The 2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association volleyball season begins on Aug. 10.
Before the season starts, the Citizen Times and Times-News are highlighting the top 20 Western North Carolina high school volleyball players to watch this season.
See the full list below.
Olivia Johnson
Asheville Christian Academy | Middle hitter | Junior
Johnson recorded 217 kills and 61 blocks in 84 sets.
Reece Shuman
Asheville Christian Academy | Outside hitter | Senior
Shuman racked up 274 kills and 243 digs in 2025. She averaged over three kills per set.
Caroline Simpson
Asheville Christian
Academy | Setter | Junior
Simpson averaged nearly nine assists per set, collecting 726 total assists. She added 160 digs and 56 aces. The Lions went 22-3 before falling to Davidson Day in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A state semifinals.
Gabby Rollins
Asheville High | Outside hitter | Senior
Rollins helped the Cougars win the Mountain Athletic Conference championship, their first in program history, this past season. She had 220 total kills, 168 digs and 65 aces.
Megan Pressley
Brevard | Setter | Senior
Pressley had 550 assists in 99 sets while adding 196 digs, 150 kills and 103 assists.
Joscelyn Stamper
Cherokee | Middle blocker | Senior
Stamper led the Braves to a 27-9 overall record and to the fourth round of the NCHSAA playoffs in 2025. She recorded 485 kills, 80 blocks and 248 digs.
Lilly Lossiah
Cherokee | Setter | Junior
Lossiah racked up 678 assists to average six assists per set and added 169 digs and 66 aces.
Bristol Brooks
Franklin | Setter | Junior
Brooks collected 604 assists while averaging six assists per set. She also contributed 308 digs and 91 kills.
Finley Moffitt
Franklin | Middle hitter | Junior
Moffitt had 205 kills and 89 blocks last season. She guided the Panthers to a 27-4 record and to the fourth round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
Ella Raby
Franklin | Outside hitter | Junior
Raby averaged nearly three kills per set, while putting up 270 total kills. She added 236 digs and 28 blocks.
Arden Arkansas
Hendersonville | Outside hitter | Senior
Arkansas recorded 238 kills, averaging over three kills per set. She also added 21 blocks while leading Hendersonville to a 13-9 record.
Shelbie Cannon
Hendersonville | Setter | Junior
Cannon had 583 assists in 75 sets and added 174 digs and 46 aces.
Eva Greer
Madison | Outside hitter | Senior
Greer averaged almost three kills per set, totaling 209 in 2025. She contributed 234 digs and 40 aces.
Amelia Joyner
Murphy | Outside hitter | Junior
Joyner had 228 kills, 214 digs and 44 aces in 84 sets.
Kenzie Robinson
Owen | Setter | Senior
Robinson collected 639 assists, averaging nearly nine per set while also having 228 digs and 41 aces.
Mia Roland
Owen | Outside hitter | Senior
Roland had over three kills per set, recording 256 total kills and 272 digs.
Adeline West
Owen | Middle hitter | Senior
West led the Warhorses to a 20-2 record and a Western Highlands Conference title. She recorded 190 kills and 113 blocks, nearly averaging two blocks per set.
Reeve Carroll
Polk County | Outside hitter | Junior
Carroll had 266 kills and added 489 digs. She helped the Wolverines finish second in the Western Highlands Conference a year ago. Caroll was also named All-WNC Second Team.
Chloe Adams
Robbinsville | Outside hitter | Junior
Adams racked up 278 kills, averaging almost four kills per set. She had 45 blocks and 115 digs.
Hayley Hooks
Roberson | Outside hitter | Senior
Hooks paced the Mountain Athletic Conference with 353 kills last season and averaged 3.5 kills per set. She added 348 digs and 60 aces. She was named All-WNC Second Team.
Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: 20 WNC high school volleyball players to watch for 2026 NCHSAA, NCISAA season
