50 Austin-area players to watch this season

The 2025 high school volleyball season tips off around the state this week as Austin High, Lake Travis and Cedar Park lead the area as Central Texas’ top three preseason teams. They’ll hope to play for a state title in late November.

As part of the American-Statesman’s coverage this season, we ranked the top 45 Austin-area players, headlined by our top 10 preseason players, heading into the 2025 campaign. They represent more than two dozen different schools and multiple grade levels. There are several college-committed players on the list, including future Texas Longhorns.

Players are listed alphabetically:

The 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter will play for Texas and is the two-time Central Texas player of the year and a three-time national team member. She slammed 549 kills last season for the Tigers, who went 46-3. She also hit .287 with 59 blocks and 66 aces.

The 6-foot junior transferred from defending Class 5A state champion Lucas Lovejoy and is regarded as the state’s top recruit for her class. She was the 5A player of the year last year and also earned state tournament MVP  honors after leading Lovejoy past Cedar Park in the UIL state title match. She is committed to San Diego State and averaged a double-double last year with 484 kills and 483 digs.

Anderson’s 6-foot-3 middle blocker had a tremendous freshman season while playing alongside All-Central Texas standout Parker Duncan, who’s now at Arkansas. Frizzell averaged two blocks and just over two kills per set as the Trojans’ third option, but should be a standout this year as they look to defend their District 24-5A title.

Heman, a 6-foot senior outside hitter, was a key to the Vipers’ run to the Class 6A final four, producing 580 kills, 50 blocks, 291 digs and 33 aces. District 25-6A’s hitter of the year also earned TGCA all-state honors who was a versatile six rotation player. She has committed to Louisiana Tech.

The six rotation outside hitter was the 2024 Central Texas newcomer of the year, earning first-team all-district honors after playing a key role in the Jaguars’ 41-7 season that included a district championship and run to the regional finals. The 5-foot-10 sophomore is a member of the 2024 AVCA Class of 2028 Phenom List and notched 351 kills, an average of 3.0 kills per set.

Kelly, a 6-foot outside hitter, is committed to Villanova. She slammed 400 kills last season, averaging 3.4 per set, and added 57 aces, 42 blocks and 334 digs.

The 6-foot-5 senior outside hitter is a USC signee coming off a huge 2024 season with 469 kills, which ran her career total to 1,220. The two-time all-district selection hit 46.2% with a .358 hitting efficiency.

The 6-foot-3 junior middle blocker is committed to Texas and led the Maroons into the state playoffs last year with 128 blocks and 118 kills.

The 6-foot-4 junior middle blocker had 116 blocks last year and was a big boost for the Dragons, who won their final 14 matches of the regular season to make the playoffs. She had 14 kills and six blocks in a win over Lake Travis.

Udoye, a 6-2 senior outside hitter, led the Timberwolves to the Class 5A Division 1 state finals by pounding 586 kills and hitting .313. She added 55 blocks, 359 digs and 52 aces. She has pledged to play for Stanford.

Troy Acevedo, Leander, senior 

Madison Amina, Weiss, senior

Jade Anderson, Connally, junior

Taliah Angwekwe, Stony Point, senior

Lyla Annen, Ann Richards, senior

Aniyah Baker, LBJ, junior

Sophie Bell, LASA, senior

Sienna Benavides, Cedar Park, senior

Elise Bowman, St. Stephen’s, junior

Rihanna Bryant, Weiss, senior

Rileigh Butler, Johnson, junior

Jenna Carroll, Smithville, senior

Mya Cheatum, Cedar Park, senior

Olivia Coleman, Ann Richards, sophomore

Kyrksen Cook, Lago Vista, sophomore

Adyson Davis, Lake Travis, senior

Malia Gibbs, Hays, sophomore

Hannah Griffin, Liberty Hill, sophomore

Audrey Hedlund, Vandegrift, junior

Jennavee Jensen, Vista Ridge, senior

Mia Kropewnicki, Round Rock Christian, senior

Kendall Lewis, Cedar Ridge, senior

Maggie McCarroll, Austin High, senior

Grace McCluskey, Westwood, senior

Addison Otto, Smithville, senior

Piper Poage, Anderson, junior 

Morgan Prihoda, Pflugerville, senior

Avery Ralston, Rouse, senior

Kendal Robertson, Hendrickson, senior 

Lexi Rosenblatt, McCallum, senior

Taylor Tatum, Rouse, senior

Jenna Tello, Austin High, sophomore

Eva Marie Thompson, Hendrickson, junior

Carla Ulrich, LaGrange, senior

Makenna Watson, Hill Country Christian, junior

Alta Wilson, Round Rock, senior

Ellie Wichter, Hutto, sophomore

Sydney Yohe, Westlake, senior