Arkansas' top high school volleyball players: Meet the state's best liberos
Liberos — they are the players who wear the opposite color jerseys and their role is to play primarily in the backcourt and serve as defensive specialists.
Who are the best liberos in Arkansas? Here is a list with comments from their coaches.
Paige Addington, junior, Shiloh Christian
Addington had 212 digs for the 4A runner-up in 2022. “We will be looking for Paige to continue to be a defensive weapon in the back row,” said Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein. Through Oct. 9, she has 129 digs on the season with a season-high 13 in a 3-2 loss to Benton on Sept 2. She also 19 aces with a season-high 6 in a 3-0 victory over Farmington on Sept. 7.
Ella Aprea, senior, Bentonville
As a junior, Aprea had 384 digs including 4 matches with at least 20 digs including a season-high 27 in a 3-1 loss to Fort Smith Southside. This year, she has 299 digs through Oct. 9 with a season-high 33 in a 3-2 victory over Bentonville West on Aug. 29. She had 22 in a 3-1 loss to Fayetteville in a 3-1 loss to Fayetteville and has two matches with 19.
Ava Bennett, senior, Bentonville West
Bennett had 287 digs and 36 aces for the Wolverines a year ago. “Ava Bennett is scrappy and makes big defensive plays,” said Bentonville West head coach Julie Rowan. “She's working hard to become consistent in her serve receive and is a key player on the back row.” Through Sept. 27, she has 162 digs with a season-high of 30 in a 3-2 loss to Bentonville on Aug. 31. She had 20 in a 3-1 loss to Fort Smith Northside on Sept. 19 and 20 in a 3-0 loss to FS Southside on Sept. 25. She also had 18 in a 3-0 loss to Bishop Kelley (Okla.) on Oct. 2.
Mabrey Birchfield, junior, Alma
Birchfield topped 500 digs on the season recently. She had 13 digs in a 3-0 loss to Harrison on Sept. 28.
Bella Bonanno junior, Shiloh Christian
Bonanno had 628 digs and 85 aces for the Lady Saints, who were the 4A-runner up while earning-all state honors. She has committed to Ole Miss. “We are excited that we have two more years with her leading our back row,” said Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein. Through Oct. 9, she has 371 digs with at least 10 digs in 19 matches. She had a season-high 28 in a 3-2 loss to Hackett on Oct. 9. She had 24 in a 3-2 loss to Springdale Har-Ber on Aug. 22 and in a 3-1 victory over Gravette on Sept. 28. She had 19 in a 3-1 victory over Prairie Grove on Sept. 5. She has 69 aces with a season-high 11 in a 3-0 victory over Morrilton on Aug. 24.
Trinity Collette, junior, Siloam Springs
Collette led Siloam Springs with 207 digs during the 2022 season. “Trinity is an excellent back-row player, and the type of dynamic leader that every coach looks for in the back row,” said Thammarath. She problem solves to help her and her teammates respond when the other team makes good plays. She is a skilled reader and quick at picking up any type of shot the other team’s front row sends over. She is a competitive player that strives to pick up any ball the other team sends over the net.” Through Oct. 9, she leads the team with 298 digs with a season high of 29 in a 3-2 victory over over Mountain Home on Sept. 298. She had 22 in a 2-1 loss to Farmington on Sept. 22. She had 20 in a 3-1 victory over Springdale on Aug. 29 and in a 3-2 victory over Carthage, Mo., on Aug. 31. She has 18 aces with a season high of 5 in a 3-1 victory over Gravette on Aug. 22.
Audrey Divers, senior, Hot Springs Lakeside
Divers reads plays extremely well on defense and “makes miracle plays on the back row” with fast feet said Lakeside head coach Rhonda Thigpen said. Thigpen said her serve has improved helping increase options this year.
Tione Freeman, senior, Bryant
Freeman had 243 digs a year ago for the Lady Hornets after missing the 2021 season with a torn ACL. “When she returned, she assumed the position of libero and refuses to let anyone take it from her. She is the leader of our defense and players look to her for her leadership,” said Bryant head coach Leigh Ann Back. Through Oct. 9, she has 371 digs on the season with a season high of 25 in a 3-1 victory over Greenbrier on Sept. 5. She has gone over 20 digs in a match six times on the season.
Riley Henson, senior, Cabot
Henson has stepped into the lineup for the Panthers and leads the team with 273 digs through Oct. 9, including a season-high 41 in a 3-2 victory over Bryant on Sept. 14. She has at least 10 digs in 15 matches.
Carsyn Holland, senior, Greenwood
Holland had 279 digs and 20 aces for the Lady Bulldogs a year ago. “Carsyn is returning to help us on the back row,” said Golden. “She has quick defensive reactions that make her an outstanding defensive player.” Through Oct. 9, she has 129 digs on the season with a season high of 14 in a 3-0 victory over Greenbrier on Sept. 26.
Tori Howard, senior, Greenwood
Howard led the Bulldogs with 341 digs las year while contributing 24 aces. “Tori is also a returning defensive player. She can read the ball and the court very well defensively. She is a constant force on the back row that helps us stay consistent is our serve receive and defense,” said Greenwood head coach Jennifer Golden. Through Oct. 9, she has 254 digs on the season and had a season high of 18 twice. The first came in a 3-0 victory over Siloam Springs on Sept. 14 and she equaled it in a 3-1 loss to Harrison on Oct. 5. She had 17 in a 3-0 victory over Paris on Sept. 23.
Rachel Jackson, junior, Baptist Prep
Jackson had 39 aces and 165 digs for the 3A state champions and has committed to Arkansas State. “Rachel is our libero and our best communicator,” said Baptist Prep head coach Krista Spoon. “Rachel has done a great job leading our team and I look forward to seeing her get better every game. She is a great encourager. And she does a great job of being next point focused. She is fun and a natural born competitor.” Through Oct. 9, she has 299 digs on the season, having at least 10 digs in 16 matches with a season-best 17 in a 2-1 victory over Benton on Sept. 9. She has 39 aces with a season-high 7 in a 3-0 victory over Perryville on Sept. 12 and equaled it in a 2-0 victory over Jonesboro on Oct. 7 and in a 3-0 victory over Maumelle Charter on Oct. 9.
Miranda Leslie, sophomore, Mayflower
Leslie has 488 digs and 58 aces on the season. She had a career-high 31 in a 3-2 loss to Central Arkansas Christian on Sept. 14. She had 30 in a 3-2 victory over England on Sept. 25 in a 3-2 loss to Episcopal Collegiate on Sept. 11. Nine times this season she has at least 20 digs in a match. “She has a great feel for reading hitters and the speed and quickness to react to the ball,” said Mayflower head coach Monty Smith. “She is an ultra competitor and loves the big moments and the big games. She wants to be great, but doesn't care about being a star, she is very selfless. She doesn't care about her stats, she just wants to win, and does whatever it takes to do so. She is humble, always pushing herself and her teammates, and a great encourager and does her best to keep her teammates excited not only in games, but in practice as well.”
Brylee Overman, junior, Sylvan Hills
Overman earned all-conference and all-state tournament honors as a freshman in 2021 and all-state honors in 2022. Through September, she has 347 digs, averaging 5.26 digs per set with 27 aces, 50 assists and 14 kills.
Lilly Oxford, junior, Hackett
Oxford was an honorable mmention, all-state selection a year ago for the Lady Hornets, who reached the state finals for the second year in a row. This year, she has 246 digs through Oct. 9 with a season-high of 24 in a 3-2 victory over Shiloh Christian on Oct. 9. She has 35 aces on the season with a season-high 5 aces in a 3-0 victory over Green Forest on Sept. 19.
Sydney Patten, senior libero, Harding Academy
Patten had 276 digs and 40 aces for the Lady Wildcat a year ago. “Sydney has been a steady presence over the past three years and has always been a consistent player. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time and reads the game very well. She does a great job with our out of system offense and really has stepped into a leadership role very nicely,” said Harding Academy head coach Matt Francis.
Kim Quinit, senior, Conway
Quinit had 442 digs and 35 aces for the Lady Wampus Cats, who finished 31-3 a year ago. “Kim brings a lot of energy and control to our offense with her passing skills,” said Conway head coach Laura Crow. She missed activity from Aug. 31-Sept. 14 with an injured knee. She has 244 digs and 15 aces on the season with a season high of 22 in victories over Jonesboro and Bryant on Sept. 19 and 21. She has 25 aces on the season a season-high 4 in a 2-0 victory over Siloam Springs on Oct. 7.
Bella Seeman, sophomore, Valley View
Valley View head coach Margie McGee described Seeman as one who has “impeccable court awareness on the defensive side” and it shows with 186 digs through Oct. 9, including a season-high 27 in a 3-2 loss to Marion on Aug. 29. She has four matches with at least 10 digs.
Alexa Shinabery, junior, Marion
Shinabery had 35 aces, 113 kills and 288 digs a year ago for the Lady Patriots. She has been playing on the varsity level since her freshman year. She played all six rotations last year and head coach Lisa Beasley said she has the quickness and athleticism to have an impact on the floor. Though Oct. 9, she has 191 digs on the season with a season high of 21 in a 3-1 victory over Batesville on Sept. 21. She has also contributed 15 aces on the season.
Samantha Schmitt, sophomore, Little Rock Christian Academy
Schmitt has stepped into the lineup for the Lady Warriors and averages 3.2 digs per set with a season-high 26 in a 3-2 loss to Bryant on Aug. 31 and 20 in a 3-2 victory over Russellville on Aug. 29. She had 4 aces in the loss to Bryant.
Abbigale Simmons, sophomore, Marion
Simmons came up to the varsity team toward the end of her freshman season. “She played valuable minutes last year for us after the completion of her junior-high season,” said Marion head coach Lisa Beasley “She passes nails and has a nasty serve! Abby led her conference and district championship and led the junior-high team in aces and digs. Through Oct. 9, she has 319 digs with a season-high 32 in a 3-1 loss to Brookland on Oct. 2. She had 24 in a 3-2 victory over Valley View on Sept. 26 and in a 3-0 victory over vs. Greene County Tech on on Sept. 14.
Chaney Stanaland, senior, Siloam Springs
Stanaland had 160 digs a year for for the Lady Panthers. “Chaney is a constant in the back row. She is extremely coachable and has a desire to see herself and her teammates improve. She is a the type of leader that leads by example in the way that she works hard and responds to feedback,” said Siloam Springs head coach Carrie Thammarath. She reads the other team well so she knows where to place herself to She is a smart player and she has great chemistry with her teammates which allows us to turn defensive plays into offensive terminations. She is excellent in the back row and behind the service line.” Through Oct. 9, she has 143 digs on the season with a season-high of 14 on Oct. 5 in a 3-2 victory over Greenbrier. She has 20 aces on the season.
Kinley Vanmeter, senior, Mansfield
Mansfield head coach Kaylie Andrews said Vanmeter is the key the Lady Tigers defense with her ability to serve and receive. “She is very quick, reads the ball well, and makes outstanding crazy plays on defense,” said Andrews
Rylee Walker, senior, Brookland
Walker finished with 451 digs and 54 aces in helping the Lady Bearcats win the Class 4A state title and has started the past two years. “She gets better as the season progresses. She’s a fierce competitor who will step up and get the dig or the perfect serve receive pass when we need it,” said Brookland head coach Nancy Rodriguez. “Rylee will do what she needs to do in order for her team to be successful.” Through Oct. 9, she has 345 digs with a season high of 29 in a 3-1 victory over Marion on Oct. 2. She also has 40 aces on the season including a season-high five in a 3-0 victory over Trumann on Sept. 7.
Savvy Williams, senior, Shiloh Christian
Williams earned all-conference honors with 200 digs and 41 aces in helping the Lady Saints advance tot he state championship. “She is our leader off of the court as our senior captain,” said Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein. Through Oct. 9, she has 167 digs with a season-high 13 in a 3-2 loss to Hackett on Oct. 9. She also has 52 aces with a season-high 7 in a 2-0 victory over Russellville on Sept. 9.
--Jeff Halpern
Photo of Brookland's Rylee Walker by Tommy Land
