Redding-area volleyball watchlist ranks 40-21. See which athletes made the cut.
Girls high school volleyball has been in session across the North State for three weeks.
Now it's time to examine further and unveil the top 40 players to watch in 2023. These athletes hail from Foothill, West Valley, Shasta, U-Prep, Anderson, Central Valley, Redding Christian, Red Bluff, Enterprise, Los Molinos, Yreka, Etna, Mount Shasta, Weed, Trinity, Orland and Lassen.
Before presenting the top 40 players, here are the top programs in the area:
West Valley (13-2): Swept defending CIF Northern Section Division II champion Foothill. The Eagles are playing at a championship-level pace with their serve receive and transitions to offense. All six senior starters outside hitters Bentley Chaffin, Shelby Rogers, libero Whitney King, defensive specialist Baylee Smetak, setter Kayla Wiley and middle blocker Reese Byxbe are playing at a high level.
Foothill (9-3): Senior outside hitter Grace McQuoid is incredibly versatile as both an explosive outside hitter and skillfully finessed back row defender.
U-Prep (7-7): Head coach Tawni Kramer has a young core of talent led by junior libero Maddy Rossman. Senior Amiah Cornejo is playing outside hitter and setting. Once the Panthers figure out their identity, watch out.
Orland (7-2): Orland has a talented pairing of underclassmen in sophomore outside hitters Dottie Davis, Sophia Halsey Diehl and Lillianna Rowe plus juniors Gracie Cutshall and Ella McDermott rotating at setter. The Trojans are close to contending for a section title.
Shasta (10-5): Twins Maya and Aubrey Fairchild are part of an elite back row. Junior outside hitter Jaiden Lynn has emerged as the Wolves' top offensive weapon.
Now, the countdown continues as it's time to introduce the top players from the Redding area, ranked 40th to 21st.
40. Ashley Wellman
School: Enterprise
Position: Defensive specialist
Class: Senior
Summary: Wellman is one of the more underrated players in the section when it comes to her quickness. Her ability to keep shots low to the ground and in play has allowed Enterprise to grow as a program in 2023. Enterprise just three weeks into the season has five wins, surpassing its total from 2022.
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39. Jaden Brown
School: Trinity
Position: Libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Ankle injuries have forced Brown to miss time early in the season. Once she returns to full health, watch for Trinity to go on a run to compliment senior outside hitter Chloe Albiez.
38. Stella Eastman
School: Yreka
Position: Setter
Class: Junior
Summary: Yreka is on the cusp of contending for a CIF Northern Section title and it starts with Eastman's improvements at setter. Eastman compiled 189 assists in 14 matches so far in 2023.
37. Hailey Valdez
School: Fall River
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: A senior leader of Fall River's Division VI team, Valdez passes well across the court. Valdez leads the Bulldogs with 56 kills in eight games.
36. Audrey Berg
School: U-Prep
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Sophomore
Summary: Berg has a high ceiling following in the footsteps of her sister and former state champion outside hitter Ella Berg. Audrey brings a little more power and energy than her older sibling. Berg in the coming years could become the new face of U-Prep's volleyball program.
35. Delilah Young
School: Shasta
Position: Opposite
Class: Sophomore
Summary: Young is part of a group of underclassmen ready to compete at the varsity level in 2023. She contributes at the net with skills and is consistent with her serve receives.
34. Peyton Estes
School: Fall River
Position: Libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Estes brings grit and leadership after helping guide Fall River to the CIF NorCal Division VI title last year. Estes playing in the back row last season fought off five match points against Forest Lake Christian and helped her team rise out of a two-set deficit to win Fall River its NorCal title.
33. Olivia Ferguson
School: Shasta
Position: Opposite
Class: Sophomore
Summary: Ferguson is another complimentary piece for Shasta who is looking to capture its first CIF Northern Section title since 2019. Ferguson's soft hands and athleticism give Shasta a quality source for outside hitters at the net.
32. Gwen Hansen
School: Trinity
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Hansen is a gifted hitter who compliments the Wolves' offense with both her powerful arm and serve-receive skills. Hansen's 84 kills are the second most on her team.
31. Amelia Lucido
School: Yreka
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Lucido brings her skills and intensity to the Miners whether it is pounding home kills or making game-changing blocks. The fluidity in the serve receive to passing game is much improved for Yreka. Lucido is second on Yreka with 74 kills.
30. Shayla Burton
School: Shasta
Position: Setter
Class: Junior
Summary: Burton is a quality setter who is helping the Wolves become a stronger hitting unit in 2023. Burton has the Wolves' offense playing productively with wins over Nevada Union of Grass Valley, Woodcreek of Roseville and Sutter.
29. Serena Conway
School: Fall River
Position: Middle blocker
Class: Senior
Summary: Conway at 5-foot-10 gives the Bulldogs a commanding presence at the net to redirect and hinder shots on defense. Conway has 30 kills and leads Fall River with nine blocks in 2023.
28. Emily Henson
School: Shasta
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Junior
Summary: Henson is a gifted outside hitter for the Wolves who have the underclassmen depth to compete with Foothill, Chico and Pleasant Valley for a CIF Northern Section title in the next few seasons. She has soft hands, is aggressive at the net and is consistent in the serve receive.
27. Meghan Noraas
School: Orland
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Junior
Summary: Noraas is physically imposing with her length at 6 feet tall. Noraas has 56 kills on the year and has helped the Trojans earn wins against Pierce, Enterprise, Lassen and Yuba City.
26. Kierra Alford
School: Yreka
Position: Libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Alford is experienced, quick and ready to sprawl for any shot hit in her direction. Her tough-mindedness and passing execution has allowed Yreka to secure victories over Red Bluff and McKinleyville.
25. Alyssa Radisich
School: Orland
Position: Libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Radisich anchors Orland's talented and youthful offense. Radisich is one of the CIF Northern Section's top passers and can also set her hitters effectively as well. Radisich leads the Trojans with 66 digs in 2023.
24. Karina Chang
School: U-Prep
Position: Defensive specialist and setter
Class: Senior
Summary: Chang brings outstanding leadership to the Panthers after a strong but limited year in 2022 playing behind last year's All Northern Athletic League libero and defensive specialist Reese Ampi. Chang is a smooth passer and is looking to show her grit as an everyday back row player.
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23. Dottie Davis
School: Orland
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Davis is quick, explosive and can serve receive with the top players in the CIF Northern Section. Davis leads Orland with 56 kills and 61 digs.
22. Taylor Ford
School: Anderson
Position: Middle blocker
Class: Junior
Summary: Ford is a 6-foot-tall middle blocker who has flown under the radar given her team's inexperience at the varsity level. Ford brings power, shot placement and can jump with the best hitters in the CIF Northern Section.
21. Riley Collins
School: Yreka
Position: Outside Hitter
Class: Junior
Summary: Collins brings her skills and intensity to the Miners whether it is pounding home kills or making game-changing blocks. The fluidity in the serve receive to passing game is much improved for Yreka. Collins leads Yreka in kills.
Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS and ethan_a_hanson on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Which players broke the top 40 Redding-area volleyball watchlist
