The 2026 TSSAA volleyball season begins on Aug. 17.
To get prepared for the action, here are the top returning volleyball players to watch for in the Knoxville area for the 2026 season.
Arielle Cole, Alcoa, Sr.: Cole returns to Alcoa as the top outside hitter with 300 kills, 319 digs, 40 aces, 13 blocks and six assists.
Guilia Santos, Alcoa, Sr.: Santos was an All-PrepXtra selection in 2025 as a libero with 491 digs, 101 aces, 53 assists and 19 kills.
Bethany Lowe, Anderson County, Sr.: Lowe played outside hitter and setter, producing 347 digs, 219 assists, 175 kills, 64 aces and 21 blocks.
Julia Owens, Anderson County, Jr.: Owens was the Mavericks' main setter with 631 assists, 247 digs, 125 kills, 62 aces and 17 blocks.
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Alli Snyder, Berean Christian, Sr.: The senior libero had 321 digs, 66 assists and 24 aces.
Mia Kinney, Catholic, Sr.: Kinney was the PrepXtra Volleyball Player of the Year in 2025 for leading Catholic to the Division II-AA semifinal round of the TSSAA state tournament. The Vanderbilt commit recorded 332 kills, 239 digs, 72 aces and 68 assists.
Olivia Mikels, Catholic, Sr.: Mikels added 442 assists, 159 digs and 32 aces in Catholic's state tournament run.
Ally Bryant, Central, Sr.: Bryant produced 445 kills, 275 digs, 126 aces, 112 assists and 46 blocks.
Pyper Clevinger, Central, Jr.: The District 3-3A Player of the Year had 513 assists, 317 kills, 288 digs, 146 aces and 37 blocks hitting opposite of Bryant.
Parker McGhee, Clinton, Sr.: Clinton's senior middle blocker had 99 blocks along with 279 kills, 51 aces, 99 digs and five assists.
Kaylee Loud, Eagleton, Jr.: Loud earned All-PrepXtra honors in 2025 with 527 digs, 37 assists and 34 aces.
Rebekah Spierdowis, Gibbs, So.: Spierdowis logged 311 kills and 24 blocks as she shifted between outside hitter and middle blocker.
Ella Draper, Grace Christian, Sr.: Grace's senior setter finished last season with 638 assists and 70 aces.
Caroline Clauss, Hardin Valley, Sr.: Clauss had 527 assists and 25 aces for Hardin Valley.
Mabry Morris, Heritage, Sr.: Morris' performance outside with 435 kills and 174 digs earned her All-PrepXtra honors in 2025.
Megan Frana, Farragut, So.: Frana filled the stat sheet as a freshman with 226 kills, 183 digs, 52 aces, 16 blocks and eight assists.
Sadie McGoldrick, Lakeway Christian, Jr.: McGoldrick returns as the top hitter on a Lakeway team that made the DII-A semifinals last year. She had 210 kills, 212 digs, 24 aces, seven blocks and seven assists.
Stephanie Kenworthy, Oak Ridge, Jr.: The defensive specialist and libero had 471 digs, 69 aces, 52 aces and 24 kills.
Camryn McGinnis, Oak Ridge, Sr.: McGinnis logged 374 digs, 365 kills, 45 aces and 18 blocks on the outside.
Vivian Sullivan, Oak Ridge, Jr.: Sullivan is coming off a season with 495 assists, 227 digs, 42 kills and 33 aces.
Rylinn Ginter, Pigeon Forge, Jr.: Ginter, a setter, had 527 assists and 48 aces.
JaKaelei Gibson, South-Doyle, Jr.: Gibson returns as the top defender with 332 digs and All-District and region honors.
Millie Van Rensburg, Sevier County, Sr.: Van Rensburg is on her way to 1,000 career kills after recording 321 last year, along with 241 assists and 203 digs.
Abigail Prado, Seymour, Sr.: The District 3-2A Player of the Year and region tournament MVP had 344 kills, 269 digs, 238 assists, 56 aces and 16 blocks.
Bella Hylan, Seymour, Jr.: Hylan had 411 digs and 45 aces last season.
Lillie McNutt, The King's Academy, Sr.: McNutt finished with 267 digs, 54 assists, 46 aces, seven kills and a block.
Ceil Bankston, West, Sr.: Bankston is returning for her senior season after posting 250 kills, 246 digs, 49 aces, 17 blocks and 15 assists.
Peyton Correll, William Blount, Sr.: Correll had 343 kills, 206 digs, 44 aces and 25 blocks.
Ella Reed, William Blount, Jr.: As a sophomore, Reed received All-PrepXtra honors with 1,002 assists, 232 digs, 74 aces and 62 kills.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who are the Knoxville area's top TSSAA volleyball players for 2026 season?
