Oregon’s top high school volleyball players: Meet the state’s best liberos and defensive specialists

Who are the top liberos and defensive specialists in Oregon high school volleyball this season?

We’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Oregon high school volleyball. This list focuses on the liberos and defensive specialists. 

There are hundreds of standout volleyball players in Oregon and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! Let us know about any other liberos/defensive specialists you think should be added.

Dani Street (Crescent Valley) photo by Blake Benard

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L Angeleena Acosta, David Douglas, senior

Acosta enters her fourth season as the Scots’ defensive ace coming off a junior year in which she earned first-team all-Mt. Hood Conference recognition, averaging four service aces per match and finishing with a team-best 2.2 serve receive average. “Angeleena is a competitive athlete and continues to be the backbone of our defense,” coach Janeen Rainey said.

L Addie Azavedo, Jesuit, junior

Azavedo returns for her third season on the varsity and second as libero after making the SBLive Oregon all-state second team last fall, when she finished with 342 digs (3.5 per set), 351 serve receives and a team-high 76 aces (.917 serving percentage). “She’s solid, reads the play well and has a tough serve,” said Crusaders coach Teresa Zimmerlee.

DS/OH McKenna Brent, Oregon City, senior

Pioneers coach Erica Frafjord can utilize Brent anywhere on the court. She was an honorable mention all-Three Rivers League pick a year ago, when she had 120 kills, 104 digs and a team-high 85 aces, but steps into whatever role Frafjord needs based on injuries or matchups. “Her expertise in defensive play makes her an asset in the back row, and she is also a powerful offensive threat in the front row,” Frafjord said.

L Jadyn Daviscourt, Cascade, senior

Daviscourt was a first-team 4A all-state selection last fall for the Cougars, finishing with 404 digs and helping them return to the state championship match, where they fell to Marshfield. The four-year starter has committed to Southern Oregon. “Jadyn has returned confident and ready,” coach Cristina Williams said. “She has been doing workouts in the weight room, and it shows. Jadyn is a fierce competitor and an amazing teammate, a calm yet powerful player.”

L Kaelyn Golden, Dallas, senior

Golden returns to lead the Dragons defense after making the all-Mid-Willamette Conference honorable mention list last season. She was also the second baseman on the school’s 5A state champion softball team. “She is a fierce competitor,” coach Shana Lavier said. “She’s great at reading the offense and crazy fast on the court.”

L Isla Haven, St. Paul, senior

Haven enters her third season as the Buckaroos’ libero. Besides her solid defense (3.0 passing average), she also served at a .935 clip (243 of 260) last season. “Reads the ball extremely well and a great, hard worker,” coach Les Hiller said.

L Alli Hu, Umpqua Valley Christian, senior

Hu enters her fourth season as the Monarchs libero coming off a junior year in which she received 1A all-state honorable mention. “She has an incredible ability to read the ball and the court well, and she rarely lets a ball hit the court,” coach Candice Renyer said. “She’s also a pro at calling serves for her teammates.”

L Abigail Huspek, Damascus Christian, junior

Huspek is one of the few returning players from last year’s 1A state champions, coming back after making the all-state first team and finishing among the team leaders in digs (112) and serve receive percentage. “She’s a hustler on the court and leader on our team,” Eagles coach Emily Russau said of her three-year starter.

DS Anna Jendsen, Lincoln, junior

Jendsen will team with Tessa Segal to anchor the Cardinals back row this season. “She is scrappy in the back row and does a great job defensively,” coach Shailah Ricketts said. “She also has an aggressive serve and is consistent with aces and forcing out-of-system balls.”

L Wren Mason, Corvallis, senior

Mason made the all-Mid-Willamette Conference honorable mention list last season, when she had 195 digs and served at a .965 clip for the Spartans. Coach Kari Morrow described her as “an excellent teammate who provides a lot of energy on the floor. She goes all-out all the time.”

L Mary Matthews, Wilsonville, senior

Matthews returns to start at libero for the Wildcats after making the all-Northwest Oregon Conference second team last season, finishing with a team-high 302 digs, 73 assists and 61 aces. She also is a standout outfielder and plans to play both sports in college.

DS/OH Lucy McAllister, Damascus Christian, sophomore

McAllister forced her way in the rotation on a senior-heavy Eagles roster last season, finishing second on the team with 194 digs and serving 70 aces for the 1A state champions.

DS Caroline Mick, Mazama, senior

Mick swaps jerseys in the Southside Series rivalry this year, moving over from Henley, where she received all-Skyline Conference honorable mention last fall for the Hornets. She also played shortstop for Henley’s 4A runner-up softball team.

L Adrienne Nguyen, St. Mary’s Academy, senior

Nguyen was a second-team all-Three Rivers League setter for the Blues last fall, finishing with 567 assists, 187 digs, 41 aces and 22 blocks, but she’ll wear the libero jersey this season — which is her club position and what she’ll play in college. “She does so much to save our bacon,” coach Wendy Stammer said. “Now that we have a couple of setters, we can move her to libero, where she is one of the most dynamic defensive specialists I’ve ever coached. She’ll be a game-changer there.”

DS Carolina Nielsen, West Linn, senior

Nielsen was on the roster for the Lions when they won the 6A state title in 2021, but it wasn’t until last year that she took on a bigger role on their back line. With a young squad this season, coach Emilie Wilmes said, “Caroline will be vital in helping get the underclassmen up to speed with defense.”

L Maritza Nieves, Tillamook, senior

Nieves made the all-Cowapa League first team last season, recording 313 digs to help the Cheesemakers advance to the 4A state tournament. “She’s a good decision-maker in the back row and does a good job digging hard-hit balls,” coach Trina Goss said.

L Halle Parsons, Grant Union, senior

Prospectors coach Mariah Moulton describes watching a ball she is sure will find the court, only to watch her first-team 2A all-state libero “come sliding out of nowhere to make sure nothing hits our floor.” Parsons finished with 435 digs and 80 aces last season. “Halle is quiet on the court and does her job,” Moulton said.

L Gracie Peach, Marshfield, senior

Peach moved from setter to libero last season for the 4A state champions, and Pirates coach Tammie Montiel praised how she embraced her new role, finishing with 350 digs, a 2.03 serve receive rating and a 96% serving rate in making the all-Sky Em League second team. “She has stepped up even more this season and is developing into a leader on the court,” Montiel said. “Her defense and serve receive are much improved already over last season.”

L Nasya Rebb, Forest Grove, senior

Rebb moves from right-side hitter to libero this season, where second-year Vikings coach Jeff Leo believes “she will have a huge impact on the season as she will handle the defensive load for our team.”

L Lucie Reynolds, Summit, junior

Reynolds started her high school career as a setter but transitioned to defensive specialist and then to libero last year, where she made the all-Intermountain Conference honorable mention list after finishing with 264 digs (90% passing) and 45 aces. Reynolds plays rugby in the offseason. “Technical passing skills, fast defense, and an extremely smart player,” said Storm coach Emily McMahon. “Also, a smart server that can jump float any spot on the court, fantastic setting, and definitely has some different surprising tools in her toolbox.”

L Tessa Segal, Lincoln, junior

Segal moves to libero this year after serving as a defensive specialist and outside hitter the previous two seasons. She averaged 25 digs and five aces per match last season and received all-PIL honorable mention. “She is very scrappy and does a great job leading the back row,” said Cardinals coach Shailah Ricketts. “We’re excited to see her really own the back row.”

L Kamryn Spooner, Sunset, senior

Spooner has seamlessly taken over after the graduation of all-league libero Lauren Patterson, making 61 digs and eight aces as the Apollos started the season 5-0.

L Dani Street, Crescent Valley, senior 

Street backstopped the Raiders to the program’s first 5A state title and made the SBLive Oregon all-state first team last season, when she finished with 542 digs (5.9 per set) and 57 aces. Coach Tory Shorey praised “her running and directing the defense on the court. She has some of the best volleyball instincts that I have ever coached and communicates as well as anyone around. Dani is a clutch player that plays big in the biggest moments.”

L Taylor Thompson, West Albany, senior

Thompson’s defensive prowess shines in two sports for the Bulldogs — as a junior, she was an honorable mention all-Mid-Willamette Conference pick on the volleyball court (244 digs, 47 assists and 20 aces) and a second-team all-MWC shortstop for the softball team. “She has a knack for reading the ball well, and it will be hard-pressed to get things by her,” coach Megan Wallace said.

L Jaycee Villastrigo, Crook County, senior

Villastrigo committed to play at Eastern Oregon University after a junior season in which she notched 560 digs (most among returning players in the state) and 96 aces and made the 4A all-state honorable mention list.

L Addison Wessels, Scio, senior

Wessels enters her fourth season as the Loggers’ starter at libero coming off a junior year in which she made the 3A all-state second team and received interest from several college programs in Wyoming. “Addison is an amazing defensive player with true leader abilities on and off the court,” coach Lori Ramsay said.