Here are 36 volleyball players to know around Springfield for 2026

At least a couple of high school volleyball teams are poised for a dominant season in the Springfield area.

That most notably includes Chatham Glenwood, which bristles with at least three Division I athletes.

Here are the top high school volleyball players to know in the area, listed in alphabetical order by school.

Arabelle Cunningham, Athens 

The senior setter led the Warriors to their first Sangamo Conference title with 829 assists, 279 digs, 61 kills, 42 aces and 20 blocks. She already wields the school record with over 2,000 career assists.  

Lydia Hart, Athens 

The senior outside hitter joined Cunningham on The State Journal-Register’s all-area team with 436 kills, 313 digs, 31 aces and 23 blocks.  

Chloe Barrett, Athens 

The junior libero compiled 356 digs and 77 assists. She was named all-Sangamo second team. Fellow junior outside hitter Devan Barrett was tabbed all-Sangamo third team with 262 kills and 330 digs. Middle hitters Maddie Womble and Meredith Avart, as well as senior opposite hitter Jaci Derringer strengthen the formidable rotation. 

Payton Danner, Auburn 

The senior middle hitter and Lincoln Land Community College commit rustled up 111 kills, 39 aces and 19 blocks. Junior hitter Jenna Arenz distributed 99 kills and 19 blocks, while senior outside hitter Emme Divjak had 86 kills and 78 digs. Sophomore setter Amelia Hayes and junior Quincy Grider supplement the rotation, along with newcomers Addi Jones and freshman Stella Flam. 

Lily Evens, Buffalo Tri-City/Sangamon Valley  

The senior will continue to be a strong defensive force at the net, according to coach Chris Kimura. She is joined by sophomore outside hitter Gentrie Earles and senior libero Ava Pulliam.  

Ruthie Reels, Carlinville

The senior outside hitter brandished 133 kills, 338 digs, 56 aces and 52 blocks. Senior libero Jada Barkley had 161 digs. A vast sophomore class will pitch in this season, including hitters Sylvee Gibbs, Lexie O’Brien and setter Avery Davis.

Alexis Neumann, Chatham Glenwood 

The 6-foot-2 senior hitter is The State Journal-Register’s repeat Large School Volleyball and Girls Basketball Player of the Year. The Marshall University women’s basketball commit generated 389 kills, 188 digs and 40 aces. She has been named Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association all-state first team in each of her three seasons.  

Mo Wiezorek, Chatham Glenwood 

The senior setter is approaching 2,000 career assists. Committed to Virginia Tech, Wiezorek engineered 782 assists, 173 digs and 62 aces last season. The school’s all-time assists leader has twice been named all-state second team.  

Reagan Littrell, Chatham Glenwood 

The senior libero will play volleyball at North Alabama University. She already holds the school’s all-time record with 936 digs. The SJ-R’s three-time all-area pick summoned 308 digs, 57 assists and 34 assists last fall.

Memphis Barth, Chatham Glenwood 

The senior outside hitter and defensive specialist will play volleyball at Lincoln Land Community College. The SJ-R all-area selectee posted 193 kills and 139 digs. Other returning seniors include defensive specialists Eva Johnson (136 digs) and Norah Raben under new head coach Dawn Williams.  

Reagan Swinger, Edinburg 

The sophomore outside hitter and setter drummed up 219 kills, 166 digs, 65 assists and 37 aces. She shoulders an even bigger role following the graduation of five seniors.  

Ava Kramer, Havana 

The junior setter and right-side hitter cashed in 322 assists, 184 digs and 64 kills. Fellow senior setter and right-side hitter Lilly Porter tallied 70 kills, 47 aces, 189 assists and 25 blocks before a season-ending injury. Senior hitter Erin Curless (55 kills) and junior hitter Aslyn Nehmelman (80 kills, 30 blocks) also return, along with senior Laney Fields.

Amya Greenwood, Hillsboro 

The senior setter wields over 1,500 career assists and is a returning all-South Central Conference first team pick. Last season, she dished out 600 assists, 327 digs, 44 kills and 23 aces.  

Kailey Weiss, Hillsboro 

The junior outside hitter reached all-SCC second team with a team-best 210 kills and 25 aces. Senior right-side hitter Peyton Chappelear (98 kills, 130 digs, 36 blocks) and junior outside hitter Liberty Helton (186 kills, 68 digs) reinforce the front row. Senior libero Briley Kirby supplied 277 digs and the Hiltoppers achieved 20 wins for a second straight season. 

Maci Moore, Jacksonville 

The junior setter and right-side hitter dialed up 259 digs, 122 kills, 171 digs, 44 blocks and 40 aces. Senior right-side hitter Sophia Withee manufactured 103 kills, while senior middle hitter Claire Darr and senior libero Alyvia Woods add depth. 

Kinleigh Macon, Lanphier 

The senior libero assumes a veteran role with junior setters Lizzy Powell and Hayden Montgomery, who will also play outside hitter.  

Skylar Meats, Lutheran 

The senior setter and outside hitter leads a young group that also includes junior middle hitter Maggie McNeal, as well as sophomore hitters Carrie Ann Miller and Evie Tan. 

Morgan Peterson, Mason City Illini Central 

The senior libero and Lincoln Land Community College commit totaled 495 digs. She is joined by sophomore hitter Ella Hughes (130 kills, 22 blocks) and junior middle hitter Elayna Snyder (57 kills, 31 blocks). 

Jenna McGath, New Berlin 

The senior outside hitter has the potential to eclipse 1,000 career digs and kills. She was all-Sangamo third team with 297 kills, 371 digs and 31 aces. She will work with sophomore setter Mackenzie Glynn, junoir libero/defensive specialist Ella Burgar and sophomore middle hitter Calli Smith. 

Mackenzie Mehochko, Nokomis 

The senior outside hitter will attempt to set new school all-time records for kills and digs as she approaches 1,000 in both categories. The three-time all-area honoree hatched 269 kills, 210 digs, 35 blocks and 59 aces. Senior hitter Alivia Sabol registered 113 kills and 44 blocks. Another key returning player is junior libero and defensive specialist Hannah Tarter after NHS posted its most wins in school history at 33-3. 

Lilly Skogsberg, Pawnee 

The middle hitter returns to the court after missing last season due to a hip injury. She will boost the floor with outside/middle hitter Ashlyn Cobb, setter/defensive specialist Jada Johnson and defensive specialist Elisa Gall. 

Jada Leach, Pleasant Plains

The senior all-Sangamo third team setter furnished a team-best 371 assists and 139 digs. Fellow junior right-side hitter and setter Emma Sabatka contributed 329 assists and 205 digs but shifts to a larger hitting role this season.

Kyra Wolters, Pleasant Plains

The senior outside hitter dispatched 111 kills, 247 digs and team-high 52 aces. Seniors Ryleigh Hahn, Mallory Bond and junior Graycyn Hadley join the front row. Senior libero Kendal Guthrie leads the back row after piling up 335 digs, along with junior Ro Fraase.

Tori Elvidge, Raymond Lincolnwood 

The senior hitter captured all-area honors with 319 kills, 295 digs, 39 blocks and 24 aces. Senior libero Camryn Poggenpohl came up with 362 digs and the Lancers graduated just one starter. 

Kayleigh Flanagan, Riverton 

The senior middle hitter is the only returning starter after graduating seven players from last season. Senior outside hitter Stevi Fuess, junior setter Alivia Cumberworth and junior libero Skyler Stokes enter the rotation after a 20-win season.  

Peyton Zeidler, Rochester 

The senior outside hitter and repeat SJ-R all-area pick led the Rockets to the Class 2A supersectionals with 417 kills, 200 digs, 32 aces and 31 blocks. 

Cami Tinder, Rochester 

The senior setter also garned all-area honors with 818 assists, 200 digs and 28 aces.  

Liv Kratochvil, Rochester 

The senior outside hitter ushered 219 kills, 87 digs and 20 aces. Junior right-side hitter Katie Riedle chalked up 88 kills, 191 digs and 33 aces, while senior middle hitter Cami Berberet added 119 kills and team-best 44 blocks. Senior libero Sam Kerley paced the back row with 399 digs and 65 assists. 

Devin Vogler, Rushville-Industry 

The senior hitter cranked out 300 kills, 250 digs, 36 aces and 23 blocks. Senior libero Lainey Greer had 280 digs. Senior middle hitter Jaycee Reynoso, sophomore middle hitter/setter Naomi Willis and sophomore outside hitter Joceyln Esther also step onto the varsity stage. 

MacKenzie Payton, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior outside hitter will play at Calhoun College in Alabama. She forged 216 kills, 159 digs and 21 aces.  

Kate Cummins, Sacred Heart-Griffin 

The senior captain and middle hitter chipped in 101 kills and 42 aces. The rotation will also include junior right-side hitter Carys Caton, senior libero Lucy Wegner and junior setter Addi Brown.  

Presley Werts, Southeast 

The senior outside hitter churned out 200 kills, 229 digs and 38 aces.

Lucy Ambrose, Springfield High 

The junior outside hitter and all-Central State Eight Conference honorable mention doled out 133 kills, 130 digs, 57 aces and 20 blocks. Fellow senior libero Ainsley Lambert had a team-best 215 digs. Other returning key players include senior middle hitter Angel Efe Nogo and senior right-side hitters Kate Havenar and Jayla Lesso. Freshman setters Miriel Patton and Averie Kirk, as well as freshman outside hitter Anne Becker will bolster the lineup. 

Jenna Staggs, Staunton 

The senior outside hitter and six-rotation veteran led the Bulldogs to a third straight regional crown, along with surging sophomore outside hitter Lainey Weller. 

Molly Smith, Taylorville

The senior setter and right-side hitter collected 327 assists, 168 digs, 39 aces and 35 kills. Freshman middle blocker Ella Bertelsen is among several newcomers in the young lineup.

Hannah Holliday, Williamsville 

The junior outside hitter was an SJ-R all-area and unanimous all-Sangamo first team pick with 325 kills, 239 digs, 63 aces and 18 blocks. She also contributed 178 assists. Senior setter Kinsley Fox accrued 371 assists, while senior middle blocker Remi Schleyhahn had 100 kills and 35 blocks. Junior outside hitter and Mount Pulaski transfer Liv Smith enters the lineup. A large sophomore class includes libero Elyse Kunz, middle blocker Aubrey Allen, right-side hitter Jayla Singer and setter Quinn Bandy.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Here are 36 volleyball players to know around Springfield for 2026

Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register

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By Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network