By Chris Parker
There are many talented volleyball players across our coverage area. Below are some of the volleyball players to watch this season.
NOTE: The athletes are listed in alphabetical order.
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Reagan Baade, Ozark
Baade is a five-foot-eight outside hitter who became another in a long line of all-state selections for Ozark last season. She put down 353 kills to go with 341 digs, 35 aces and 30 blocks last season. Baade is consistent in every facet of the game.
Jacy Bray, Nixa
Bray will step up to lead the Eagles this season after the team graduated a pair of all-state selections. The 5-foot-7 setter handed out 1,025 assists as a junior and will look to climb over the 2,000-assist mark in her senior season. She is committed to the University of Texas-Arlington.
Sophia Crane, Webb City
Crane is a defensive ace for Webb City at libero where she had 535 digs and 54 aces last season. She will be a key leader for a Webb City team looking to advance to the final four for a second straight season.
Bre Daniels, Liberty
Liberty is one of the area’s most consistent programs, and Daniels will be a key player to keep that consistency going. She earned first-team all-conference and all-state honors last season after leading the Eagles with 366 kills.
Brooke Daniels, Fair Grove
Daniels, a junior setter, recorded 42 aces, 189 kills, 568 assists, 410 digs and 25 blocks last season. Her efforts earned her Class 2 All-State honors.
Bella Faria, Kickapoo
Faria is an Arizona State commit who makes the Lady Chiefs go. She affects the game in many ways posting 330 kills, 456 digs, 35 blocks and 65 aces last season. She earned Class 5 all-state honors last season.
Rilynn Finley, Republic
Finley will be the motor that makes the Republic offense go this season. The First-Team All-COC selection led the Tigers with 355 kills and 286 digs last season. She added 47 aces, 45 blocks and 275 receptions, also earning all-district honors. She is committed to Missouri State Volleyball.
Delaney Hope, Nevada
Hope returns for her senior season after earning Class 3 All-State and Big 8 East Player of the Year honors as a junior. She put down 423 kills with a .384 hitting percentage. She will be a key leader for Nevada this season.
Kya Johnson, Kickapoo
Johnson is a star defensive player for Kickapoo leading the team in digs (543) and serve receptions last season. She also had 105 assists and 34 aces. She sets the defensive tone for Kickapoo every match. Johnson was a Class 5 all-state selection last season.
Savannah Koen, Forsyth
Koen led Forsyth to a 19-win season with 466 kills on a .327 hitting percentage. She earned all-state honors for her effort. The senior is more than just a powerful hitter finishing second on the team in total blocks, digs, assists and serve receptions.
Tatum Kuntz, Glendale
Glendale has been on the rise the past several seasons and Kuntz is a big reason why. She was named Class 4 all-state and first-team all-conference as a junior libero. The senior is Glendale’s go-to passer and defender after she contributed 619 digs and 521 serve receptions in 2022.
Aubree Lassiter, Webb City
Lassiter helped Webb City reach its first final four in program history last season on her way to Class 4 all-state honors. The 5-foot-11 right side/outside hitter recorded 305 kills, 52 blocks, 119 digs and 51 aces last season.
Hannah Maxwell, Fair Grove
Maxwell, a 5-foot-8 senior setter, finished with 62 aces, 245 kills, 583 assists, 374 digs and 27 blocks as a junior. She earned all-state honors in Class 2 for her performance on Fair Grove’s 30-2-4 team.
Addy Rebmann, Lebanon
Rebmann is a two-time first-team all-conference selection entering her junior season. She led Lebanon with 431 kills last season. Her game has gotten more well-rounded this season as she has grown more confident in her serve receive game according to her coach.
Kylie Scott, Carl Junction
Scott was a second-team all-conference selection last season, but she is poised to move up that list as a senior. She led the Bulldogs with 344 kills. Her 36 aces, 328 receptions and 226 digs are all tops among returning players for Carl Junction.
Angie Smith, Houston
Smith is a surgical hitter for Houston leading the team in kills with 321 last season. She does more than just hit, also leading Houston in digs (396) and serve receptions (400). Those numbers helped her earn Class 2 all-state honors.
Crystal Smith, Jasper
Smith is one of the most athletic volleyball players regardless of class. She is a an all-stater on the track and star on the basketball court as well. On the volleyball court, she put down 502 kills to help Jasper to a district title. She was named all-state in Class 1.
Raylee Stenzel, Mountain Grove
Stenzel is the reigning SCA Player of the Year for good reason. She led the Panthers in kills (465), aces (74) and blocks (29) in route to securing a spot on the all-state team. The junior has college coaches lining up for her services.
Mollie Thomas, Marshfield
Thomas will head to Florida Gulf Coast University to play beach volleyball next season. Before she gives up the gym for the beach, Thomas will look to lead Marshfield deep into the postseason. She has amassed 1,350 assists, 600 kills and 600 digs in her three seasons as a starter for Marshfield.
Kaesha Walter, Galena
Walter is one of the best volleyball players in Class 1 helping lead the Lady Bears to a 32-win season in 2022. The reigning SWCL Player of the Year put down 455 kills with a .355 hitting percentage. Her athleticism mixed with her work ethic have her poised for a big senior season.
Tara Venable, Ozark
Venable was an immediate impact player for Ozark as a freshman earning first-team all-conference honors as an outside hitter. She was the only underclassmen to earn first-team honors in the COC. The 5-foot-11 sophomore put down 371 kills with 32 blocks and added in 61 digs.
