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MaxPreps 2016 Preseason All-American Volleyball Team

August 24, 2016 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365


{EMBED_VIDEO_5e46af71-3406-46ef-9d5d-371a13eae8f4}Video: MaxPreps 2015 Volleyball National Champion - Cathedral (IN)

Ten players who have ties to U.S. national teams are among the 31 players selected to the MaxPreps 2016 Preseason Volleyball All-American Team.

Named to MaxPreps preseason team include U.S. Women's Junior Team members Sydney Hilley, Taryn Knuth, Mackenzie May, Paige Hammons, Thayer Hall, Madison Lilley, Ella May Powell and Jayme Cox, plus U.S. Youth Girls Team members Erin O'Leary and Haley Warner.

Hilley was named the MaxPreps 2015 National Junior of the Year and was the lone junior chosen on the overall All-American Team. Warner was MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year in 2014 and Mariah Whalen won the same honor in 2013.

Of the 30 players selected, seven are juniors and 24 are seniors and represent 19 states. California leads the way with five selections, followed by Minnesota, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Arkansas.

Two teams feature a pair of teammates: Indianapolis Cathedral has seniors Nia Parker-Robinson and Maria Schorr and Fayetteville has juniors Ella May Powell and Haley Warner. Robinson and Schorr were key members of Cathedral's unbeaten and National Championship season of 2015.

MaxPreps Preseason Volleyball All-American Team
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
All-Around - Sydney Hilley, Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.), 6-0, Senior
Hilley was the only junior named to last year's All-American Team when she led the Rebels (30-5) to the 3A state semifinals and recorded 517 kills, 463 assists and 290 digs. A three-time first team all-state selection, Hilley is a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team and was a member of the 2015 U.S. Girls Youth National Volleyball Team that reached the 2015 FIVB U18 World Championship final in Peru last summer. She has committed to Wisconsin.

A-A - Nicklin Hames, Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.), 5-10, Junior
Hames compiled 377 kills, 64 blocks, 562 digs and 873 assists. She was district and district tournament MVP, as well as regional MVP as Webb (53-4) won the state D2-A title. Hames, who has committed to Nebraska, was PrepVolleyball.com's National Freshman of the Year in 2014.

A-A - Leketor Member-Meneh, Lutheran South (St. Louis), 5-9, Senior
Possibly the best athlete in Missouri, Member-Meneh has committed to Missouri for volleyball. Member-Meneh has recorded 993 kills in three seasons on the varsity level. Last fall, she drove home 445 of 876 spike attempts, a nifty 50.7 kill percentage. Her 25-kill performance in a thrilling three-set win over DuBourg in postseason play added to her legacy. She also averaged 24.6 points in basketball.

MB - Taryn Knuth, Johnston (Iowa), 6-3, Senior
Knuth, a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team, led the Dragons to 29 wins last season when she averaged 3.5 kills, 1.0 blocks and 2.7 digs per set. Knuth has committed to Florida State.

MH - Mariah Whalen, Newman (Wausau, Wis.), 6-1, Senior
A three-time first team all-state selection, Whalen led Newman to a 40-1 season and the 2015 D-4 state title when she once again put up big numbers: 697 kills (6.2 per set, 58.1 kill percentage), recorded 88 aces, blocked 112 shots in 112 sets, had 310 digs (2.8 average) and returned 427 serves. She has committed to Wisconsin.

MB - Kathryn Decker, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 6-4, Senior
A first team all-state pick who has committed to Santa Clara, Decker had 266 kills (3.5 average), 37 aces (93.3 percent, 168 points), 28 blocks, 22 digs and 200 serve receptions (2.8) as Jesuit finished unbeaten as No. 2 in last season's MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Volleyball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. Jesuit enters 2016 with a 69-match winning streak.

MB - Dana Rettke, Riverside-Brookfield (Riverside, Ill.), 6-8, Senior
Rettke averaged 4.9 kills per set as the Bulldogs finished 26-10. A first team all-state player, she set school records for kills recorded (419), blocks recorded (140) and career blocks (189), aces in a single match (10), hitting efficiency (.345) and kills per match (4.9). A highly recruited basketball player, she has committed to Wisconsin for volleyball.

OH - Nia Robinson, Cathedral (Indianapolis), 6-2, Senior
Robinson was an offensive power for Cathedral as it won MaxPreps' mythical national championship en route to an unbeaten season and state 4A title. She led the nation's top team in 2015 with 340 kills (3.7 average), a 50.3 kill percentage and had 50 blocks. An all-state, all-city and Indiana all-junior selection, Robinson has committed to Wake Forest.

OH - Grace Loberg, Geneva (Ill.), 6-3, Senior
Committed to Wisconsin and the Beacon-News 2014 Player of the Year, Loberg was sidelined for much of the first month of the season battling mononucleosis but finished strong. She ended her season with 275 kills, 48 blocks and 185 digs. She earned Upstate Eight River honors.

OH - Jenny Mosser, Lakeville South (Minn.), 5-11, Senior
A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Mosser was among the state's leaders with 543 kills. She used her combination of explosiveness and speed to dominate opponents all fall and led Lakeville South to a 25-5 record and a berth in the Class 3A, Section 1 championship match. She helped Lakeville South set a state record and win a state championship in the 4-by-400 meter relay in the spring. She has committed to UCLA.

OH - Meredith Norris, Corunna (Mich.), 6-3, Senior
Norris made headlines in 2014 by recording 53 kills in a match. Last year, she had a high of 56 to go along with a season total of 836 (6.4 per set average) as Corunna won 32 matches. Named the player of the year on the Lansing State Journal's Elite Team, Norris also had 74 aces (94 percent), blocked 56 shots and had a team-high 585 digs (4.5 average) and 696 serve receptions. She has committed to Michigan State.

OH - Jena Otec, St. Pius X (Festus, Mo.), 5-11, Senior
Otec averaged 6.5 kills per set in leading St. Pius X to a 34-5 season after moving up to 3A from 2A. She was named all-state, as well as first team St. Louis Dispatch All-Metro. She has committed to Purdue.

OH - Tesa Oaks, Woodcrest Christian (Riverside, Calif.), 6-1, Senior
Oaks averaged 6.5 kills in leading the Royals to a 22-6 season in 2015. She also served for 232 points (54 aces), had 254 digs (2.9), 37 blocks and returned 393 serves (4.5). Oaks, who has committed to Cal Baptist, was named All-CIF Southern Section first team.

OH - Brooke Botkin, Pearland (Texas), 6-2, Senior
Botkin, who has committed to USC, was named all-state after leading the Oilers to a 36-8 season when she recorded 674 kills (5.8 per set), scored 238 points (90.3 percent serving) and had 342 digs (2.9). A two-time MaxPreps all-American, she committed just 14 errors in 353 serve receptions.

OH - Kayla Lund, Flintridge Sacred Heart (La Canada-Flintridge, Calif.), 5-11, Senior
Lund recorded a team-high 554 kills (5.4) en route to being named the league's co-most valuable player last season. Lund added 273 digs (2.7) and 37 aces to help Flintridge Sacred Heart go 26-9. She was also chosen first team all-CIFSS and is a MaxPreps all-American repeat.

OH - Mackenzie May, Wahlert (Dubuque, Iowa), 6-3, Senior
May averaged 4.7 kills per set, served 50 aces, etched 224 digs (2.3) and 42 blocks. May, who was named first team all-state, has committed to UCLA and is a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team.

OH - Paige Hammons, Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.), 6-2, Senior
Named 2015 first team all-state and committed to Florida, Hammons is a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team. She led Sacred Heart to a 33-7 record with 420 kills (3.9), 64 blocks, 249 digs and 30 aces (95.1 percent, 224 points), 249 digs (2.3) and 600 returns (5.5).

OH - Meghan McClure, Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), 6-1, Senior
McClure was named to the CIF-Southern Section 1A team, Trinity League MVP and first team Orange County Register All-County Team. She finished with 439 kills and 342 digs as Santa Margarita finished 38-4. She was a MaxPreps underclass all-American in 2014 and has committed to Stanford.

OH - Haley Warner, Fayetteville (Ark.), 6-2, Junior
Warner followed her impressive freshman season (MaxPreps Freshman of the Year, Arkansas Gatorade State Player of the Year) by leading the Bulldogs to a state title after being runner-ups in 2014, as she recorded 492 kills (4.6), 239 digs (2.2), 189 service points and 1.7 blocks per match. She is a 2016 member of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team.
Photo by Richey Miller

Haley Warner, Fayetteville

OH - Yvette Burcescu, Panas (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.), 6-2, Junior
A third-year varsity performer, Burcescu owns the program's single-season kill (762, 6.0, 51.9 kill percentage) and career kill (1,496) marks. She was named first team all-state as well as the Lohud Journal News POY. Burcescu led Panas (45-7) to Class A section and regional titles, and to its first state finals appearance. The Panthers won three regular-season tournaments, with Burcescu taking home MVP honors each time.

OH - Garrett Joiner, Brentwood (Tenn.), 6-2, Junior
Named all-state, Joiner led Brentwood to its third-straight 3A title, accumulating 498 kills (3.5), 228 digs, 107 aces (388 service points) and 86 blocks during the season. Joiner was a MaxPreps freshman A-A in 2014.

OH - Thayer Hall, Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.), 6-3, Junior
The middle blocker/outside hitter, who was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American Team in 2014 and the 2015 MaxPreps Sophomore Player of the Year, recorded 570 kills (.539 kill and .417 hitting percentages) in leading the Cavaliers (35-4) to the Class 4A state final. She was also the Class 4A Player of the Year as named by the South Carolina Coaches Association of Women's Sports. In addition to her hitting prowess, Hall amassed 310 digs, 239 service receptions, 58 service aces and 36 blocks. Hall was named South Carolina's 2015 Gatorade POY and is a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team.

S - Maria Schorr, Cathedral (Indianapolis), 5-11, Senior
The quarterback of MaxPreps' 2015 national championship team, Schorr played in 94 sets and averaged 10 assists per set (943). She also served for 225 points (33 aces) and had 26 blocks and 113 digs. The first team all-state choice has committed to Dayton.

S - Kirby Knapp, Menlo-Atherton (Atherton, Calif.), 5-6, Senior
The floor leader for California's No. 2 D-1 team in 2015, Knapp recorded 1,024 assists (10.0 average), had 265 digs (2.6) and served for 246 points (95.9 percent, 46 aces). She was a MaxPreps 2013 underclass all-American.

S - Madison Lilley, Blue Valley West (Stilwell, Kan.), 5-11, Senior
Lilley led Blue Valley West to the state 6A title and a 40-4 record. A member of the USA Junior Women's Team, she recorded 200 kills (2.2), 57 aces (93.7), 61 blocks, 213 digs (2.2) and 746 assists (8.2). She has committed to Kentucky.

S - Erin O'Leary, Novi (Mich.), 5-11, Junior
O'Leary finished the 2015 season with 1,371 assists, 225 kills, 321 digs and 86 aces as Novi (55-2) won the Class A state title and finished No. 5 in the Xcellent 25. A MaxPreps A-A a year ago, O'Leary was first team Class A all-state, the only sophomore honored. She is a 2016 member of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team.

S - Ella May Powell, Fayetteville (Ark.), 6-0, Junior
Powell led the Bulldogs to a 34-3-1 record and the Class 7A state title and was the State Tournament MVP. She set a school record with 1,167 assists (10.3), served 91.8 percent (241 points, 46 aces) and added 226 digs (2.0) and 151 kills. A first team all-state and first team all-conference selection, she was named MVP for the Ozark Grand Slam Tournament and the 2015 Arkansas Gatorade POY. She is a 2016 member of the U.S. Girls' Youth National Team.

L - Jamye Cox, St. Ursula Academy (Toledo, Ohio), 5-3, Senior
Cox, a first team D-1 all-state pick and a 2014 MaxPreps A-A, led St. Ursula Academy (25-3) to a state runner-up spot, averaging 6.0 digs per set. She also returned 373 serves and served 93.5 percent. A repeat MaxPreps underclass A-A, she has committed to Michigan and is a member of the 2016 Women's Junior National Team.

L - Alexa Roumeliotis, Menlo-Atherton (Atherton, Calif.), 5-7, Senior
Roumeliotis averaged 7.2 digs per set in leading her team to a state D-1 runner-up finish. She also served for 184 points and returned 541 serves in 99 sets (5.5 average).

L - Kendall Glover, Desert Vista (Phoenix), 5-10, Senior
Glover recorded 531 serve receptions, had 702 digs (5.9) and 40 aces, and was named East Valley Tribune POY and first team all-state. Desert Vista (41-3) won a state title and finished ranked among the nation's top teams. She has committed to Georgia.

L - Erin Yeatman, South Forsyth (Cumming, Ga.), 5-5, Senior
Yeatman averaged 9.1 digs per set (1,103 in 121 sets) and returned 883 serves (7.3) with only 39 errors. She also had 80 assists and served for 279 points (93.1 percent) as South Forsyth lost to Walton in the state 6A final. She was a first team 6A choice.