PHOTO: MATTHEW SMITH
BY BRIAN GOSSET
Kylie Kleckner, OH, Byron Nelson: The Washington signee was GM Sports Media All-Area Player Of The Year and 6A D2 champ game MVP last season, and has 500+ kills for the second straight year. Kleckner, who had 24 kills in last year’s final vs Houston Stratford, is averaging over 15 kills in five playoff matches.
AJ Seay, OH, Byron Nelson: Recently signed to Rice, Seay leads the Bobcats with a career-high 523 kills on 0.367 hitting. She had 15 kills in the semifinal round against Cy Ranch and has 198 kills in her past 12 matches. Seay tied a season-high with 20 kills and hit 0.515 in last year’s final vs Stratford.
Sophee Peterson, S, Byron Nelson: The A&M commit is among the top players in the country and entered the year #1 in the DFW rankings. In three years with the Bobcats, Peterson is nearing 3,700 career assists, 900 digs and 500 kills. With 50 assists against Cy Ranch, Peterson is averaging 49 assists in the postseason.
Avery Koonsen, OH, Pearland Dawson: The SFA signee leads the Eagles in kills, kills per set and hitting percentage, and is second on the team in digs.
Kinsley Young, MB, SL Carroll: Signed her letter of intent with TCU. Putting in another all-star season with over 300 kills and 100 total blocks for the Dragons, who are playing for a state championship for the first time since 1998.
Layla Austin, OH, SL Carroll: The San Diego State signee is having a career year for the Dragons with career highs in kills, hitting percentage and digs, and is among the most underrated players in the state. Her swing speed and power are arguably one of the best in the game.
Riley Malloy, OH, Austin: Standing at 6-5, the USC signee has a career-high 544 kills and hitting 0.321 for the Maroons – in the state championship for the first time since 1992.
Camille Presley, MB: Austin: The Texas Longhorn commit put in a season-high 16 kills and hit 0.600 vs Dripping Springs in the regional final.
Gigi Whann, DS/L, Highland Park: The Arizona signee continues to be among the area leaders in digs this season and has the Scots in the champ game for the first time in 17 years.
Sarah Floyd, OH, Highland Park: The 6-3 sophomore phenom is among the top 2028s in the country. Floyd led the team with 14 kills and a 0.462 hitting percentage against Aledo in the 5A D1 state semifinals.
Anna Lee, S, Highland Park: Lee has been either #1 or #2 in the DFW metroplex all season in total assists as she continues to lead HP’s dynamic offensive attack.
Allie Hudgins, OH, Highland Park: The Creighton commit is listed at 6-4 and ranked in the Top 20 among the 2027 class.
Harper Korenek, OH, College Station A&M Consolidated: Korenek is leading the team in kills as a 6-0 freshman – and is coming up on 500 for the season.
Jillian Vinal, S/OH, College Station A&M Consolidated: Vinal is a triple-double threat and posted one against New Braunfels in the state semis.
Alex Elsey, OH, Argyle: Elsey is among the top 2029s in the country and has led the Eagles back to the champ game for the first time since 2017.
Karsyn Rogers, Jr., Argyle: Rogers, who has over 500 assists, 200 digs and is third on the team with 37 aces, is committed to play beach volleyball at Arizona State.
Joy Udoye, OH, Cedar Park: The Stanford signee leads the Timberwolves with 568 kills. Udoye also has the best hitting percentage on the team.
Katelyn Hughes, S, Cedar Park: The Lamar signee has over 800 assists and nearly 60 aces.
Grace Fortune, S, Decatur: Fortune will continue her volleyball career with McMurry University and has the Eagles one win away from winning titles in back-to-back years. Fortune had 18 assists in last year’s 4A D1 final vs Bellville, and 29 assists and four aces in the semifinal round against Lindale.
Harper Smith, MB, Decatur: Smith is one of three Eagles to return to Garland after playing in last year’s title game against Bellville, where she posted five total blocks.
Avery Keck, OH, La Vernia: Keck is coming to the metroplex after high school – going to play at D2 power Dallas Baptist. She is hitting 0.320 this season with 512 kills.
Paisley Pavliska, OH, La Vernia: The Arkansas signee has a team-high 598 kills and is hitting 0.368. She has over 2,200 kills in her career.
Keoni Williams, MB, Eagle Mountain: The Nebraska signee is leading the DFW area this season in hitting percentage and is among the top blockers. She was a part of the USA national team in August, and has the Knights in the first state champ game for any team from Fort Worth in the 60-year history of UIL volleyball.
Brooke Lacewell, OH, Eagle Mountain: The Texas A&M signee was among five players to sign with the Aggies this month. She’s has over 350 kills and is hitting 0.324.
Molly Aubert, S, Eagle Mountain: Aubert had a combined 67 assists in the regional final and state semifinals against Canyon Randall and Longview Spring Hill.
Lilli Sandoval, OH, Wimberley: Leads the team in kills as they look to go back-to-back in 4A D2. Sandoval had nine kills and hit 0.375 in their reverse sweep last season over Canyon Randall.
Ava Permenter, DS/L, Bushland: The Falcons are looking for a three-peat and are coming off a five-set thriller against Ponder in the state semis. Permenter is among the country’s leaders with 1,163 digs.
Addison Yendrey, MB, Goliad: The East Texas A&M commit was named to the state all-tournament team last season with 14 kills in the title match.
Isabel Sanchez, S, Goliad: Sanchez also made the 3A D1 all-tourney team with 32 assists and 12 digs vs Bushland in the final.
Addy Delgado, OH, Boyd: The Hardin-Simmons signee is seven kills away from 500 for the second straight season as the Yellowjackets are playing for a title in back-to-back years. Delgado has a career-high in aces – along with smashing her previous high in digs. Delgado made the all-tournament team last season.
Cami McIntire, S, Boyd: Playing more in a 6-1 system this season, McIntire has put in a career year with over 900 assists, 200 digs and 150 kills. Against Stockdale in last year’s title match, McIntire recorded a triple-double – she the youngest to post one in a UIL champ game since 2012.
Bryleigh Wallace, DS/L Boyd: The all-state libero and East Central signee put together 26 digs and five assists in last year’s final. She has over 2,500 digs in her career and is the program’s all-time leader in that category.
Brystel Wise, OH, Clifton: Wise put in a season-high 25 kills along with 16 digs as the Cubs upset defending champ Stockdale in the semifinals to clinch their first champ game appearance in program history. Wise has a team-high 563 kills this season.
Madison Otter, S, Clifton: Had 44 assists and 14 digs vs Stockdale. Otter has over 3,100 assists in her three-year career.
Ava Johnson, OH, Nocona: The senior outside, who has passed 1,000 career kills this season, has the Indians in their first state championship match since 2011.
Averi Futrell, DS/L, Jewett Leon: The senior libero was on the court the last time the Cougars played in Garland – when she was a freshman in 2022. Futrell finished with nine digs, one ace, one assist and one kill in the semifinals against Lindsay.
Camryn Powers, OH, Crawford: Powers, who leads the team with over 400 kills, played in all five sets against Iola in last year’s 2A D2 champ game where she hit 0.429 and have five total blocks.
Rylee Goodney, S, Iola: Goodney has made the all-tournament team in back-to-back years, helping the Bulldogs to the 2023 title vs Crawford. She had 40 assists and 14 digs in the 2023 final – 37 and 20 in last year’s title match against Crawford.
Kinsley McPherson, OH, Blum: The Temple College signee was state champ MVP as a freshman when the Bobcats won their first title in 2022 and then went back-to-back as a sophomore. After an early exit last season, McPherson looks to close out her career with her third title in four years.
Haley Scott, OH, Blum: Scott has put together a great junior season for Blum, ranking in the top three on the team in kills, aces and digs. Along with McPherson, she has 400+ kills and 400+ digs, and posted a double-double in the semifinals against McMullen County.
Heidi Riddle-Rios, OH, Water Valley: Riddle-Rios is one of three seniors on the team as the Wildcats are playing in the champ game for the first time since 2018 after taking down Saint Jo in five during the semifinals.
