Texas high school volleyball: Top 25 players in Lone Star State in 2023

We scoured the state for the top high school players, regardless of classification, position or grade

As the Texas high school volleyball season goes on, SBLive is taking a look at the best players in the state, regardless of school size, age or position. 

We started with North Texas, examining the best 20 players across the talent-laden region, and are opening it up to the entire Lone Star State.

Which of the state's best players, from Austin, to Houston, to San Antonio to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, rise above the rest?

TOP 25 HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS IN TEXAS

Ayden Ames, sr., 6-4

Prosper | Outside hitter

Ames is building upon a strong junior season where she amassed a hitting percentage of .315 with kill percentage of 46.2. The outside hitter displayed her talents at the 2023 FIVB U19 World Championship with Team USA over the summer and was chosen by GM Sports Media as the District 5-6A Preseason MVP. Ames is verbally committed to Nebraska.

Taylor Cook, jr., 5-11

Prestonwood Christian | Setter

Cook was named to the 6A District 1 Second-Team as a result of her abilities after she put up 489 assists (4.4 assists per set). Furthermore, in a defensive respect, Cook posted 129 digs for the Lions. A rising star in North Texas, Cook is a leader for a strong Prestonwood Christian group.

Suliane Davis, jr., 6-2

Colleyville Heritage | Outside hitter/setter

Davis has risen into one of the premier talents in North Texas. She shares time between playing as an outside hitter and a setter, and has proven her skills in both positions. In her sophomore year, Davis ranked second on the team with a hitting percentage of .283. Davis takes pride in her abilities as a setter, backing it up with tremendous statistics. She further ranked second in digs and assists with 369 and 85, respectively. As an outside hitter, Davis racked 506 kills, averaging a team-leading 4 kills per set. After a successful sophomore year, her junior season looms large on the horizon.

Camille Edwards, sr., 5-11

Prestonwood Christian | Setter

As a junior, Edwards led the team in serving aces with 57. While Edwards was crucial in the serving game, she proved her abilities as a setter with her team-leading 756 assists. With 6.8 assists per set, Edwards was a crucial part of the Lions team that went 40-1 overall and 12-0 in district play. While her senior season is on the way, Edwards has committed to the University of Michigan and will play for the Wolverines in fall 2024.

Megan Fitch, jr., 6-2

Cornerstone Christian | Outside hitter

Fitch is coming off a tremendous sophomore season with the Warriors. In 2022, she accounted for 495 kills with a hit percentage of .321. She was dominant in her performances averaging 3.9 kills per set and is expected to have a solid junior year. A talented, young player, Fitch has already committed to Texas A&M to pursue her collegiate volleyball career.

Addison Gaido, jr., 6-4

Georgetown | Outside hitter

Gaid has a promising career ahead of her. She’s proven dominant in her time at Georgetown, and her 2022 season did not disappoint. As an outside hitter, Gaido was potent on offense. She garnered 305 kills, averaging 3.8 kills per set and a hit percentage of .298. She has already committed to play at Texas.

Harper Hall, sr., 5-8

Highland Park | Setter

As a junior, Hall was a crucial part of the Highland Park Scots team that went 42-3 overall, finishing 14-0 and first in their district. She further helped the Scots to ranking 4th in the nation, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association. On an individual note, Hall was selected to the 7-6A First-Team All-District and was named setter of the tournament in the Northwest Tournament. With her senior year upon her, Hall looks ahead to her collegiate career where she will star for the University of Santa Barbara in 2024.

Avery Jackson, sr., 5-10

Hockaday | Outside hitter

Jackson is a star in the making at Hockaday. Last season, Jackson racked up 146 kills and a .293 hit percentage. Averaging 1.5 kills per set, Jackson was solid on the defense with 429 digs. Her abilities spurred the Daisies to a 22-12 record and yet another district-winning season. While Jackson has shown her abilities on the court, she is equally talented on the sand and has committed to Stanford University for beach volleyball. Named USA Volleyball’s Junior Female of the Year, Jackson's stock is high.

Lauryn Lambert, sr., 5-9

Bishop Lynch | Outside Hitter

Lambert is a leading talent in North Texas. In her junior season with, she hit for .246 with 485 kills. One of the team’s star players, she spurred Bishop Lynch to a 31-10 record and was named to the TAPPS First-Team All-State, TAPPS First-Team All-District, TAPPS All-Tournament Team, and Offensive MVP. Lambert’s talents also saw her invited to the Under Armour All-America Camp Series. While she has spent three seasons with Bishop Lynch, she has already made the decision to play collegiate volleyball at Arkansas.

Kaylen Lembcke, sr., 6-1

MacArthur | Middle Blocker 

As a junior in 2022, Lembcke put together her best season yet. With 282 kills and a hit percentage of .310, Lembcke was quite the offensive asset. Her efforts spurred the Brahmas to finish 2nd in their district with a record of 14-2. Lembcke is set to continue her volleyball career at St. Edwards University in Austin.

Jadyn Livings, sr., 6-2

Prestonwood Christian | Outside Hitter

In her first two seasons with the Lions, Livings racked up 978 kills and a .335 hit percentage. In the 2022-23 season alone, Livings accounted for 397 kills, averaged 3.5 kills per set and had a kill percentage of 50. Second on the team in hitting percentage with .348, Livings caused trouble for opponents on offense, but she provided equally important on defense, garnering 324 digs. Her efforts in her junior season saw her named to the 6A District 1 First-Team. With an exciting season coming up, Livings has verbally committed to the University of Southern California.

Kate Mansfield, sr., 6-2

Plano West | Middle Blocker

Mansfield is slated for a terrific senior season. Prior to this season, she enjoyed two successful seasons with Plano West’s. In her junior year, she racked up 192 kills and a 43.8 killer percentage. While her offensive abilities were crucial to the team, equally so were her defensive contributions. With 98 blocks last season, Mansfield was an important piece on the court for the Wolves. With her senior season on the horizon, Mansfield has committed to Cal.

Kylee McCoy, jr., 6-1

Royse City | Outside Hitter

McCoy had herself a successful sophomore season in 2022. Last year she garnered 466 kills and averaged 4.3 kills per set. While providing a potent threat on offense, she did her part defensively, racking up 284 digs. Heading into her junior year, McCoy is blossoming as a player as she looks to spur the Bulldogs onto another successful season.

Kirra Musgrove, jr., 6-2

Lutheran South Academy | Setter

The setter from Houston is having herself quite the successful high school career. Musgrove truly established herself in her sophomore season with Lutheran South Academy. In 2022, she racked up 490 kills, averaging 4 kills per set. She also had a tremendous kill percentage of 44.5 and a hit percentage of .307. Efficient on the attack, Musgrove also played solid defense, garnering 313 digs and then providing 439 assists going forward.

MJ McCurdy, sr., 5-11

Liberty | Outside Hitter

McCurdy had a mammoth 2022-23 season and will look to further build upon what was a tremendous year. Last year, she amassed 608 kills, averaging 5.1 kills per set. While leading the Redhawks in kills, and proving an offensive force, McCurdy also proved her worth on defense. With 498 digs last year, it allowed McCurdy to be a mainstay in the Redhawks team that made both offensive and defensive contributions. As a result of her efforts, McCurdy was named the Public School Volleyball Player of the Year. McCurdy has committed to Texas State.

Camille Perry, soph., 6-3

Lone Star | Middle Blocker

Perry is perhaps one of the youngest, rising stars in North Texas volleyball. The middle blocker finished her freshman season at Lone Star High School with aplomb, helping the Rangers to a 26-11 record, placing second in the district with a record of 11-3. With a hitting percentage of .220 and 188 kills, Perry displayed her defensive abilities with 118 blocks in 2022. Her efforts earned her the Newcomer of the Year award and an invitation to the Under Armour All-American Camp Series. While Perry is still young, she has the abilities to grow into a stellar player and is one to look out for in the fall 2023 season.

Lainee Pyles, sr., 6-3

Fossil Ridge | Middle Blocker

Pyles impressed in her sophomore season in 2021 with a hitting percentage of .271 and 483 kills. With a tremendous season under her belt, she continued to improve into her junior season in 2022 where she truly grew as a middle blocker. She led district 6A with 635 kills, averaging 5.4 kills per set. Furthermore, she racked up 369 digs and 44 blocks on the defensive side of things. As a result of her achievements on the court, Pyles has committed to Louisiana State University to play collegiate volleyball and one to keep an eye on in her final high school season.

Alexandra Richter, jr., 6-2

Highland Park | Outside Hitter 

Richter is one of the premier talents in North Texas as she enters her junior year at Highland Park. The junior played a vital role in the Scots’ 42-3 record last season, winning their district at 14-0. As a result of their tremendous season, Highland Park was ranked 5th in the state. While playing at Highland Park, Richter plays her club volleyball at Texas Advantage, crafting her game every step of the way. Richter has already committed to Georgia.

Reagan Sharp, sr., 6-1

Keller | Outside Hitter

Sharp will look to build upon what was an impressive junior season. In 2022, she racked up 558 kills and a 35.5 kill percentage. Her abilities on the offensive side of the game cannot be understated. Furthermore, her 3.9 kills per set led the team last season, where the Keller Indians won their district and finished with a record of 33-12. Heading into her final year at Keller High School, Sharp has an exciting season upon her.

Savannah Skopal, sr., 6-0

Rouse | Setter

Skopal continues her tremendous high school career at Rouse, coming off a fantastic junior season where she provided 1,636 assists. Her incredible total was, in fact, better than her sophomore year where she had 1,476 assists. Furthermore, Skopal had a 44% kill percentage and a hit percentage of .332, all while playing hard-fought defense and garnering 386 digs. Skopal is truly a talented young player and she is set to continue her volleyball career at Rice.

Macaria Spears, jr., 6-3

Prestonwood Christian | Outside hitter

Spears, who is a rising junior, was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year. Despite transferring to Prestonwood Christian last season, her presence was immediately felt as the Lions won the TAPPS 6A Championship after a tremendous season with a 40-1 record. In 2022, Spears amassed 554 kills and a .602 kill percentage. While lethal on the offensive side of the game, she proved her defensive abilities as well, posting 225 digs and 65 blocks. Spears’ phenomenal season saw her named to the U19 U.S. National Team, TAPPS Player of the Year, the Dallas Morning News Player of the Year, VolleyballMag Texas Player of the Year, and a MaxPreps First-Team All-American. Spears, the daughter of former NFL defensive lineman Marcus Spears and former WNBA player Aiysha Spears, has the world at her fingertips, and her talent is here for all to see in North Texas.

Sophia Thornburg, jr., 6-3

Ursuline Academy of Dallas | Outside hitter 

Thornburg has two solid seasons under her belt as an outside hitter at Ursuline Academy of Dallas. Playing on Varsity in both her freshman and sophomore years, Thornburg excelled in the 2022-23 season. Despite her hitting percentage of .232, Thornburg racked up 383 kills and averaged 3.8 kills per set. While proving an offensive threat, Thornburg played phenomenal defense, ranking second on the team in digs with 261. Her efforts last season saw her named to the 6A District 1 First-Team. While Thornburg still has two seasons of high school volleyball remaining, she has verbally committed to play collegiate volleyball at the University of Notre Dame.

Kennedy Washington, sr., 6-0,

Prestonwood Christian | Middle Blocker

A senior at Prestonwood Christian in Plano, Kennedy Washington has had herself a well-rounded high school career and could break out in her final season in 2023. Washington has spent three seasons on the Lions’ Varsity Volleyball team and had a tremendous 2022. The middle blocker posted 89 blocks and got in on the action offensively as well. With a hitting percentage of .337 and 179 kills, Washington was a crucial part of the Lions team that won the TAPPS 6A Championship. Washington has already committed to the University of San Diego, and will look to finish her high school career in style in 2023-24.

Keoni Williams, soph., 6-4

Boswell | Middle Blocker

Williams is one of the younger, more flourishing talents in North Texas. Entering just her sophomore year at Boswell High School, Williams put together a respectable freshman season. Williams amassed 210 kills with a kill and hit percentage of 45.6 and .297, respectively. In addition to her offensive contributions, Williams led the Pioneers with 185 total blocks. After an impressive first season, the expectations will heighten for the rising star at Boswell.

Mikala Young, sr., 6-0

Prestonwood Christian | Outside Hitter: 

After being named to the 6A District 1 First-Team, the future looks incredibly bright for the Young. In her junior season, Young exploded for 338 kills with a kill percentage of 46.7. She provided an offensive spark with her .311 hitting percent and hunkered down defensively, posting 250 digs for the Lions. Her abilities helped the team to a 40-1 season record and a TAPPS 6A District 1 championship. She was further named to the 6A District 1 First-Team. With her final season soon to come, Young has committed to Texas Christian University.

Top 20 high school volleyball players in North Texas in 2023

-- Ian Napetian | inapetian@gmail.com | @sblivetx

Lead photo by Michael Horbovetz