High school girls volleyball: Best hitters in the nation

These 20 outside and opposite hitters are among the most feared offensive players in the country this season

The high school girls volleyball season is finally in full swing all across the United States.

This week SBLive Sports will be taking a position-by-position look at some of the best high school volleyball players in the nation.

The first installment will feature the top outside and opposite hitters from all corners of the country.

Here are 20 of the best attackers in high school volleyball. 

Danielle Brown, sr., Puyallup (Washington)

Brown recorded 301 kills and 113 total blocks (83 solo) for a Puyallup team that finished 36-1 a season ago. Brown is committed to Santa Clara. 

Carlie Cisneros, sr., Liberty North (Missouri)

Cisneros had 534 kills and 425 digs last season and was voted Missouri’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The Arizona commit compiled 1,237 kills during her first three seasons with Liberty North. 

Suli Davis, jr., Colleyville Heritage (Texas)

Davis notched 506 kills and 369 digs as a sophomore, helping lead Colleyville Heritage to the Class 5A state title. Davis splits her time between outside hitter and setter for the Panthers. 

Reagan Ennist, jr., Shenendehowa (New York)

Ennist led New York in kills as a sophomore with 497. The West Virginia commit also tallied 83 blocks and 273 digs. 

Bridget Gould, sr., Marshfield (Oregon)

The left-handed Gould committed to Oregon in October 2022. A few weeks after her commitment, Gould carried Marshfield to the Class 4A state title.

Babi Gubbins, sr., Long Beach Wilson (California)

Gubbins, who was previously a standout for Mater Dei, is now the leading attacker for Long Beach Wilson. The 6-foot-3 Gubbins will play college volleyball for Stanford. 

Lauren Harden, sr., Hamilton Southeastern (Indiana)

A Florida commit, Harden guided Hamilton Southeastern to the Class 4A state title a season ago. She entered her senior year with 879 career kills, including 337 last fall. Harden surpassed the 1,000 career kills mark earlier this season. 

Sophie-Katherine Harvey, sr., Pope (Georgia)

Harvey had 536 kills and 328 digs a year ago as Pope won the Class 6A state title. A varsity standout since her freshman season, Harvey surpassed the 1,000 career kills mark last fall. 

Evan Hendrix, sr., Notre Dame Prep (Arizona)

Hendrix tallied 557 kills during her junior season for Notre Dame Prep. Over the summer, Hendrix committed to TCU. 

Kiki Horne, sr., Millbrook (North Carolina)

Horne earned North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a junior after recording 522 kills (5.7 per set), 220 digs, 44 aces and 37 blocks. Horne is a UCLA commit.

Lauren Hurst, jr., Cleveland (Tennessee)

Hurst recorded 659 kills, 354 digs, 94 aces and 61 blocks last year as Cleveland went on to win the Division I Class 3A state title. A multi-sport athlete, Hurst picked up a basketball offer from Tennessee over the summer. 

Summer Kohler, jr., Venice (Florida)

Kohler put up 332 kills a year ago as Venice won the Class 7A state title. Kohler, a varsity contributor since her eighth-grade season, also had 203 digs and 28 blocks. 

Lauren Medeck, sr., Papillion-LaVista South (Nebraska)

Medeck recorded 461 kills as a junior, helping Papillion-LaVista South secure the Class A state championship. Medeck is committed to South Dakota. 

Grace Nelson, sr., Oak Park-River Forest (Illinois)

Nelson piled up 445 kills, 261 digs, 32 aces and 25 blocks as a junior for Oak Park-River Forest. The Kansas commit is a fierce competitor who has great chemistry with setter Kinsey Smith, who will also play college volleyball for Davidson. 

Payton Petersen, sr., Dike-New Hartford (Iowa)

A strong all-around athlete, Petersen is a Class 2A state champion in volleyball and basketball and has also competed in the state track meet. Petersen will play college volleyball for Louisville. Her twin sister, Jadyn, is committed to Northern Iowa. 

Skyler Pierce, sr., Olathe Northwest (Kansas)

Pierce recorded 488 kills during her junior season for Olathe Northwest. The Nebraska commit was a member of the United States junior national volleyball team that competed in August’s FIVB under-21 World Championship in Mexico.

Sophia Schweikert, jr., Upper Merion Area (Pennsylvania)

As a sophomore, Schweikert ranked second in Pennsylvania in kills with 602. She also notched 317 digs, 64 aces and 32 blocks.

Emmi Sellman, sr., Academy of the Holy Cross (Maryland)

Sellman had 339 kills, 188 digs, 53 aces and 50 blocks as a junior to win Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She is committed to Ohio State. 

Macaria Spears, jr., Prestonwood Christian (Texas)

Spears tallied 544 kills as a sophomore en route to Texas Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She also had 225 digs, 65 blocks and 50 aces and led the way with 23 kills in the TAPPS Class 6A state championship match. 

Leilia Toailoa, sr., Bishop Gorman (Nevada)

An Alabama commit, Toailoa had 491 kills as a sophomore and 434 more last fall. She also added 356 digs and 55 blocks during her junior year. 

(Bridget Gould photo by Chris Pietsch/The Register Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports