Watch for these 30 local volleyball standouts
The high school volleyball season is here.
Briarcrest, which completed a three-peat with a sweep of Baylor in the DII-AA state title match, returns several key players. Reigning Commercial
Appeal player of the year Lexi Pendleton of Houston is also back.
Here are 30 players to keep an eye on this season in the Memphis area.
Kendall Barnes, Briarcrest, Jr.: The 6-foot-1 outside hitter recently picked up her first Division I offer from Western Carolina.
Aaliyah Bethea, Lausanne, Jr.: Bethea posted 186 digs, which was the most in DII-A West District 6.
Baylee Bolin, Briarcrest, Sr.: Bolin posted 25 aces and 87 digs and returns as one of the top defenders and servers for the defending DII-AA state champs.
Sadie Bridgeforth, Lewisburg, Sr.: The three-year starter had 112 kills, 114 digs, 34 aces and 11 blocks as a libero
last year.
Brinley Burdette, Collierville, Sr.: The daughter of Memphis volleyball coach Sean Burdette had 75 blocks and a .311 hitting percentage last year.
Lauren Carter, St. Benedict, Sr.: Carter averaged seven kills per match and had a 90% serving rate.
Jasmine Chacon, Lake Cormorant, Sr.: Chacon had 40 kills, 34 aces, 285 digs and 678 assists for the defending MHSAA Class 5A state champs.
Kara Crunk, St. Benedict, Jr.: Crunk runs St. Benedict's offense from the setter position. She averaged 17 assists and nine digs last season.
Paige Griffin, Lake Cormorant, Sr.: The outside hitter tallied 143 kills, 18 solo blocks and 51 digs last season.
Ava Grissom, Briarcrest, Sr.: Grissom, who has started on three consecutive state title teams, had 55 kills and 54 blocks last season.
Bailey Hall, Arlington, Jr.: Hall averaged 1.1 aces, 9.7 kills and 8.4 digs per game last year and had a 91.4% serving percentage.
Natalie Hall, Hutchison, Sr.: Hall averaged 19 assists per match last season.
Alissa Henrikson, Arlington, Sr.: Henrikson averaged 2.0 aces, 8.2 kills and 7.9 digs per game last year and had a 92.4% serving percentage.
Ava Kelly, St. Agnes, Sr.: Kelly had 131 kills and 35 digs as a sophomore in 2019.
Adi Kizer, Houston, Sr.: The Mississippi College commitment was an alldistrict tournament selection.
Georgia-anne Mccarter, Houston, Sr.: The Mississippi State commitment is back after missing last season with a torn ACL.
Rachel Mccollum, Collierville, Sr.: The three-time all-metro selection averaged 16.4 assists per match and had a hitting percentage of .284.
Kari Mclarnon, Collierville, Sr.: Mclarnon had 367 digs last season.
Sesli Mcnulty, Germantown, Sr.: The three-year starter will be one of the most experienced players for the Red Devils, who did not play in 2020.
Elie Morgan, Lewisburg, Sr.: The middle blocker became a starter halfway through last season and posted 27 kills and 24 blocks.
Carlia Northcross, Briarcrest, Sr.: The East Carolina commitment had 105 kills and 61 blocks.
Lexi Pendleton, Houston, Jr.: The reigning Commercial Appeal player of the year has multiple Division I offers. She posted 256 kills, 33 aces, 24 blocks and 214 digs and also was named District 15-AAA MVP.
Ashley Pruitt, Briarcrest, Jr.: Pruitt will take over the setting spot for the Saints this year.
Kaley Rikard, Lewisburg, Sr.: Rikard had 79 kills, nine blocks and 22 digs last season.
Lauren Roberts, White Station, Sr.: Roberts posted 122 kills, 35 digs and 13 blocks in 2019.
Kennedy Smith, Desoto Central, Sr.: Smith had 297 kills,143 digs and 36 aces last season.
Layla Truitt, Hutchison, Sr.: Truitt averaged 17 kills per match last season.
Isabella Wade, Arlington, Sr.: Wade averaged 1.1 aces, 7.5 kills and 1.8 blocks per game last season and had a 92.7% serving percentage.
Lundyn Wilson, Lake Cormorant, Jr.: Wilson had 105 kills, 33 solo blocks and 41 digs last season.
Avery Wolf, Desoto Central, Sr.: Wolf, who is switching to libero, had 97 kills and 48 digs.