The Tennessean listed the Nashville area’s top returning players for the 2026 TSSAA volleyball season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2026 Preseason Volleyball Player of the Year. We nominated a select few players from our list as candidates.
Voting will close Aug. 13 at noon.
Sela Baldwin, Brentwood, Jr.: Baldwin had 164 kills, 84 digs, 29 blocks and 29 aces.
Harper Broyles, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Broyles, a Kansas commitment, led BA with 60 aces and 458 digs. She added 94 assists.
Avery Hawkins,
Clarksville, Sr.: Hawkins, a Harding commitment, totaled 210 kills, 91 blocks, 55 aces, a .464 kill percentage and a .322 hitting percentage. She was named All-District and All-Region.
Taylor Willeford, CPA, Jr.: Willeford, an Iowa commitment, finished with 258 kills and 90 digs. Her offers included Belmont, Xavier and Gonzaga.
Campbell Leathers, Eagleville, Jr.: Leathers, a James Madison commitment, finished with 646 kills, 91 aces, 45 blocks and 304 digs in leading the Lady Eagles to the Class A state championship. She was named finals MVP.
Heidi Green, Father Ryan, Sr.: Green, a James Madison commitment, had 202 kills, 52 aces, 323 digs and eight blocks, moving from her libero spot to outside hitter to fill a void.
Emmy Garner, Franklin, Jr.: The Auburn setter commitment had 845 assists for the Admirals, plus 87 kills, 268 digs, 39 blocks and 36 aces.
Gwen Forsha, Goodpasture, Sr.: Forsha, a South Florida commitment, finished with 327 kills and 192 digs.
Molly Rooks, Gallatin, Sr.: Rooks finished with 418 receptions, 160 kills and 182 digs.
Maddie Long, Green Hill, Sr.: Long finished with 288 kills, 196 digs and 56 aces.
Lila Jesen, Lipscomb Academy, So.: Jesen returns after finishing with 304 digs, 26 aces and 30 assists.
Jena Wright, Merrol Hyde, Sr.: Wright finished last season with 111 aces, 247 kills and 24 blocks.
McKenna Kistemaker, Mt. Juliet, Jr.: Kistemaker recorded 206 kills and 210 digs as a sophomore.
Taylor Collins, Nolensville, Sr.: Collins, an ETSU commit, finished with 282 kills, 258 digs and 38 blocks.
Ella Fisher, Pope John Paul II, Jr.: Fisher finished with a single-season school record 505 digs to go with 68 assists, 53 aces and 25 kills.
Camryn Keckler, Siegel, Sr.: Keckler led the Stars in assists last season with 580 and added 56 aces with a 92.1% serve efficiency. She also had 234 digs and 45 kills.
Everleigh DeShazo, Summit, Sr.: DeShazo recorded 261 kills, 66 blocks and 89 digs during Summit’s run to the Class AAA state championship.
Emery Huddleston, Upperman, Sr.: Huddleston led the Bees with 1,071 assists and 73 aces. She also had 235 digs.
Anarela Mejias Ayala, Valor Prep, Sr.: Mejias Ayala, an East Carolina commit and U21 Venezuelan team captain in the Pan American Cup, had 210 kills, 69 aces, 22 blocks and 183 digs.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vote for Ponce Law's Preseason TSSAA Volleyball Player of the year in Nashville
