Photo: Matt Smith
By Brian Gosset
Add another accolade for Byron Nelson 2027 setter Sophee Peterson, who was named Texas Volleyball Player Of The Year by Gatorade on Thursday.
Peterson, who helped lead the Bobcats to a perfect 42-0 record and the program’s third state championship, finished second in DFW and in the Top 10 nationally with 1,459 assists during the 2025 season. The Texas A&M commit surpassed 3,500 career assists.
Peterson will be up for National Player Of The Year.
Byron Nelson capped off the undefeated season with a sweep over Pearland Dawson in the 6A D1 title game in November. The Bobcats became the 20th team to post a perfect season in UIL volleyball history, which dates back 60 years. Byron has won 78 straight matches and 82 of its past 83 matches. The Bobcats won the 6A D2 crown over Houston Stratford during the 2024 season.
The 5-11 setter added 274 digs, 161 kills and 70 total blocks for coach Brianne Groth’s squad.
A player from the DFW metroplex has been Gatorade Texas Player Of The Year the past five seasons. Plano Prestonwood’s Cari Spears won in 2022 and 2024; Prosper’s Ayden Ames won in 2023 and Lucas Lovejoy’s Averi Carlson won in 2021.
Other awards won by Peterson this past season: 4-6A MVP, 6A D1 state all-tournament team, TGCA 6A-5A Player Of The Year, TGCA 6A All-State, TSWA 6A Player Of The Year, TSWA 6A All-State, MaxPreps National Player Of The Year, MaxPreps All-America Team, MaxPreps Junior Of The Year and our very own GM Sports Media All-Area Most Valuable Player.
