Four players who were part of the Natural State Sports Network’s all-star team a year ago made repeat appearances.

Hackett’s Michaelyn Freeman, Bentonville’s Evelyn Venters, Mayflower’s Miranda Leslie and Farmington’s Emmerson Rehkopf earned their second consecutive appearance.

Freeman and Venters, who were second-team selections a year ago, moved up to the first team. Rehkopf, who was on the newcomer team a year ago, is on the first team. Leslie is a second-team selection.

Coaches answered the call as over 200 players were nominated from 63 schools creating tough decisions as 21 players were selected to the first team, second team and newcomer team which consists of freshmen who played in at least half of their team’s matches and sophomores, who are in their first year of varsity experience.

Players were nominated by their coaches and selections were based on their performance during the 2025 season with information provided by the coaches and observations by The Natural State Sports Network’s staff throughout the season.

Teams have two outside hitters, two middle blockers, one setter, one libero and one six-rotation player who did everything well.

Shiloh Christian, which reached the Class 5A semifinals after graduating five players from its state championship team a year ago, had four players selected with three players earning a spot on the newcomer team. Class 6A semifinalist Bentonville had two players selected.

In a related story, Conway’s Wren Jones was named player of the year. Cabot’s Olivia Ambeau was named newcomer of the year and Pulaski Academy’s Jason Lambert was named coach of the year.

Coverage presented by Arkansas Select Volleyball.

 

FIRST TEAM

Outside hitter – Wren Jones, 5-11 senior, Conway (PLAYER OF THE YEAR)

Key stats; 543 kills, .261 hitting pct., 36 blocks, 17 assists, 252 digs, Evansville signee. Set the school single-single records in kills this season and holds school career record with 1,228 kills. 6A-State Tournament MVP, all-state, AVCA all region, Lady Cat Invitational all-tournament team

Comment: “Wren Jones is a great player for us over the last four years. She has put in a lot of work and time to develop into the six rotation player to be a force for the Lady Cats. She has a true competitive spirit and can dial it up when the pressure is on. Her drive and determination to be her best for her team is something I really admire.” – Conway head coach Laura Crow

Outside hitter – Michaelyn Freeman, 6-0 senior, Hackett

Key stats: 519 kills, .349 hitting pct., 246 digs, 81 aces, 38 assists, 34 blocks, Tulsa signee, Class 2A state tournament MVP, played in four state championships during her career, winning two and being named state tournament MVP twice.

Comment: “Michaelyn has been incredible for us this year. She has truly been a leader on and off the court. We always counted on her in tight games to put the ball down with her 5.2 kills/set average, get us an ace, or defend the attack from the other side by her block or passing.” — Hackett head coach Bridget Freeman

Middle blocker – Kennedy Bullins, 6-2 senior, Marion

Key stats: 300 kills, .414 hitting pct., 100 blocks, 86 digs, 31 aces, 5A-State Tournament MVP, all-state ,5A/6A ArVCA All-Star, AVCA All-America watch list, AVCA best and brightest. Overcame an Achilles injury that sidelined her most of the 2024 season to help lead Marion to Class 5A state title.

Comment: “Her presence is insurmountable on and off the court.  Kennedy being healthy this year was the greatest gift.  Her leadership and the respect she has of her teammates makes her invaluable.  One of the most humble kids, Kennedy will graduate as one of the most decorated players to ever wear a Patriot jersey.  Her ability to take control of the net with her blocking, and then her ability to see the floor and make things happen, is second to none.  Kennedy has the power to tattoo Wilson on defenders but she is also the Queen of the finesse game when needed. The impact she had on our team this season, our program over these past few years, and on her coaches is priceless.” — Marion head coach Lisa Beasley

Middle blocker – Evelyn Venters, 6-1 junior, Bentonville

Key stats: 323 kills, .307 hitting pct., 72 digs, 97 blocks, 52 aces, 23 aces, 92.8 serving pct., all-state, Arkansas commitment

Comment: “Evie is a very athletic middle blocker that puts up a big block and can put away some pretty big swings. She is also very smart on her swing. She serves extremely well, one of our leaders in aces and can also play good defense, something that not all middles can do.” — Bentonville head coach Hannah Berry

Setter – Mattyx Cureton, 5-6 senior, Jonesboro Westside

Key stats: 1,087 assists, 70 aces, 50 kills, 184 digs, 3 blocks, all-state, all-state tournament team, all-star game nominee

Comment: Mattyx led our offense almost flawlessly this year. She was a leader both in skill and verbally on the floor. She could deliver the ball to any hitter regardless of where the pass led her.” — Jonesboro Westside head coach Codie Zeigler

Libero – Ady Bollinger, 5-4 senior, Bentonville

Key stats: 407 digs, 39 aces, 116 assists, 92.8 serve pct., all-state, all-state tournament team, AVCA All Region team, ArVCA all-star team, AVCA Best and Brightest first team, team captain, George Mason signee

Comment: “Ady is a stud. She is our biggest leader and at the core of our team. We are going to miss her holding down the back row for us next season. Her serve-receive and defense is incredible. She is such a solid, clean volleyball player who can also put up a clean second ball for our hitters when we are out of system.” — Bentonville head coach Hannah Berry

Six-rotation – Emmerson Rehkopf, 5-10 junior, Farmington

Key stats: 623 kills, .326 hitting pct., 373 digs, 48 aces, all-star tournament team, all-state. Set AAA record for the most kills in a match (42 vs. Van Buren), 2025 Prep Dig Player of the Year, North Alabama commitment

Comment: “Emmerson Rehkopf is an absolute force on the volleyball court. She is not only an elite athlete with unstoppable power, she is a phenomenal leader in our program. I describe her best as a big time player, who makes big time plays. I have watched her single handedly take over a match. Emme is truly an amazing young lady and a coach’s dream.” — Farmington head coach Kylie Moad

SECOND TEAM

Outside hitter – Chloe Blessing, 5-9 senior, Shiloh Christian

Key stats: 465 kills, .235 hitting pct., 28 aces, 489 digs, 54 blocks, all-state, AVCA Best and Brightest, AVCA All-Region

Comment: “Chloe had an amazing season where she led our 5A State semifinalist team in kills and was second on the team in digs.  She was a threat whether she was in the front row or the back row.  She was an amazing leader for us on and off of the court.  She eclipsed both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs this season as well and will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play at Shiloh.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein

Outside hitter – Ava Beasley, 5-11 junior, Paragould

Key stats: 576 kills, .286 hitting pct., 399 digs, 50 blocks, 57 assists, 40 aces after missing most of her sophomore season with a knee injury.

Comment: “After sitting out with an injury last season, Ava had a great comeback year.  She surpassed 1,000 career kills in essentially two seasons, along with setting a school record for single-season kills this year.  She continues to compete at a high level and pushes her teammates around her to do the same.  She is poised to have her best season yet as a senior next year, and we are excited to see how she will finish her career as a Lady Ram!” — Paragould head coach Reed Fogleman

Middle blocker – Kaylee Ward, 6-4 senior, Mansfield

Key stats: 600 kills, all-state, all-state tournament team, Class 3A state tournament MVP with 19 kills 8 digs and 1 blocks in a 3-1 victory over Harding Academy, ArVCA all-star team. Played on three state championship teams at Mansfield. Signed basketball scholarship with Oral Roberts.

Middle blocker – Jaycee Bossert, 5-9 junior, Haskell Harmony Grove

Key stats: 358 kills, .418 hitting pct., 43 aces, 64 blocks, 23 assists, 77 digs, all-state, all-state tournament team, AVCA phenom list

Comment: “Jaycee is our starting middle. Her hitting percentage is a .418 which speaks for itself. Almost half of the time she is set, she gets a kill. She is very explosive and powerful and can do the same from the outside. It is rare that we play a team that is able to do what Jaycee does for us.” — Haskell Harmony Grove head coach Bailey Korte

Setter – Kennedy Lovin, 5-5 senior, Harding Academy

Key stats: 877 assists, 235 digs, 39 aces, 55 blocks, 34 kills, all-conference

Comment: Kennedy did a great job this year leading our offense to the highest percentage in the last seven years. She always made good decisions and put the ball in really good spots for our hitters to attack and score. Her defense was very underrated and showed up in some really big moments this year. Her determination to get better day after day and continue to work on connections with her hitters was what made us so successful this year. — Harding Academy head coach Matt Francis

Libero – Miranda Leslie, 5-1 senior, Mayflower

Key stats: 664 digs, 118 assists, 85 aces, all-star tournament team, all-star, ArVCA All-Star team

Comment: “While Miranda has been placed on this team her sophomore, and junior seasons, this season was her best. What people who watched her play in games this year got to see was her enthusiasm, love for the game, and love for her teammates. What people don’t get to see is that every time she makes a remarkable play, she has done it many times over in practice. She treats both venues with the same intensity. She is also a tremendous leader, both in practice and in games. She is the type of player who people want to follow. She is always encouraging, always vocal, and when someone makes a mistake, she is there to help pick them up. She is ultra-competitive (which I’m sure all of the people nominated are), and doesn’t care about anything but winning. She doesn’t care about her stats, she wants to be great, but she doesn’t care about being a star. She would rather celebrate other people than herself, and doesn’t like attention drawn on herself. I also think this also makes it perfect to be on this team. She deserves to have the light shine on her. Quite simply, she is the best I have ever coached in my 25+ years.” — Mayflower head coach Monty Smith

Six-rotation – Piper Batie, 6-1 senior, Fayetteville

Key stats: 353 kills, .253 hitting pct., 43 aces, 33 blocks, 280 digs, 339 assists, Missouri signee, all-state, all-state tournament, AVCA All-Region, passed 1,000 career kills, digs and assists

Comment: “Piper Batie is the kind of athlete whose skill and leadership helped elevate our team in so many ways. Reaching more than 1,000 career kills, assists, and digs is an achievement few ever touch. The University of Missouri is the next step in a career defined by excellence.” — Fayetteville head coach Jessica Phelan

NEWCOMER TEAM

Six rotation – Olivia Ambeau, 6-0 sophomore, Cabot (NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR)

Key stats: 329 kills, .216 hitting pct., 35 aces, 83 blocks, 251 digs, 419 assists, all-state, PrepDig Top 5, AVCA Phenom Watch List

Comment: “Olivia had an incredible season. She’s been a difference maker for us, both offensively and defensively. She is among our leaders in kills, blocks, and assists. I’m so proud of her, it says a lot about her work ethic and heart. She is the best teammate and we are excited to see her continue to grow!” — Cabot head coach Anna Robertson

Outside hitter – Tristyn Moseley, 5-5 freshman, Greenbrier

Key stats: 447 kills, 346 digs, 39 aces

Comment: “Tristyn is just an impressive athlete no matter what the sport. It was a lot of fun to have her at the high school this year and watch her grow as a volleyball player throughout the season. I’m looking forward to seeing her grow even more as a player over the next three years.” — Greenbrier head coach Katie Huff

Outside hitter – Brinkley Gigerich, 6-0 freshman, Hot Springs Lakeside

Key stats: 216 kills, 151 digs, 56 blocks, 12 assists, Ranked No. 1 for Class of 2029 by Prep Dig

Comment: “Teams would ask me who No. 30 was. She is already getting D1 looks from mid-level programs. ASU is after her already and others who are following her.” — Hot Springs Lakeside head coach Rhonda Thigpen

Middle blocker – Caroline Stallbaumer, 6-2 sophomore, Shiloh Christian

Key stats: 302 kills, .306 hitting pct., 75 blocks, all-state, all-state tournament team, AVCA Phenom

Comment: “Caroline had a phenomenal varsity debut this year, and she is still growing and getting better.  She worked really hard on being a better blocker and adding more weapons to her offensive arsenal.  We cannot wait to see how she continues to grow as a player.  She is almost impossible to defend when she is transitioning and when we get her the ball.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein

Middle blocker – Myah McNutt, 5-10 sophomore, Cotter

Key stats: 249 kills, 152 digs, 80 blocks, 37 aces, One triple-double, three double-doubles, all-state tournament team, all-conference

Setter – Micah Unger, 5-7 freshman, Shiloh Christian

Key stats: 524 assists, 145 digs, 49 aces

Comment: “Micah stepped in from the beginning to replace a 4-time all-state setter in Laila Creighton.  She did a great job growing in her decision making and led vocally in our offense and did not play like a freshman.  Like with the other freshman that had to play major roles for us this year, I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow as a leader and a player.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein

Libero – Bristol Bonanno, 5-3 freshman, Shiloh Christian

Key stats: 627 digs, 43 aces, 63 assists, all-state tournament team, AVCA Phenom

Comment: “Bristol had to come right in and fill some big shoes left by her older sister, Bella.  She did an incredible job while leading our team in digs and service receptions.  She grew to be a vocal leader in the back row as well, helping her teammates to know where to hit and what was open.  I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow as both a player and a leader in the years to come.” — Shiloh Christian head coach Nathan Bodenstein