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Meet the top 10 volleyball players in Polk County for the 2023 season

roy fuoco, lakeland ledger
·3 min read

Volleyball players from George Jenkins, Lake Gibson, Auburndale, All Saints, Santa Fe Catholic and Lake Wales were among the 18 players who were all county last year — first, second and third team — and were seniors. With their graduations along with three all-county players changing schools, the top 10 players heading into the 2023 season are concentrated to three schools.

So there's no doubt that in no particular order, the top three teams in the county this season are Winter Haven, McKeel and Lakeland. Whether another team joins that will depend on how quickly the younger players develop.

For now, the top players are familiar names who led their teams to district titles and past the first round in the playoffs.

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McKeel's Juleigh Urbina puts up a serve against Discovery in the Class 4A, District 8 semifinals.
McKeel's Juleigh Urbina puts up a serve against Discovery in the Class 4A, District 8 semifinals.

1. JULEIGH URBINA, McKeel, Sr.: Urbina, who is one of the top setters in the state, is the back-to-back county player of the year and has committed to Georgetown. She was a second-team, all-county selection as a seventh-grader and a first-team selection since her eighth-grade season.

2. RYLEE TANNER, Winter Haven, Jr.: Turner was a first-team, all-county pick last season as one of the top outside hitters in the county last fall. Then in the spring, she became the inaugural county player of the year for beach volleyball.

3. ERIN MILLER, Lakeland, Sr.: Miller has been one of the top outside hitters in the county since her freshman season and was a first-team, all-county selection last year. She has committed to Florida Gulf Coast.

4. LUCI LIPPELGOOS, McKeel, Sr.: Lippelgoos didn't play last year but was a third-team, all-county pick as a sophomore at Winter Haven. She is now at McKeel for her senior season and has committed to Austin Peay for both indoor and beach volleyball.

Lakeland's Erin Miller goes up for a block against Bartow during volleyball action last week.
Lakeland's Erin Miller goes up for a block against Bartow during volleyball action last week.

5. MALLORIE SWARTZ, McKeel, Jr.: Swartz emerged as Urbina's favorite target last season and was the Wildcats' leader in kills as an outsider hitter. She was a second-team, all-county pick.

6. EMILY DRIER, Winter Haven, So.: Drier was an impact freshman for the Blue Devils and filled a hole as a middle hitter/blocker. She finished second to Tanner in kills for the Blue Devils and was second team all county.

7. KINDYL GOFF, Winter Haven, So.: Goff was another impact freshman and was a second-team, all-county selection. Playing for Lake Wales, she was the third-best setter in the county behind Urbina and Winter Haven's Tori Martin, who has graduated. She'll replace Martin as the Blue Devils' setter.

8. DUBLIN FITZGERALD, McKeel, Jr.: Fitzgerald goes over to McKeel after being one of Victory Christian's top players for the past two seasons. She led the Storm in kills and was third team, all county. At McKeel, she'll play right-side.

9. ELLE FLOYD, Winter Haven, So.: Floyd also was another impact freshman for the Blue Devils and was a valuable second-option as a hitter after Tanner. She was named third team, all county.

10. HOPE KIMSEY, McKeel, Sr.: Kimsey has been a valuable middle hitter for the Wildcats the past two seasons and was second on the team in kills each year. She was third team, all county last year and has committed to Berry College in Georgia.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Three teams boast Polk County's top 10 volleyball players for 2023