2023 VolleyballMag.com HS player-of-the-year “ION” watch list: Alabama-Massachusetts

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

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

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

HAWAII
Adrianna Arquette, 6-0 Sr. MB, Kamehameha (Kapalama)
Rella Binney, 5-10 Sr. S, Punahou
Natalie Fukumoto, 5-5 Jr. libero, Moanalua
Kamaluhia Garcia, 6-1 Sr.  RS, Moanalua
Emma Lilo, 5-9 Sr. S, Kamehameha  (Kapalama)
Haumea Marumoto, 6-0 Sr. OH, Punahou
Callie Pieper, 6-0 Jr. OH, Iolani
Erica Roberts, 5-11 Sr. OH, Mililani
Myliana Sylvester, 6-2 Sr. MB, University Lab School
Lulu Uluave, 5-9 Sr.  OH, Punahou

IDAHO
Audrey Atwood, 6-1 Sr. OH, Skyline
Alex Bower, 5-10 Sr.  S, Skyview
Bellamie Buess, 5-10 Soph. OH, Skyview
Aly Cox, 6-2 Sr. OH, Timberline
Kaylee Kofe, 5-7 Sr.  S, Bonneville
Liv Manning, Sr. MB, Eagle
Ashlyn Smith, 6-1 Sr. MB, Highland
Nora Waddoups, 5-9 Jr., Madison

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

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

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

 

MASSACHUSETTS
Quinn Anderson, 6-0 Sr.  OH, Westborough
Julia Leonardo, 5-10 Jr. OH, Attleboro
Sasha Selivan, 5-9 Fr. S/OH, Newton North
Samantha Tam, 5-11 Sr. 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

Thursday: Michigan through Wyoming