH, Blue Valley North Skyler Pierce, 6-2 Sr. OH, Olathe Northwest Camdyn Stucky, 6-2 Sr. S, Maize South Rachel VanGorp, 5-9 Sr. OH, Heritage Christian Academy
Julia Hunt
KENTUCKY Amirra Bailey, 6-4 Soph. MB, Bowling Green Bella Haggard, 5-11 Jr. S, Paul Dunbar Addison Hart, 6-1 Jr. OH, McCracken County Julia Hunt, 6-2 Sr. MB, Holy Cross (Covington) Charlotte Moriarty, 5-11 Sr .OH, Assumption Kate Rush, 6-0 Jr. S, Great Crossing Kristen Simon, 5-7 Jr. libero, Assumption Alivia Skidmore, 5-10 Sr. OH, St. Henry Jessica Smallwood, 6-5 Soph. OH/MB, Elizabethtown Elizabeth Tabeling, 5-6 Sr. libero,St. Henry Kaeley Walz, 5-11 Sr. S, Sacred Heart Academy
Camryn Chatelier
LOUISIANA Lia Beverly, 6-0 Jr. MB, Metairie Park Country Day Sophia Bonnaffee, 5-7 Sr. OH, Archbishop Hannan Laurel Cassidy, Jr. libero, Parkview Baptist Camryn Chatelier, 5-10 Sr. OH, Dominican Kendall Davis, 5-10 Sr. MB, Dutchtown Eleanor Guidry, Soph. libero, St. Thomas More Sarah Kirsch, Sr. S, Archbishop Hannan Gabby Marcello, 5-8 Sr. S, Dominican Kenley Nonato, 5-1 Sr. libero, Teurlings Catholic Brightyn Ratcliff, 5-7 Sr. OH, ED White Reagan Robinson, Jr. OH, Slidell Nola Sevin, 5-6 Sr. libero, Mt. Carmel Academy MAINE Sophia DiPhilippo, Sr. S, Gorham Danielle Emerson, 5-8 Sr. S/OH, Biddeford Meryk Lewellen, 5-11 Sr. MB, Gorham Natalie Moynihan, 5-9 Jr. OH, Scarborough Kellen Schwinn, 5-7 Soph. OH, Washington Academy.
MARYLAND Mailinh Goodshcall, 5-7 Sr. OH, Centennial MacKenzie Calhoun, 5-11 Sr. S, River Hill Brin Chesnut, 5-11 Sr. OH, Broadneck Lindsay Kelley, 5-9 Sr. S, Glenelg Emmerson Sellman, 6-4 Sr. OH, Academy of the Holy Cross Perry Stevenson, 6-1 Sr. OH, Severna Park
Quinn Anderson
MASSACHUSETTS Quinn Anderson, 6-0 Sr. OH, Westborough Julia Leonardo, 5-10Jr. OH, Attleboro Sasha Selivan, 5-9 Fr. S/OH, Newton North Samantha Tam, 5-11Sr. OH, Needham Sadie Wellbeloved, , 5-8 Sr. S, Barnstable Taylor Lacerda, Sr. OH, Franklin Chloe Lee, 5-8 Sr. OH, Newton North Hannah Storm, 5-6 Sr. OH, Case
