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If you remember last season — and how could you forget — the area’s volleyball scene provided plenty of drama and an abundance of success as usual.
Between the SVC, SOC, FAC, SHAC, OVC and MSL-Buckeye, the six conferences within SOSA’s coverage reach, three different programs earned district titles.
But en route to those postseason finishes, there were plenty of individual performances to rave about, multiple records broken and tons of matches that won’t soon be forgotten.
As for this season, we expect much more of the same. But before it happens, for the fifth straight year, we’ve decided to compile a list of the coverage area’s top 30 players. It was an absolute bear to do so, but we think we’ve got a list of 30 athletes who are the absolute best at their craft.
Remember, this list only includes players from within SOSA’s coverage area and it isn’t an end all, be all. We encourage discussion, and giving our
10. Bree Hicks, Senior, Notre Dame
2023 statistics: 306 kills, 51 aces, 24 blocks, 311 digs, 18 assists
Each and every year, Hicks has shown steady improvement. Last season was no different as she racked up 306 kills, 51 aces and 311 digs alongside a 50.1 kill percentage. Her .396 hitting percentage was a high mark for the Titans. ND will go as Hicks goes. That trajectory is up.
9. Addi Claxon, Junior, South Webster
2023 statistics: 4 kills, 57 aces, 0 blocks, 427 digs, 94 assists
Throughout her career, Claxon has known nothing but success … in anything she’s tried her hand at. Volleyball, however, might be her best sport. She led a suffocating defense last season with 427 digs, helping her Jeeps finish 26-1. She enters the fall with 846 career assists.
CREDIT: Renee Nemeth/SOSA
8. Kyleigh Warren, Senior, Nelsonville-York
2023 statistics: 312 kills, 53 aces, 11 blocks, 206 digs, 15 assists
Nelsonville-York enjoyed its first run to a district championship since 2012, and Warren was a huge reason why. She played a key role in an underrated offense, totaling 312 kills and 53 aces. This season, after graduation losses, she’ll be Option A. The results will speak for themselves.
7. Kaci Carroll, Senior, Huntington
2023 statistics: 298 kills, 30 aces, 5 blocks, 332 digs, 12 assists
Carroll comes into this fall as one of the area’s most versatile players. Need a point? She’s there for the kill. Need a defensive stop? She’s diving for a dig. After tallying 298 kills and 332 digs as a junior, she’ll attack her senior season with a vengeance. She stands at 597 kills and 625 digs.
6. Addison Edgington, Sophomore, Circleville
2023 statistics: 347 kills, 38 aces, 104 blocks, 66 digs, 8 assists
We’re not sure if Edgington will play this fall after suffering a season-ending injury this past basketball season. But no matter the case, she deserves a spot on this list. Why? She tallied 347 kills and 104 blocks as a freshman, leading Circleville to 19 wins and a 12-2 MSL finish.
5. Addyson Butts, Senior, Miami Trace
2023 statistics: 330 kills, 42 aces, 36 blocks, 56 digs, 13 assists
Consistently elite. That’s what Butts has been for three years. That didn’t change last fall as she turned in a second consecutive FAC Player of the Year campaign. 330 kills, 42 aces and 36 blocks helped her Panthers go 10-0 in league play. Because of her, they’ll be favorites to repeat.
4. Grace Townsend, Senior, Chillicothe
2023 statistics: 75 kills, 63 aces, 23 blocks, 235 digs, 737 assists
New place, same face. Townsend, who spent last season at Adena, brings over top-tier talent to a Chillicothe lineup that was already trending up. As a junior, she passed out 737 assists, piled on 83 aces and posted 235 digs. She’s the best of the best, sitting at a career 1,564 assists.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
3. Claire King, Junior, Logan Elm
2023 statistics: 424 kills, 21 aces, 83 blocks, 102 digs, 15 assists
When you talk about star power, King enters the conversation. She willed her Braves to 16 victories last season while pounding out a team-high 424 kills and 83 blocks. She plays with the best of them at the net and consistently makes the most of her opportunities. She’s fun to watch.
2. Jozy Lougheed, Senior, Southeastern
2023 statistics: 423 kills, 45 aces, 12 blocks, 299 digs, 204 assists
There isn’t much to say about Lougheed that hasn’t already been said. The reigning SVC POY should be the running favorite to repeat that feat after a 423-kill, 299-dig, 204-assist junior year. She led the Panthers to a district final in 2023 and will have sights set on another in 2024.
1. Christian Thompson, Senior, Fairfield Union
2023 statistics: 590 kills, 48 aces, 48 blocks, 360 digs, 26 assists
With a vicious spike on an extremely dangerous swing, Thompson needs just one play to show you her wow factor. She plays high above the net, separating herself into a different realm every time she takes the court. She enters her senior year with career totals of 956 kills and 689 digs.
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