Volleyball is making its long-awaited return.
The 2026 high school season begins this week with Palm Beach County teams shifting into action across local gymnasiums.
With that in mind, The Post is proud to serve you our 2026 season preview, where we look at the top teams story-lines, players and games to watch, and where we present our Week 1 power rankings as the season gets underway.
Top storylines
Jupiter, Dwyer look to continue playoff climb
Two of Palm Beach County's most notable large public schools have found quite the recent success on the volleyball court. Jupiter reached the regional championship last season, falling to Osceola after a tough run through Class 7A. Dwyer, a year removed from reaching the state semifinals,
met a same fate in the regional final against Bloomingdale in Class 6A.
Both teams return the bulk of their talent this season as each vies for another playoff run. While Jupiter will lament the graduation of reigning Player of the Year Macy McAmis, this year's rendition of the roster sports Kaija Fullerton, Emery Townsend, Ainslee Aden, Lillie Voss, and others.
Dwyer is also loaded with talent, with the Panthers looking to Teaghan Greenman, Leah Gram, Alexia Marchese, Payton Lotz, and Bella Levitt in an upperclassmen-heavy season.
Cardinal Newman to feature new playmakers
Gone are the days of a senior-led team for Cardinal Newman. The Crusaders sent quite the talented group of players to college last year, including Ava Castro, Lyla Buser, and Dayana Acevedo. In their place, young playmakers like Imani Taylor and Rylee Murphy are set to take the reins.
Each contributed in their freshman seasons while they played a part of a stellar rotation. Now, the changing of the guard will shift that spotlight to the sophomore pair as they take on a tough schedule under head coach Joy VanDyke.
Can Boca Raton Christian repeat?
Boca Raton Christian finally found their breakthrough year under head coach Len Visser last season. The Blazers went 16-11 against a tough selection of opponents, sweeping through Class 1A to take down rival Seacrest Country Day in to win the state championship.
Many coaches will say that repeating on top is the toughest thing to do in sports, but Boca Christian is in prime position to do exactly that. The team has virtually its entire roster back, which includes a ridiculous junior class of Caroline Wright, Brianna Nahmod, Hannah Vanzwieten, and Natalia Marciante ―the latter of which makes a long-awaited return from injury.
Players to watch
Kaija Fullerton, Sr., Jupiter
2025 stats: 328 kills, 25 aces, 20 blocks, 141 digs, and 322 serve receptions
Amelia Gallogly, Jr., Dreyfoos School of the Arts
2025 stats: 156 kills, 33 aces, 165 digs, and 209 service receptions
Hendrix Goodwin, Sr., West Boca Raton
2025 stats: 129 kills, 42 blocks, 26 digs
Emmie Hill, Jr., Benjamin
2025 stats: 210 kills, 63 blocks
Alexia Marchese, Sr., Dwyer
2025 stats: 272 kills, 45 aces, 262 digs, and 393 serve receptions
Mikayla Matuszko, So., King’s Academy
2025 stats: 314 kills, 61 aces, 25 blocks, 173 digs, 245 serve receptions
Brianna Nahmod, Jr., Boca Raton Christian
2025 stats: 27 aces, 205 digs, 68 assists, and 272 serve receptions
Luiza Queiroz, 8th grade, St. Andrew’s
2025 stats: 420 kills, 69 aces, 187 digs, 334 serve receptions
Hannah Vanzwieten, Jr., Boca Raton Christian
2025 stats: 254 kills, 53 aces, 30 blocks, 270 digs, 157 assists, and 221 serve receptions
Lilliana "Guppie" Voss, Sr., Jupiter
2025 stats: 492 assists, 170 digs and 13 blocks
Honorable mentions: Caroline Wright, Sr., Boca Raton Christian; Meya Cooper, Jr., Boca Raton; Erin Larsen, Sr., Dreyfoos School of the Arts; Payton Lotz, Jr., Dwyer
Must-see games
- Aug. 25: St. Andrew's @ Jupiter (6:30 p.m.)
- Aug. 25: Boca Raton Christian @ King's Academy (6 p.m.)
- Sept. 3: Dwyer @ Cardinal Newman (6 p.m.)
- Sept. 9: Dreyfoos School of the Arts @ Dwyer (6:30 p.m.)
- Sept. 14: Boca Raton @ Wellington (7 p.m.)
- Sept. 29: Benjamin @ Jupiter Christian (6:30 p.m.)
Peterman's Power Rankings
- King's Academy
- Boca Raton Christian
- Jupiter
- Dwyer
- Cardinal Newman
- St. Andrew's
- Dreyfoos School of Arts
- Boca Raton
- Benjamin
- Wellington
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County high school volleyball: Players, teams to watch
