The State’s best: Meet the 2025 all-area high school girls volleyball team
A look at The State’s all-area girls volleyball team players of the year from Midlands high schools for the 2025 season.
Top Individuals
The State’s Player of the Year: Lauren Rivers, Cardinal Newman
Readers’ choice Player of the Year (fan vote): Courtney Burgess
First Team
Kaylee Belcher, Mid-Carolina: Senior setter was Region 3-2A Player of Year, all-state selection and had 490 assists, 122 digs, 53 aces and 49 kills.
Catie Bittner, North Central: Junior outside hitter was Region 4-2A Player of the Year, all-state selection and had 383 kills, 205 digs, 51 aces and 11 blocks.
Colby Branham, Gray Collegiate: Junior setter and Gardner-Webb commit had 389 assists and 55 aces this season for Gray Collegiate.
Courtney Burgess, Gray Collegiate: Senior setter and Virginia Tech signee was all-state selection and had 247 assists, 219 kills, had 57 blocks and 53 aces.
Danielle Dais, Ridge View: Senior hitter was Region 5-5A Player of the Year, all-state selection and had 265 kills, 154 digs, 33 aces and 25 blocks.
Gabby Esposito, Gilbert: Junior outside hitter was all-state selection and had 294 kills, 192 digs, 26 aces, 24 blocks and 22 assists.
Makalah Ford, Blythewood: Senior had 239 digs, 219 kills and 21 blocks for the Bengals.
Leila Hargrove, Cardinal Newman: Senior outside/middle hitter had 396 kills, 52 blocks and SCISA North-South All-Star selection.
Leah Hendrix, Camden: Senior and Erskine commit had 335 kills, 175 digs, 43 aces and 11 blocks this season.
Alexis Jodie, River Bluff: Senior setter and Campbell signee was Region 4-5A Player of the Year, all-state selection, North-South All-Star selection and had 886 assists, 256 digs, 71 kills and 57 aces. Finished her career with more than 4,100 assists.
Karis Kettering, River Bluff: Freshman right side hitter had 378 kills, 207 digs and 75 aces this season.
Riley Lyons, Blythewood: Junior middle hitter was all-state selection and had 226 kills and 87 blocks this season.
McKenna Miller, Cardinal Newman: Senior and Fayetteville State commit was SCISA North-South All-Star and had 247 kills, 128 digs, 35 blocks and 35 aces.
Khylie Remmenga, Cardinal Newman: Senior and Oral Roberts signee missed a lot of time this season because of injury but still finished with 215 kills and 45 blocks for the Cardinals.
Lauren Rivers, Cardinal Newman: Sophomore setter was SCISA 1-4A Player of the Year, SCISA North-South All-Star selection and had 1,039 assists, 297 digs, 176 kills and 115 aces this season.
Haylee Roberts, Lugoff-Elgin: Senior was an all-state selection and 216 kills and 95 figs.
Kate Shealy, Batesburg-Leesville: Sophomore outside hitter was Region 2-2A Player of the Year, all-state selection and had 341 digs, 310 kills, 36 aces, 26 assists and 14 blocks.
Isabel Smith, Dreher: Senior libero was all-state selection and had 461 digs, 72 aces and 64 assists for the Blue Devils.
Kylie Spires, Gilbert: Sophomore setter had 487 assists, 313 digs, 98 kills, 57 aces and 25 blocks.
Caroline Tucker, River Bluff: Senior outside hitter and Anderson University signee was all-state selection, North-South All-Star selection and had 420 kills (over 1,100 career), 291 digs and 66 aces.
Ella Tucker, North Central: Sophomore had 292 kills, 54 aces and 240 digs this season for the Knights.
Sadie Williamson, Gray Collegiate: Freshman had 205 kills, 98 blocks and 46 aces this season for the War Eagles.
Second Team
Gabby Anderson, North Central; Emily Burgess, Gray Collegiate; Payton Capps, River Bluff; Maddie Coker, Northside Christian; Malaya Dewey, Spring Valley; Elliott Elrod, Northside Christian; Olivia Ford, Blythewood; Alexia Hansen, Pelion; Brooke Hiranandani, Chapin; Haylen Lawson, Gray Collegiate; Georgia Kate, Ben Lippen; Ashleigh Long, Mid-Carolina; Rylee Nates, Lexington; Caroline Painter, Dreher; Emmy Lynn Parks, Mid-Carolina; Mylan Robinson, Dutch Fork; Ella Speight, Chapin; Benita Stewart, Gilbert; Hayden Stokes, Lugoff-Elgin; Zoe Suarez, Chapin; Ava Temoney, Spring Valley
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM.
