High school girls volleyball: Best liberos/defensive specialists in the nation

These 20 defenders are among the best in the country this season

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

SBLive Sports has been taking a position-by-position look this week at some of the best high school volleyball players in the nation.

The first installment featured the top outside and opposite hitters from all corners of the country, followed by the top setters. Middles will complete the series next week, but now it’s time to feature the defenders.

Here are 20 of the best liberos/defensive specialists in high school volleyball.

Kasia Barletta, sr., Shenendehowa (New York)

Barletta averaged nearly five digs per set during her junior season for Shenendehowa, finishing the year with 651 total digs. She also had 83 assists and 53 aces. 

Zoe Brown, sr., Lower Merion (Pennsylvania)

Brown recorded 439 digs last fall for a Lower Merion team that finished 22-5-2 overall. Brown added 541 serve receives, 83 assists and 37 aces. 

Malyssa Cawa, sr., Mater Dei (California)

Cawa, a Stanford commit, had 501 serve receives and 322 digs a season ago. The 5-foot-7 Cawa is one of several returnees for a Mater Dei team with big expectations. 

Erin Clark, so., Corona del Sol (Arizona)

Clark was a freshman sensation for Corona del Sol last fall, ending the season with 445 digs. She also had 57 assists and 36 aces. 

Taylor Deckert, jr., Mira Costa (California)

Only a junior, Deckert is one of the best defenders on the West Coast. The USC commit had 22 digs in a big early-season victory over top-ranked Mater Dei. 

Ava Dunnigan, sr., Musselman (West Virginia)

Dunnigan was a defensive key for last year’s Musselman team that won the Class 3A state title. She finished the season with 463 digs and 546 serve receives. 

Maya Evens, jr., Cathedral Catholic (California)

Cathedral Catholic finished 42-0 overall a season ago, and Evens played a major role in the team’s success. She is a leader for a Dons squad that is replacing 10 departed seniors. 

Julia Grace, jr., Notre Dame Academy (Kentucky)

As a sophomore, Grace put up 266 digs, 335 serve receives and 32 aces. The Notre Dame Academy junior is committed to Xavier. 

Janelle Green, sr., Blue Valley North (Kansas)

Green, the daughter of former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Trent Green, does a little bit of everything for Blue Valley North. She had 237 digs, 564 assists and 138 kills during her junior season. 

Taylor Holly, sr., St. Mark’s (Delaware)

A two-time all-state selection, Holly was one of just three underclassmen to receive all-state recognition a season ago. She led the team with 39 aces. 

Sophie Ledbetter, sr., Hamilton Southeastern (Indiana)

Playing for one of the nation’s best teams in Hamilton Southeastern, Ledbetter committed to Ball State back in the spring. She had 482 digs, 382 serve receives, 53 aces and 134 assists as a junior. 

Kaylee Lowther, sr., Jackson Academy (Mississippi)

Lowther filled up the stat sheet as a junior with 593 digs, 552 serve receives and 96 aces. She is staying in-state for college and will compete for Southern Miss. 

Avery Mallas, sr., Lambert (Georgia)

Mallas is an experienced defensive specialist for a Lambert team that went 36-8 overall last season. As of Sept. 7, Lambert was averaging 4.2 digs per set this fall. 

Mikki Murray, sr., Flint Hill (Virginia)

Murray had 372 serve receives, 257 digs and 55 aces last year for a Flint Hill team that captured the Division I state title. Murray was also second on the team in kills with 281. 

Lauren Pipitone, jr., St. Mary’s Dominican (Louisiana)

Pipitone recorded 595 serve receives and 376 digs a season ago as St. Mary’s Dominican won its third straight Division I state championship. Pipitone also had 71 assists and 26 aces. 

Katie Roberts, sr., South Aiken (South Carolina)

Roberts also plays softball for South Aiken, but she is best known for her defensive abilities on the volleyball court. She had 519 serve receives, 373 digs, 74 assists and 35 aces as a junior. 

Danielle Street, sr., Crescent Valley (Oregon)

Street had 485 digs as a junior — the second-most in Oregon — as the starting libero for Crescent Valley. The Raiders finished 31-2 overall and secured the Class 5A state title. 

Trinidy Tien, sr., Lone Peak (Utah)

Tien tallied 341 digs as a sophomore and added 326 more during her junior season. The standout libero also had 442 serve receives and 30 aces last fall. 

Caroline Wood, sr., Jenks (Oklahoma)

Playing for Class 6A power Jenks, Wood collected 434 digs and 543 serve receives as a junior. She also recorded 42 aces. 

Marija Wunnicke, sr., South Anchorage (Alaska)

Wunnicke had a strong junior season for South Anchorage, finishing with 720 serve receives and 406 digs. She was more than just a defender, adding 55 aces and 52 assists. 

(Julia Grace photo by Katie Stratman / USA TODAY NETWORK)

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-- Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports