Predicting The Gatorade POY Winners for Every State

Gatorade Player of the Year 2024 Predictions

It’s that time of year again: the 2024 high school season is wrapping up, so Player of the Year winners will be awarded in each state. One of those highly anticipated awards is The Gatorade Player of the Year. The GPOY goes to a player in every state, and D.C., who was the best in that state, and this year, VBAdrenaline.com made predictions for who those winners will be. 

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Alabama: Riley Lovell, 2025, S, Bob Jones High School (Alabama)

2023 Champion: Hannah Parant, S, Mountain Brook (Alabama)

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Lovell finished the season with 1,619 assists for Bob Jones High, which, according to MaxPreps, led the nation in assists and had her at about 9.8 assists per game for the #2 ranked team in Alabama. 

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Honorable Mentions: Camryn McMinn, Lauren Buchanan

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Alaska: Alli Devine, 2025, OH, Wasilla High School

2023 Champion: Emma Beck, S, Kenai Central (Alaska Anchorage)

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Devine has had a massive year for the #1 ranked team in Alaska, as she leads the team with 440 kills, a .366 hitting percentage, and 3.9 kills per set

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Honorable Mentions: Kate Wisnewski, Dakota Evans

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Arizona: Teraya Sigler, 2025, OH, Horizon High School (Nebraska)

2023 Champion: Teraya Sigler, OH, Horizon (Signed to Nebraska)

We predict Teraya Sigler will go back-to-back here in AZ after producing 540 kills (2nd in the state) and 5.7 kills per set (1st in the state) while leading Horizon to the state semifinals (still being played) as the two seed in 5A. 

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Honorable Mentions: Lily Rolfes, Tessa Larkin

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Arkansas: Bella Bonnano, 2025, L, Shiloh Christian (Ole Miss)

2023 Champion: Reagan Harp, OH, Fayetteville (Central Arkansas)

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Bonanno is third in the state in digs while being the backbone of the one-loss Shiloh Christian Saints, leading them in digs, aces, and aces per set. 

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Honorable Mention: Michaelyn Freeman, Lydia Pitts, Laila Creighton

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California: Manaia Ogbechie, 2025, MB, Oaks Christian (Nebraska)

2023 Champion: Charlie Fuerbringer, S, Mira Costa (Wisconsin)

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Ogbechie, whose stock has been skyrocketing over the last 365 days, had a fantastic senior season for Oaks Christian. She led OCHS in kills, blocks, hitting percentage, and kills per set. 

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Honorable Mentions: Audrey Flanagan, Layli Ostovar

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Colorado: Erika Sayer, 2025, MB, The Village High School (Stanford)

2023 Champion: Delaney Russell, OH, Valor Christian (Montana)

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Sayer has had an excellent year for Village. She led the team in almost every category, including kills, blocks, aces, kills per set, and hitting percentage. Due to Sayer's production, Village finished with a 22-3 record. 

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Honorable Mention: Chloe Elarton

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Connecticut: Marin Black, 2025, MB, Darien High School (Virginia)

2023 Champion: Aubrey Moore, S, Darien (Boston College)

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Marin Black has been the top player for the top team in Connecticut. The Virginia commit led Darien in blocks, kills, hitting percentage, and kills per set. Darien won the Class LL State Tournament. 

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Honorable Mention: Meredith Weir

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Delaware: Elaina Millaway Jr., 2025, Delmarva Christian

2023 Champion: Anna Richardson, OH, Smyrna (West Chester)

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Millaway Jr. was named Player of the Year by the Delaware Coaches Association. Millaway finished with 349 kills and 211 digs. 

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Honorable Mention: C.C. DeCaro

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Washington D.C.: Jada Aksu, 2025, RS, Georgetown Day (Lafayette)

2023 Champion: Clara Yu, S, Georgetown Day (Columbia)

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Aksu led Georgetown Day to a 25-1 record, leading the team in kills with 281. She had a crazy .422 hitting percentage and 3.9 kills per set. Georgetown Day won the DCSAA State Tournament, not losing a single set in three matches. 

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Honorable Mentions: Racquel Frazier, Alexis Ewing

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Florida: Kelly Kinney, 2025, OH, Kings Academy (Minnesota)

2023 Champion: Izzy Starck, OH, Viera (Penn State)

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Kinney led Kings Academy in kills, hitting percentage, kills per set, and digs. She averaged 7 kills per set in multiple games this year and topped it off with a 31-kill match late in the season. 

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Honorable Mentions: Maggie Dostic, GiGi Artiles

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Georgia: Abigail Li, 2025, S, Alpharetta (Georgia Tech)

2023 Champion: Grace Agolli, RS, Pace Academy (Cal)

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Li was the top playmaker for an Alpharetta team that went undefeated this season and only lost one set in the state playoffs as they claimed the GHSA 6A State Championship. Li finished with 937 assists and 49 blocks over the incredible season. 

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Honorable Mentions: Marissa Jones, Lawson Monroe

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Hawaii: Bailey Nakanelua, 2026, S, ‘Iolani High School (Ohio State)

2023 Champion: Adrianna Arquette, S, Kamehameha Kapalama (Hawaii)

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Nakanelua led the state in assists with 820 this year while leading ‘Iolani High School to the state championship game. She also had 50 blocks, 206 digs, and 22 aces.

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Honorable Mentions: Shaye Teves, Kamana’ookalani Goldstein

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Idaho: Bellamie Beus, 2026, OH, Skyview (Committed to Kentucky)

2023 Champion: Alex Bower, S, Skyview (BYU)

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Beus produced a top season this year by finishing second in the state in kills and third in hitting percentage while leading a Skyview team to a 27-8 record. She also led the team in kills per set (5.2), aces (58), hitting percentage (.348), receptions (536), and finished second on the team in blocks (54) and digs (355). 

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Honorable Mentions: Tariah Carter, Grace Fuger

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Illinois: Abby Vander Wal, 2025, OH, Timothy Christian (Texas)

2023 Champion: Ellie White, RS, Mother McAuley

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Vander Wal is the top player in Illinois, and it showed this year. She finished second in the state with a .501 hitting percentage and added 455 kills, which put her just below 1400 for her career. She also led Timothy Christian in kills per set, blocks, and aces in their run to the state 2A semifinals. 

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Honorable Mention: Lynney Tarnow, Haley Burgdorf

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Indiana: Charlotte Vinson, OH, Yorktown (Indiana)

2023 Champion: Lauren Harden, OH, Hamilton Southeastern (Florida)

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This is a tough state to call.  Stat wise you can give this to Masten in a heartbeat, and she has the talent to contend as well.  But Charlotte Vinson, coming back from a life-threatening illness, is remarkable in not only playing but excelling and helping her team to a State Runner-Up finish.  In a partial season, Vinson finished with 361 Kills and a .324 hitting %.  Considering where she was in May, that sounds like an MVP-type performance.  The Indiana committ returns to full strength when she heads to Bloomington in May.

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Honorable Mentions: Izzy Masten, Addi Applegate, Addy Tindall

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Iowa: Chloe Meester, 2025, OH, Mount Vernon (Louisville)

2023 Champ: Payton Peterson, OH, Dike-New Hartford (Louisville)

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Meester capped off her historic career by reaching the 500 kill mark for the third straight season and the 2000-kill milestone. She also had over 200 digs and 30 blocks. Meester helped lead Mount Vernon to a State Championship in Iowa Class 3A. 

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Honorable Mention: Delaney Miller, Abbey Hayes

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Kansas: Logan Parks, 2025, S, Blue Valley North (Stanford)

2023 Champion: Logan Parks, 2025, Blue Valley North (Stanford)

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Parks continued to do what she does at a high level: score and assist. Parks finished with almost the same amount of kills as assists (405-412). She also led Blue Valley North in kills per set, hitting percentage, aces, and finished second in blocks with 68. She did everything for a BVN team that finished 4th in the regular season in Class 6A.

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Honorable Mentions: Reese Messer, Alea Goolsby

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Kentucky: Emilee Fuller, 2025, S, Assumption (Seton Hall)

2023 Champion: Julia Hunt, MB, Holy Cross (Washington)

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Fuller was the star of the State Champion Assumption Rockets. She finished the season with 1239 assists, which led all of Kentucky. She also added 249 digs to that season as well. 

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Honorable Mentions: Kristen Simon, Bridget Egan

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Louisiana: Lauren Pipitone, 2025, L, St. Mary’s Dominican

2023 Champion: Camryn Chattelier, OH, St. Mary’s Dominican (LSU Beach)

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Pipitone led all of Louisiana in digs this year by almost 100. She finished with 939 digs, 44 aces, and 674 receptions. Pipitone led St. Mary’s Dominican to a runner-up finish in the 1A State Championship. 

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Maine: Reese Crosman, 2025, S, Washington Academy

2023 Champion: Danielle Emerson, S, Biddeford (Plymouth State)

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Crosman led Washington Academy to an undefeated season, finishing third in the state in kills with 162 and a hitting percentage of .337.

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Honorable Mentions: Grace Keaney, Maeve Donovan

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Maryland: Ema Djordjevic, 2025, RS, Richard Montgomery 

2023 Champion: Emmi Sellman, OH, Academy of Holy Cross

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Djordjevic was a do-it-all player for Richard Montgomery, who took home the class 4A state championship. Djordjevic nearly led her team in every category. She finished second very slightly in digs and assists but led in every other category listed on PrepDig, including finishing second in Maryland in Hitting Percentage and top 10 in kills. 

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Honorable Mentions: Bryah Breaux, Caydence Doolan

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Massachusetts: Georgia Tyrell, 2025, OH, Westborough 

2023 Champion: Quinn Anderson, OH, Westborough (Stony Brook)

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Tyrell leads Mass in Kills/set with 5.4, is third in kills with 352, and ninth in hitting percentage with .349. She also prompted Westborough to the Division 2 State Championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Devon Burke

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Michigan: Campbell Flynn, 2025, S, Mercy (Nebraska)

2023 Champion: Campbell Flynn, S, Mercy (Nebraska)

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Flynn goes back-to-back here after leading Mercy to a 28-2 season. She continued her incredible career this year by winning MIVCA Miss Volleyball. 

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Honorable Mentions: Navea Gauthier, Aubree Deshetsky

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Minnesota: Carly Gilk, 2025, OH, Champlin Park (Minnesota)

2023 Champion: Stella Swenson, S, Wayzata (Minnesota)

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Gilk led her Champlin Park team to a runner-up finish in class AAAA. She finished with 401 kills, which was among the top 10 in Minnesota, and 4.9 kills per set. 

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Honorable Mentions: Kaelyn Bjorklund, Kaydence White

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Mississippi: Carson Caraway, 2027, OH, Jackson Academy 

2023 Champion: Kaylee Lowther, L, Jackson Academy (Southern Miss)

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Caraway is the leader in kills in Mississippi by a lot. She had 638, and the next highest was 592. Caraway averaged 5.1 kills per set, leading Jackson Academy to the MAIS state championship. 

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Missouri: Abigail Mullen, 2025, OH, Liberty High School (USC)

2023 Champion: Carlie Cisneros, OH, Liberty North (Arizona)

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Mullen finished with 570 kills and 5.2 kills per set on a Liberty team that went 29-7 en route to a state semifinal appearance. She also led her team in aces and finished second in every other category. 

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Honorable Mention: Maya Witherspoon, Raylee Stenzel

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Montana: Leela Ormsby, 2025, OH, Billings Senior (Michigan State)

2023 Champion: Addie Allen, S, Billings West (MSU Billings)

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According to MaxPreps, Ormsby led the state in hitting percentage with .389 and finished second in total blocks with 81. She was named Eastern AA Co-Player of the Year and led Billings Senior to a 3rd place finish at this year’s state championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Cadence Lundgren, Nula Anderson

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Nebraska: Keri Leimbach, 2025, L, Lincoln Lutheran (Nebraska)

2023 Champion: Olivia Mauch, L, Bennington (Nebraska)

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Leimbach once again played like a top libero in the country, finishing with over 500 digs and leading her team in aces. She led Lincoln Lutheran to a Division C2 State Championship. 

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Honorable Mentions: Jillian Donovan, Anna Jelinek

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Nevada: Ayanna Watson, 2026, OH, Bishop Gorman (Pitt)

2023 Champion: Ayanna Watson, OH, Bishop Gorman (Verballed to Pitt)

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That’s right. We have a real chance at 3x  GPOYs for Ayanna Watson, as she is the favorite again this year. Watson led the state in kills by over 100 with 705 while finishing second in hitting percentage with an incredible .547 clip. She also led Bishop Gorman to a state championship in 5A.

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Honorable Mention: Trinity Thompson

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New Hampshire: Sya McKay, 2025, OH, Sommersworth

2023 Champion: Lana McCarthy, MB, Bedford (Purdue BBall)

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McKay led Sommerswoth to an undefeated season and a Division 2 State Championship win. McKay led the team in almost every category including kills, hitting percentage, digs, aces, and blocks. 

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Honorable Mention: McKenna O’Connell

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New Jersey: Samantha Kranzler, 2025, OH, Old Tappan 

2023 Champ: Taylor Miller, OH, Northern Valley Demarist

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Kranzler finished second in the state in kills and second in the state in Hitting Percentage while leading Old Tappan to an undefeated season and a NJSIAA Group 2 Championship

Honorable Mention: Gabrielle Titus

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New Mexico: Addison Massey, 2026, OH, Las Cruces (Kansas State)

2023 Champion: Addison Massey, OH, Las Cruces (Kansas State)

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Massey is another player with a legitimate chance at 3-Peat in GPOYs.  Massey won it last year and is the favorite to win it again this year after being the only player in New Mexico to make it to 500 kills and finishing fifth in hitting percentage on an undefeated Las Cruces team that won the state championship in the highest division. 

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Honorable Mention: CeCe Vance

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New York: Reagan Ennist, 2025, OH, Shenendehowa (Virginia)

2023 Champion: Carson Tyler, OH, St. Mary’s (Ball State)

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Ennist led the state in kills by a lot this year finishing with over 600 kills according to MaxPreps. She finished the season with 628 and a .442 hitting percentage, which ranked second in New York. She led the top ranked team in New York to a runner-up finish in the state AAA championships. 

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Honorable Mentions: Marin Collins, Olivia Henry

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North Carolina: Genevieve Harris, 2026, S, Cardinal Gibbons (Texas)

2023 Champion: Avery Scoggins, S, Middle Creek (Arizona)

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Harris enters the list due to her fantastic year leading the #1 ranked Cardinal Gibbons with 578 assists and a .454 hitting percentage. She led Gibbons to a state championship in 4A. 

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Honorable Mention: Anne Bradley Bing, Jordyn Gray

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North Dakota: Alexa Killoran, OH, West Fargo Sheyenne 

2023 Champion: Makenna Nold, OH, Jamestown (Concordia St. Paul)

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One of the top outsides in the state. Killoran led West Fargo Sheyenne to the state championship before falling to Bismarck Century. Killoran was named Senior Athlete of the year for North Dakota as well. 

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Honorable Mention: Raina Chwialkowski

Ohio: Annabelle Groomes, 2025, S, St. Joseph’s Academy (San Diego)

2023 Champion: Alec Rothe, MB, Dublin Scioto (Florida)

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Groomes finished the season with over 500 assist, while leading St. Joseph’s Academy to a state runner up finish. She was named to the OHSAA 1st Team in the highest division and also led her team in aces. 

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Honorable Mention: Sakura Codling, Abbey Emch

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Oklahoma: Livia Ward, 2025, S, Mount St. Mary’s (Washington State)

2023 Champion: Maren Johnson, OH, Jenks 

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Ward led Oklahoma by a lot in assists this year finishing with over 200 assists more than second place with 1233 assists. Ward led Mount St. Mary’s to a 39-1 record and a Class 5A State Championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Arianna Brown

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Oregon: Paige Thies, 2025, OH, Oregon City (Arizona)

2023 Champion: Paige Thies, OH, Oregon City (Arizona)

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Thies was named Oregon 6A Player of the Year this year. She finished the year with 520 kills and helped lead Oregon City to a Runner-Up finish in 6A. 

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Honorable Mention: Kamden Mitchell, Addy Azevedo

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Pennsylvania: Sophia Schweikert, 2025, OH, Upper Merion Area (Jacksonville State)

2023 Champion: Reese Hazelton, OH, Philipsburg-Osceola (Indiana)

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Schweikert had an incredible season. She finished with over 910 kills, good enough for third place in the country. She also reached the 2,000-kill milestone this year and led her team to the state tournament. 

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Honorable Mention: Isabelle Hoppe

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Rhode Island: Caitlin Mediate, 2025, S, Portsmouth

2023 Champion: Ella Maack, S, North Kingstown 

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Mediate finished second in the state in Assists while leading Portsmouth to a runner-up finish in the Division 1 State Championship. She had just under 500 assists. 

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Honorable Mention: Sydney Henson

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South Carolina: Reese Shugart, 2026, OH, Dorman (Auburn)

2023 Champion: Carly O’Brien, OH, Dorman (Liberty)

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Shugart has had an incredible year. She finished fifth in the state in kills with 464 while also leading the #1 team in aces, hitting percentage, and kills per set. She led Dorman to a class 5A State Championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Camryn Jeffery, Kumana Martin

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South Dakota: Gabi Zachariasen, 2026, OH, Harrisburg (South Dakota)

2023 Champion: Gabi Zachariasen, OH, Harrisburg (South Dakota)

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Zachariasen will win GPOY, and she has a chance to three-peat next year. She continues her dominance in South Dakota this year, leading Harrisburg to its third straight state championship and putting Harrisburg among the top high school volleyball teams in the country. 

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Honorable Mention: Josalyn Samuels, Lily Van Hal

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Tennessee: Lauren Hurst, 2025, OH, Cleveland

2023 Champion: Lauren Hurst, OH, Cleveland

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Hurst gets the nod for back-to-back here. She continues her stellar career, finishing second in the state in kills with 678. She also led her team in almost every category, minus blocks and assists. 

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Honorable Mentions: Lauren Duncan, Kaira Knox

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Texas: Cari Spears, 2025, OH, Prestonwood Christian (Texas)

2023 Champion: Ayden Ames, MB, Prosper (Texas)

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What a season it was for spears. She finished with 649 kills 89 blocks. 6.2 kills per set and a .428 hitting percentage led her team. She led the Lions to a 35-2 record and a 6A State Championship. 

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Honorable Mentions: Suli Davis, Henlee Anderson

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Utah: Taylor Harvey, 2025, OH, Bountiful (Texas)

2023 Champion: Zoey Burgess, MB, Lone Peak (Kansas)

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Harvey leads the rankings here with her incredible season in which she led Utah in kills with 608. She also led Bountiful in kills per set and hitting percentage. She also produced a runner-up finish in the Utah 5A Championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Nafanua Alofipo, Paige Felder

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Vermont: Sara Sinkewicz, 2025, L, Essex

2023 Champion: Izzy Nerad, OH, Essex

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Sinkewicz was named Vermont's Defensive player of the year and received a first-team all-state nod. She led Essex to the Vermont State Championship. 

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Honorable Mention: Hannah Knickerbocker

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Virginia: Nadiya Johnson, 2026, RS, Riverside (Baylor)

2023 Champion: Alexis Keeter, OH, Grafton (FGCU Beach)

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Johnson was the leader of the top-ranked Riverside Ram. She led the team in kills and produced big numbers in all of their massive games, including being the star in their State Championship game. 

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Honorable Mention: Caleigh Ponn

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Washington: Laura Eichert, 2026, OH, Lake Stevens (San Diego)

2023 Champion: Lauren Dreves, OH, Columbia River (Auburn)

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Eichert leads the state in kills with 746, while also having a .343 hitting percentage and 6.6 kills per set. She led Lake Stevens to the State Semifinals this year. In five of the season's final six games, she made it to 28 kills. Including four 30 kill games. 

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Honorable Mention: Ava Jo Berry

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West Virginia: Ada McCoy, OH, Musselman (Shepherd)

2023 Champion: Mackenna Halfin, OH, Phillip Barbour

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This has become a two-horse race this year between McCoy and 2023 Champ Halfin. I am going to lean McCoy because she has had an incredible year kill-wise, reaching the 700 mark this season. 

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Honorable Mention: Mackenna Halfin

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Wisconsin: Madison Quest, 2025, OH, Divine Savior Holy Angels (Wisconsin)

2023 Champion: Madison Quest, OH, Divine Savior Holy Angels (Wisconsin)

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Quest was the leader of DSHA, ranked first in the state. She led the team in kills with just over 500 kills per set. Quest led DSHA to a Wisconsin Division 1 State Championship and will most likely go back-to-back in GPOY

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Honorable Mentions: Gabriella Pitcel, Jana Jankowski, Karli Malnou

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Wyoming: Tessa Dodd, 2026, OH, Laramie (Oregon)

2023 Champion: Maddy Stucky, OH, Laramie (Wyoming)

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The leader of the Laramie Plainsmen, Dodd, has been a quick riser in her class and finished this year leading her team in kills with 382 kills per set, digs, and aces. She led the Plainsmen to a runner-up finish in the Wyoming Class 4A State Championship.

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Honorable Mention: Kierra Gardner

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