Which top Redding volleyball players rank among the top 20?
The countdown of the top high school volleyball players in Redding has reached its end.
Before unveiling the No. 1 player to watch among 18 high schools, here's a look at the top statistical leaders from across the greater Redding area, according to metrics found on Maxpreps.com.
Top five kills leaders:
Chloe Albiez - Trinity (167)
Riley Collins - Yreka (113)
Grace McQuoid - Foothill (82)
Shelbie Rogers - West Valley (80)
Kara Rainsford - U-Prep (77)
Top five assists leaders:
Kayla Wiley - West Valley (214)
Stella Eastman - Yreka (189)
Gwen Hansen - Trinity (181)
Evie Turner - Foothill (179)
Reese Cassity - Fall River (135)
More: Redding-area volleyball watchlist ranks 40-21. See which athletes made the cut.
Top five blocks leaders:
Lillianna Rowe - Orland (45)
Shelbie Rogers - West Valley (27)
Bentley Chaffin - West Valley (18)
Rainessa Matthews - West Valley (18)
Reese Byxbe - West Valley (17)
Top five digs leaders:
Maddy Rossman - U-Prep (212)
Peyton Estes - Fall River (163)
Kierra Alford - Yreka (143)
Whitney King - West Valley (109)
Stella Eastman - Yreka (109)
Here are the top 20 high school volleyball players in the Redding area.
20. Reese Cassity
School: Fall River
Position: Setter
Class: Sophomore
Summary: Cassity possesses similar athletic skills as her older Sydney Cassity, an accomplished point guard and defensive specialist who graduated in 2022. Reese Cassity has a natural touch and finesse to her sets. She is being touted as the next potential sports star for Fall River out of the intermountain regions.
19. Jordyn Woodward
School: Foothill
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Woodward commands attention whenever she steps on the court. She accurately swings for short and far corners and is a quality back row player on serve receives.
18. Jaiden Lynn
School: Shasta
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Junior
Summary: Lynn has college-level athleticism. Her leaping ability along with her shot accuracy and ball control in the serve receive makes her an automatic threat for Shasta.
17. Jenna Camann
School: Foothill
Position: Middle blocker
Class: Junior
Summary: Camann can make defending shots awkward and difficult. Camann's presence at the net can make attacking Foothill's back row a daunting task.
16. Lillianna Rowe
School: Orland
Position: Middle blocker
Class: Sophomore
Summary: Rowe is an imposing player who provides Orland with tremendous length. Rowe is 6 feet tall but plays like she is three inches taller. Rowe is one of the CIF Northern Section's block leaders. Rowe's serve and shot receives have improved a great detail in addition to her presence at the net.
15. Baylee Smetak
School: West Valley
Position: Defensive specialist
Class: Senior
Summary: Smetak is part of an elite core of seniors who are playing at a playoff level to start 2023. The dimension of Smetak's game that is prevalent within her teammates is her ability to play the back row but also deliver kills. West Valley has an array of defensive and offensive weapons.
14. Chloe Albiez
School: Trinity
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Albiez's power with her full momentum can be startling and intimidating for the opposition. Albiez is 6-foot-1 and has learned to navigate the volleyball court without her former teammate and 2023 graduate Brynn Scribner. Albiez has been given plenty of support from her back row as the Wolves look to contend for another CIF Northern Section title.
13. Amiah Cornejo
School: U-Prep
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Cornejo is making the adjustment to setter after playing middle blocker and outside hitter in 2022. Cornejo is 6 feet tall and should allow U-Prep to set quicker and closer to the net. While the switch to setting has been an adjustment, Cornejo is a proven leader and impact maker no matter what her position is on the court.
12. Maya Fairchild
School: Shasta
Position: Defensive specialist, libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Fairchild is paired with her sister Aubrey to form an elite defensive back row unit. Maya's quick reactions to shots keeps Shasta in plays constantly. Her passing compliments Shasta's defense-to-offense transition.
11. Aubrey Fairchild
School: Shasta
Position: Defensive specialist, libero
Class: Senior
Summary: Aubrey compliments her sister with quick feet and executes well-timed first reactions to keep rallies alive for Shasta. Her setting makes her a valued asset on offense.
10. Kara Rainsford
School: U-Prep
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Rainsford is having quite the comeback after missing most of 2023 with a knee injury. Rainsford delivers hard-hitting and accurate shots. She can hit drop shots and change speeds with her attack.
9. Mia Wallace
School: Foothill
Position: Middle blocker
Class: Junior
Summary: Wallace attacks the net with aggression and commands the ball in her direction near the net to generate kills. Wallace was a starter on last season's CIF Northern Section Division II title team that beat Pleasant Valley.
8. Reese Byxbe
School: West Valley
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Byxbe is another solid piece for West Valley whose strong back row play compliments her offense. Byxbe's shot percentage has improved and is allowing the Eagles to compete at a rapid pace.
7. Maddy Rossman
School: U-Prep
Position: Defensive specialist, libero
Class: Junior
Summary: Rossman is mirroring the success her older sister Mia Rossman had while playing libero at Foothill High School. Rossman's ability to redirect pounding shots at close range is allowing U-Prep to remain in CIF Northern Section title contention despite graduating last season's defensive specialist Reese Ampi and two-time All Northern Section Player of the Year Kaitlyn Cabral — top back row player in 2022.
6. Whitney King
School: West Valley
Position: Libero
Class: Senior
Summary: King has been one of the CIF Northern Section's top liberos over the past two seasons. She is swift moving left to right and will attack any shot hit in her direction. King's growth has been in her mental fortitude and ability to stay calm during intense game situations.
5. Evie Turner
School: Foothill
Position: Setter
Class: Junior
Summary: Turner could likely pick up any sport she wanted and excel. Turner's eye-hand coordination is high and she never seems to panic no matter the score. The placement on her back sets gives Foothill options to feed its assortment of outside hitters and opposites.
4. Kayla Wiley
School: West Valley
Position: Setter
Class: Senior
Summary: Wiley is the CIF Northern Section leader in assists. Wiley has worked with coach Melissa Church during the offseason on having consistent framing with her hands. That extra work put in is helping fuel West Valley's 13-2 start to open 2023. Wiley's ability to work under pressure, serve receive from the back row along with testing timely dump kills make her unique and a vital piece for any North State team.
3. Shelbie Rogers
School: West Valley
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: Three years ago, Rogers was involved in a hunting accident that nearly left her paralyzed after tumbling and crashing through the woods in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Not only is Rogers exhibiting zero pain in her lower back, but she has become one of the highest-performing athletes the CIF Northern Section has to offer. Rogers has a powerful shot that stuns the back row and provides momentum-changing blocks with her leaping. She ranks among the top kill leaders in the CIF Northern Section.
2. Bentley Chaffin
School: West Valley
Position: Outside hitter, defensive specialist
Class: Senior
Summary: One of the key emphases of West Valley is how the whole team can serve receive, dig and then attack offensively. Chaffin has mastery in all three aspects. Her serve receives and digs come partially through her experience playing sand volleyball. Chaffin plays with a high level of control. While being 5-foot-9 inches makes Chaffin undersized on the indoor courts, there are plenty of college sand programs looking for a player of her caliber. The ability to dig shots also makes Chaffin a solid fit at libero or defensive specialist should she decide to play indoors.
1. Grace McQuoid
School: Foothill
Position: Outside hitter
Class: Senior
Summary: McQuoid is the returning kills leader for Foothill after guiding the Cougars to the CIF Northern Section Division II title in 2022. McQuoid is committed to Vanguard University in Costa Mesa having played elite club for North State Volleyball Club and sand volleyball. She is an explosive hitter. McQuoid stands at 6-foot-1 and can swing over a majority of blockers. Her explosiveness at the net and her serve receives make her elite and the top-ranked player in the Redding area.
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: Here are the top 20 volleyball players in Redding
